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Regional Remote Sensing Centre – West
NRSC/ISRO, Department of Space, Govt. of India
CAZRI Campus, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Dr. B. K. BhadraScientist/Engr.`SF’
Geographical Entity of the Vedic Saraswati
River in Relation to the Harappan
Settlements in Northwest India
27 March, 2015
Int. Seminar `The Indus-Sarasvati (Harappan) Civilization vis-à-vis The Rigveda’
Organized by: Draupadi Dream Trust, New Delhi
Saraswati, as described in the Rigveda
ambitame nadi tame devitame Sarasvati
aprasasta iva smasi prasastimamba naskridhi (2:41:16)
i.e. Best of mothers, best of rivers, best of Goddesses, Saraswati, we are ignorant and
untrained, give us wisdom and knowledge.
Saraswati is regarded as the holiest and mightiest river of Vedic Period (8000-5000 BP)
aa yatsaakam yashaso vaavashaanah Sarasvati saptathi sindhumaataa
yaah susvayanta sudughaah sudhaa raa abhiswena payasaa pipyaanaah (7:36:6)
May the glorious seventh (stream) Saraswati, the mother of Sindhu and other (rivers)
charged with copious volume of water, flow vigorously; come together, gifting abundant
food and milk.
• Saraswati in Yajurveda (34:11) (1803):
pancanadhyah Sarasvatimapi yanti sasrotasah
Sarasvati tu pancadhaa so deshe abhavat sarit
The five equally celebrated rivers, merged with the mighty Saraswati. Sraswati has five important tributaries
viz. Drishadvati, Satudri (Sutlej), Chandrabagha (Chenab), Vipasa (Vyas) and Iravati (Ravi). All these
rivers merges to Saraswati to meet Sindhu Sagar (the Arabian Sea).
• Saraswati in Atharvaveda (6:30:10):
devaa imam madhunaam sanyutam yavam sarasvatyaa madhi manaavacarkriyuh
aasit sirapatih shatakratuh kinasha aasan marutah sudaanavah
God bestowed the people on the bank of the Saraswati, with sweet juicy barley, where generous Maruts
became farmers & Indra as the Lord of agriculture. This Mantra suggests that farming of cereals was
practiced on the fertile soil of Saraswati during Vedic times.
• Saraswati in Manusmriti (3.17):
Saraswati drisadvatvor devanadhyory dantaram
Tam deva nirmitam desham brahmavart pracakshate
The land between the Saraswati and Drishadvati is created by God; this land is defined as Brahmavarta.
• Saraswati in Mahabharata: The Saraswati River continued to be a celebrated river during the Mahabharata
time also. It was referred as mother of the Vedas.
Vedanam mataram pusya (Mbh. Santiparva 12920)
Mahabharata gives clear geographical accounts of a number of pilgrimage sites spread along the
course of the Saraswati River. Sri Balaram’s pilgrimage, along the upsteam course of the Saraswati from
Samudra Samgam to Plaska prasaravana give a vivid description of most of these holy places. Balaram after
visiting a number of holy places reaches to Vinasana, the place where the Saraswati disappeared. During
Mahabharata period, the discharge of water in Saraswati became extremely low. As a result, the river
vanished in the desert sand at certain place along its regular course i.e. at Vinasana. Hence, the river
channel appeared dry. However, underground flow of water continued to exist in the river bed.
Saraswati River in Other Literatures
Geographical Identity of River Saraswati
Saraswati River originated in the Himalayas and flowed between Indus
and Ganges through Punjab, Haryana, western Rajasthan and Gujarat. It
finally drained into Arabian Sea.
It is believed that River Saraswati still flows below the desert sand and its
Himalayan connectivity is still alive.
Palaeo-drainage systems in NW India have been a topic of research for
many decades as remnants of Saraswati River are present even today.
Himalayan Rivers of NW India
1. Indus River – It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu in Tibetan
region at an altitude of 4164m in Kailash Mountain Range.
2. Sutlej River – It originates from Rakas Lake at an altitude of 4555m
in Tibet and is connected with Man Sarovar Lake by a stream.
