10 Legendary Lost Cities In India That Were Later Discovered

1. Rakhigarhi - Pre-dating most of the famous cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation, Rakhigarhi is one of the oldest and one of the largest settlements of that era. However – much like other cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro – paved roads, drainage system, large rainwater collection systems, storage system, terracotta bricks, statue production, and skilled application of bronze and precious metals were found at the excavated site.

2. Kalibangan - B. B. Lal, erstwhile DG of Archaeological Survey of India, stated “Kalibangan in Rajasthan has given the evidence of the earliest ploughed agricultural field ever revealed through an excavation.” And then there are unique fire altars here that make it so important. This is amongst the best places to visit in Rajasthan.

3. Lothal - Lothal ranks high in the list of the lost cities of India belonging to the Indus Valley civilisation that were discovered and excavated. Though floods wiped off the town during that time, structures like wells, dwarfed walls, baths, drains, and paved floors can still be seen. This shows how strong the structures were even during that time. This is amongst the oldest ruins in India.

4. Dholavira - A favorite of the archaeologists, Dholavira is one of the lost Indian cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The excavated site includes reservoirs, step well, and various other antiquities such as seals, beads, animal bones, gold, silver, terracotta ornaments, vessels. Excavations here also brought light to the the well-planned designs and organised constructions during those times. This is one of the best places to visit in Gujarat.

5. Surkotada – Ancient Mounds And Ruins - Another lost city of the Indus Valley Civilisation, Surkotada was discovered in 1964. The ancient mounds and ruins here are hidden by sandstone hills covered with red laterite soil that gives the entire area a reddish brown color.

6. Dwarka – The Sacred City Of Lord Krishna - Dwarka, the sacred city of Lord Krishna, is said to have been submerged 6 times in total. Huge pillars, antiques, and massive stone walls are visible under sea. However, it is yet to be confirmed if those belong to the times of Lord Krishna. Carbon dating could trace these recovered ruins only up to 15th century BC.

7. Sanchi - The town needs no introduction. One of the famous historical places in India, Sanchi is known for its Ashoka pillar and Greco-Buddhist style of stupas that depict various scenes from the Jataka tales and stories of Buddha’s life. The relics of Buddha at the once lost city of India were painted with a Mauryan polish to make them glow like glass. This is amongst the oldest ruins in India.

8. Muziris - A port city on the banks of the Periyar River in Kerala, Muziris is one of the lost ancient Indian cities that have been discovered and excavated. Archaeologists have successfully found artifacts belonging to countries like Egypt, Yemen, Roman, and West Asia.

9. Nagarjunakonda - The former capital of Ikshvaku dynasty and Buddhist town, Nagarjunakonda is an island in middle of the Nagarjuna Sagar dam in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. Excavations revealed Buddhist ruins, stupas, viharas monastery complexs, chaityas temples, and mandapamspillared pavilions, and multiple white marble depictions of the Buddha’s life.

10. Vijayanagar – The Kishkinda Of Ramayana - The Vijayanagar city is located on south bank of the Tungabhadra River in Bellary District of northern Karnataka. The city was built around the religious center of the Virupaksha temple at the famous UNESCO-listed world heritage site of Hampi. The lost Indian city was home to the Vijayanagar Kingdom that rose to its prime under the rule of Krishnadevaraya. However, some of the remains found here date back to around 300 BC. The city also finds a mention in the Hindu legend of Ramayana as Kishkinda – the realm of the monkey gods.