3. Ganga River - It originates at Gangotri glacier near Gomukh in Garhwal
Himalayas in Uttarakhand at an altitude of 3,900m in the central highlands.
4. Yamuna River - It rises at Yamunotri Glacier at an altitude of 6316m on
Bandarpunch range and enters the Ganga plain.
Saraswati River was fed by melt from Himalayan glaciers, after the receding
of the last ice age during 10,000 BP.
Gujarat Madhya Pradesh
Rajasthan
Haryana
PunjabUK
UP
HP
The Lost `Saraswati
River System’
between Indus and
Ganges River
System
DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN NW INDIA
Tibet
Pakistan
India
Satellite Image showing Three Distinct Drainage Systems in NW India
Luni R.
Allahabad
Delhi
Chandigarh
Jodhpur
Hisar
Ahmedabad
Jaipur
Rann of Kutch
Adi Badri
Indus River
System
Ganges River
System
Luni River
System
Remote Sensing Techniques Used for
Delineating Palaeochannels
Palaeochannels are basically the old course of river channels which
appears on the satellite image as serpentine drainage course with high
moisture content (dark tone).
• “Piece-wise Histogram Stretching” technique has been used to
enhance the palaeochannel signatures on the image. The feature
enhancement is carried out by way of loading sub-scenes of 1k x 1k
size on computer terminal in full resolution and improving the feature
contrast by histogram stretching interactively.
• This technique has been found unique in enhancing palaeochannel
details in the sandy as well as alluvial and vegetated areas.
• These palaeochannels also have been validated through collateral
ground data such as geomorphic anomalies, drilling data (litholog) of
tube wells, hydrological parameters (discharge and groundwater
quality), age of ground water, archaeological data and published old
maps.
Course of Saraswati in
Rajasthan
IRS WiFS FCC of Part of Saraswati River Basin
I.G.Canal
Jaisalmer
Ghaggar R.
Palaeo Drainage
Map of The
Indian Desert
Region using
IRS P3 WiFS
Satellite Image
Rann
Mohenjo-daro Jaisalmer
Jodhpur
Ganweriwala
Banawali
Dholavira
Surkotada
Simplified
Courses
Ground Validation of Palaeochanels
• Through Drilling data: 14 wells drilled by CGWB &
GWD.
• Potable quality water found along the Palaeo
Channels
• Occurrence of Gravel & coarse grained sand
reported
• Channels occur at 20-40 m depth
• Palaeo Geomorphic features - Corn Cob structure
• Archaeological data
• Ground Water Quality & age data
• Palaeo Maps British and Mughal Period
GWD (8)
CGWB (16)
Total=24 wells
DRILLING SITES ALONG THE PALAEOCHANNELS IN RAJASTHAN
Tube well drilled on Saraswati Palaeochannel
at Tanot (Border area) in Jaisalmer district,
Rajasthan during 1999-2000
Extensive Desert Sands with Dunes in Jaisalmer
district, Rajasthan (March, 2008)
FIELD PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE GROUND REALITY
Ages of groundwater samples from Jaisalmer district
(Analysed by BARC)
Sample ID Location Well Type Age Uncorrected (Before Past)
Model Age, a (Pearson)-BP
D1 Dharmikua DW 1900 M
T1 Kishengarh TW 6190 M
D3 Kuriaberi DW 4390 1340
D4 Nathurakua DW 3000 M
T2 Ghantiyali TW 9630 5550
D5 Ghantiyali DW 4960 1550
T3 Ranau TW 5930 1930
T7 Ghotaru I TW 18700 12400
D12 Ghotaru-II DW 3860 M
D17 Dost Md.Kua DW 5780 2000
Age of Saraswati ground water ~ 1340 to 12400 BP
Course of Vedic Saraswati
in Haryana
MAJOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN NORTHERN HARYANA
Adi Badri
Siwalik Hills
Bata R
YAMUNANAGAR
DISTRICT
AMBALA
DISTRICT
Lesser Himalaya
3-D View of Adi Badri Area by SRTM DEM & Landsat ETM image
IRS P6 LISS-III IMAGE WITH DELINEATED PALAEOCHANNELS IN HARYANA
Sirsa
Fatehbad
Hisar
Jind
Kaithal Karnal
Panipat
Sonipat
RohtakBjiwani
Kurukshetra
AmbalaYamuna-
nagar
Panch-
kula
PUNJAB
RAJASTHAN
UTTAR
PRADESH
HIMACHAL
PRADESH
Palaeochannels
District Boundary
NHisar
Su
tlej P
ala
eo
ch
an
el
Sirsa
Course of Vedic Saraswati
in Punjab
Optical (IRS P6) and SAR (Radarsat) images showing the delineated Sutlej palaeochannels between
Ropar and Shatrana in Punjab. Note a large number of archaeological sites lie along the palaeochannels.
Radarsat SAR image (Dec.,2000)IRS P6 LISS-III image (Feb.,2004)
Palaeo channels (PC)
Archaeological sites
Archaeological sites on Sutlej PC
Su
tle
j P
ala
eo
ch
an
ne
l
Sutlej Palaeochannels along Ropar-Sirhind-Rajpura section (N-S)
MAJOR RIVERS AND PALAEOCHANNELS IN PUNJAB
Sutlej R.
Sutlej
Palaeochannel
Course of Vedic Saraswati
in Gujarat
Satellite Image showing the Saraswati palaeo-drainage
network (blue lines) in Rann of Kachchh area, Gujarat
Saraswati Delta Structure at Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat)
Digital image processing of IRS-P6 AWiFS and Radarsat
SAR images reveals deltaic drainage pattern (Bird’s Foot
type) which is made up of complex intertwined channels.
The delta structure was formed in the past by huge sediment
discharge of Saraswati River within marshy land of Great
Rann of Kachchh.
These palaeochannels can be traced upto the Gulf of
Kachchh which might have a link to the submerged Dwarka
of Mahabharata times.
SARASWATI CONFLUENCE AT DWARKA
Dwarka was the capital of the Yadavas which is mentioned in
Indian epic Mahabharata. It is believed that Lord Krishna has
founded this town by reclaiming 12 yojana land from the Sea
at about 3,600 years ago.
Mahabharata describes that Balaram travelled along the dry
banks of Saraswati River from Dwaraka to Mathura. It is
possible that Saraswati River might have continued beyond
Little Rann upto Dwarka along the Gulf of Kachchh.
Archaeological excavation revealed the existence of Harappan
settlements in Dwarka as well as port city of Lothal. Rise in
sea level caused submergence of Dwarka in 3443 BP.
Integrated Study of Vedic
Saraswati in NW India
Palaeochannel
Network in NW India
Mansarovar
LakeRakas
Lake
Perennial Source of Sutlej River
Perennial Source of Yamuna-Tons River
Yamunotri
Bandarpunch
Simplified map of Vedic Saraswati River from Mansarovar to Dwaraka
Saraswati River System
(8000 to 5000 BP)
Present Day River
System
Allahabad
ManSarovar
Bandarpunch
Delhi
Jodhpur
Kurukshetra
Arabian
Sea
Jaisalmer
Bet Dwarka
Rann of Kutch
Geographical Distribution
of Archaeological
Settlements of
Indus-Saraswati
Civilisation
Satellite Image showing the Archaeological Sites of Indus-Saraswati Civilization
Allahabad
Man
Sarovar
Present Day Rivers
Archaeological Sites
Jodhpur
Delhi
Sutlej R.
Dwarka
Distribution of Archaeological Sites between the Indus and the Ganges Rivers
Present Day Rivers
Archaeological Sites
Allahabad
Man
Sarovar
Jodhpur
Delhi
Sutlej R.
Dwarka
R A J A S T H A N
GUJARATMADHYA PRADESH
PAKISTAN
HARYANA
PUNJAB
UP
UK
HP
Satellite Image showing Archaeological Sites and Saraswati Palaeochannels
Present Day Rivers
Palaeochannels
Archaeological Sites
Allahabad
Man
Sarovar
Jodhpur
Delhi
Sutlej R.
Dwarka
Spatial Relationship of the Harappan Settlements and Saraswati Palaeochannels
Allahabad
Man
Sarovar
Jodhpur
Delhi
Sutlej R.
Dwarka
Simplified Course of Saraswati River and the Associated Archaeological Sites
Allahabad
Man
Sarovar
Jodhpur
Delhi
Sutlej R.
Dwarka
Geographical Distribution
of Archaeological
Settlements of
Indus-Saraswati
Civilisation in Pakistan
Archaeological Sites in Pakistan along Indus and Saraswati Rivers
Mature Harappan Settlements in Pakistan along Indus & Saraswati Rivers
Mature Harappan
Other Harappan
Geographical Distribution
of Archaeological
Settlements of
Indus-Saraswati
Civilisation in Haryana
Archaeological Sites and the Palaeochannels in Northern Haryana
Sirsa
Hisar
FatehbadJind
Sonipat
Karnal
Kuru
Kaithal
Ambala
Yamuna
nagar
Panipat
Rohtak
BhiwaniS
utl
ej P
C
Mature Harappan
(4600-3900 BP)
Sothi Harappan
(~Mature Harappan)
Post Harappan
(3500 BP to Medieval)
Late Harappan(3900-3300 BP)
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITESMature to Late
Harappan Sites
Palaeochannels/
Present day drainages
Mature Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Haryana
Mature Harappan
Sothi Harappan
Sothi Harappan Settlements in Haryana along the Saraswati Palaeochannels
Late Harappan
Late Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Haryana
Post Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Haryana
Post Harappan
Geographical Distribution
of Archaeological
Settlements of
Indus-Saraswati
Civilisation in Punjab
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES, MAJOR RIVERS AND PALAEOCHANNELS IN PUNJAB
Mature Harappan
Mature Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Punjab
Post Harappan
Post Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Punjab
Geographical Distribution
of Archaeological
Settlements of
Indus-Saraswati
Civilisation in Rajasthan
IRS WiFS image showing Harappan Sites along Ghaggar River in
Ganganagar and Hanumangarh Districts of Rajasthan
Mature Harappan
Mature Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Rajasthan
Post Harappan
Post Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Rajasthan
Geographical Distribution
of Archaeological
Settlements of
Indus-Saraswati
Civilisation in Gujarat
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES WITH PALAEOCHANNELS IN NORTHERN GUJARAT
Little Rann
Pachham Island
Patan
Mehsana
Tharad
Great Rann of Kachchh
Bet Dwarka
Dholavira
Bhuj
Lakhpat
Surendranagar
Jamnagar
Bela
Palanpur
Ahmedabad
RajkotDwarka
ARABIAN
SEA
Khadir Island
Pre-Harappan
Post-Harappan
Present Drainage
Palaeochannel
Mature Harappan
Legend
Extension of Palaeochannel
Mature Harappan
Mature Harappan Settlements and the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Gujarat
Late Sorath Harappan
Late Sorath Harappan Settlements and the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Gujarat
Archaeological sites of Indus-
Saraswati Civilisation (till 2005)
The entire course of Vedic Saraswati River has been delineated using
latest satellite images and validated with archaeological, drilling and
hydrogeological data.
Present day perennial sources of Sutlej and Yamuna/Tons rivers have
been considered as part of Vedic Saraswati River.
Close association of archaeological sites and the palaeochannels indicate
existence of Vedic Saraswati River during 8000 to 5000 years ago.
Spatial distribution of Harappan settlements shows the growth of Indus-
Saraswati valley civilization during Vedic period. The population has
migrated towards NE direction with the desiccation of Saraswati River in
Thar Desert area during 3792 years BP.
Radiometric ages of river sediments suggests that the age of Saraswati
River (older palaeochannels) may be as old as 28,000 years. However, it
was flourished during 8000 to 5000 years ago (younger palaeochannels).
Age of trapped groundwater in the palaeochannels in Rajasthan shows
contemporary age of Saraswati (1340-8910 BP) and as old as 18800BP.
CONCLUSIONS
RESTORE THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE COUNTRY…
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