A Note on

Excavation at Chandravati
Introduction
Chandravati, a protected site of the Department of Archaeology and Museums,
Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur, locally known as Chandroti is today a small village situated
to the south of the Abu Road station of the western railway on the Ahemdabad-Delhi route,
located at 2477 northern latitudes and 7246 eastern longitude. It is on the main highway
connecting Gujarat with Rajasthan, and lies at a distance of 3 kilometers north of Maval and 7
kilometers south of Abu road. This place is located on the left bank of Banas a little away
from its confluence with a small river named Sivarani. This Sivarani river flows in a
comparatively smaller basin through the rocks compare to Banas. Both of these rivers are
comparatively shallow and cut their valley in rocky area.
Historical Background
The ancient site of Chandravati was known as the capital of the Abu branch of the
Parmaras. The first Paramar ruler of the area was Sindhuraja in the early 10th century.
The Ugrasena Panwar founded the Panwar rule at Abu. Raja Bhoja (1010-1050 AD) was an
illustrious ruler of this dynasty. In 1024 AD, Chandravati was attacked and plundered
by Mahmud Ghazni when he passed through Rajasthan to attack Anahilavada. After defeating
Prithviraja III in 1192 AD the Muslim army also attacked Chandravati. In 1197 ruler of
Chandravati, Dharavarsha was defeated by Khushrav near the foot of Mount Abu. In about
1315 AD Chandravati passed into the hands of Deora Chauhans. Sahasamala Deora shifted his
capital to Sirohi around 1450 AD, and from then on Chandravati lost its glory. The Jain
literature also notes this place as an important centre of the Jainas. It is now a small village.
There were a large number of temples in Chandravati. They were mainly Shiva temples and
Jain temples. The remained city of Chandravati was destroyed more by the vandalism at the
time of building the railway track between Mawal and Abu road. The temples were pulled
down and their materials, the images, sculptures parts and other parts of the temples were
ruthlessly dragged to the work site. Some of the sculptures were displayed in Abu Museum. A
site museum is established at the site itself for preserving and display the cultural heritage of
Chandravati.
A number of foreign scholars also visited this site in the early decades of last century.
James Tod has given pictures of some of these temples in his Travels in Western India. In
1824 Charles Colville and his party visited Chandravati and found twenty marble edifices of
different sizes. One temple to Brahma was adorned with rich and finely executed sculptured
figures and ornaments in high relief. Another scholar, Ferguson, found the pillars so highly
ornamented in details and varieties that no two pillars are exactly alike. At present not a single
temple is in order. The pieces of old temples were removed and used in temples in distant
cities. The many monuments were destroyed by contractors of Rajputana Malwa Railway
before independence. The remaining were stolen or destroyed when Abu Road industrial area

was extended. Rulers of Chandravati patronized literature too. Jain saints wrote some literary
works here. Chandravati was plundered by the collectors of art specimen also.
This site has an area of over 45 hectares. This area was occupied by the Stone Age
man since lower palaeolithic period. The objects made by primitive man recovered from
nearby area also. Besides residential structures, a large variety of pottery, stone objects, scatter
of slag, saddle querns and small tanks/bawari are also located here. Considering the richness
of the site, it appears to be a very thickly populated township of ancient times. The surface
survey of the site was carried out by the Department of archaeology of M.S. University of
Baroda, in which remains of medieval temples and structures were documented.
MOU between Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Rajasthan
and Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidhyapeeth University, Udaipur
The reason behind the MOU between Department of Archaeology and Museums,
Government of Rajasthan and Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidhyapeeth University, Udaipur
was the encouraging the activities of exploration and excavation.
Beyond of the above mentioned reasons, historic and medieval archaeological studies
were miserably ignored in the last fifty years in the state of Rajasthan. The Department of
Archaeology and Museums, Government of Rajasthan and Department of Archaeology,
Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidhyapeeth University; Udaipur launched this collaborative
Research Project at Chandravati for five years. Besides this there are some other aims of the
MOU between both of the institutions are as follow as:
The common interest is to stimulate joint archaeological research projects in
Rajasthan.
To undertake archaeological excavation at Chandravati, Distt. Sirohi (Raj.) protected
by Archaeology & Museums Department.
To train young researchers and archaeologists for field research. This will be helpful
for progress for both the departments.
Objectives of the excavation
The main objectives of the excavation to expose the buried structure and recover the
antiquity of then period with study the cultural sequence and subsistence strategies of then
people. However the cultural sequence of the site is not known. In the nutshell, these are the
objectives of the excavation are in brief:
a)
b)
c)
d)

To understand the ancient planning of Chandravati town,

To understand the settlement system of craftsman in the town,
To study the cultural sequence at Chandravati, and
To understand the contemporary climate, subsistence and varied technologies.

Excavation Plan
We will do horizontal excavation and explorations for the following three consecutive
field seasons: 2013-14 (first phase is completed), 2014-15 (Second Phase) and 2015-16
(Third phase).
The field studies will be carried out in winter and each field season will vary from 45
to 60 days. Subsequently thousands of bone, soil, metal, pottery and other samples will be
carefully studied in the university for a period of one year and by the fall of 2018 the final
report shall be published. We have now completed the excavation of first field season.
a. In the first field season (2013-14), a total station map the entire area of the ancient site
was prepared and the site was gridded and areas were selected for excavation.
b. Documentation of temple remains also done.
c. After completion of every field seasons work we shall be sending a very brief report
to the Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi before 31st July
for publication in Indian Archaeology A Review. The first and second field season
excavation report has already been send to ASI for publication.

Discoveries made in the first field season at Chandravati ( Excavation work of

Phase I)

On the right bank of Sivarani close to the confluence with Banas were discovered
Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic stone tools, which include raw material, cores,
blades and blade lets. These tools vary between 40,000 and 5000 years before present.
In Mahadev hillock were discovered a few paintings in a cave.
A total station map was prepared and we carried out intensive explorations at
Chandravati, located about 4km to the south of Abu Road on the right bank of
Sivarani, a tributary of the Banas. It was discovered that the ancient site is spread in an
area over 45 hectares. It is composed of several large and small mounds and over
three dozen clusters of dilapidated temples.
Thus in such huge township remains of at least three fortified enclosures, 33 temple
groups, about a dozen step wells, residential areas of common people, lanes and
streets were identified.
The state Highway no 27 is made by destroying the ancient site.

 Three watch towers of the ancient settlement were discovered each located to the east,
south east and to the south of the settlement. In fact the southern one is located across
the river Sivarani.
Two craft areas each or lime making and metal smelting were discovered in the
southern margin of the township.
A huge mound located to the south of the museum building was selected for
excavation, which is about 3m higher from the surrounding area. In this mound were
discovered remains of an impressive fort, three large structural complexes, streets,
beautiful floors, several structural phases, minor objects and so on.
The fort was made of rectangular and squarish bricks and its dimensions were found
60x60m. The width of fort wall was found 3m, which was strengthened by massive
squarish and rectangular buttresses and bastions. Some such buttresses were found
8.50m long, 4.50m wide and have survived up to a height of 3m.
The most interesting aspect of the fort was that its south western bastion was prepared
perfectly circular whereas remaining buttresses were either rectangular or squarish.
The entrance or gate of the fort was discovered in the north western corner, located on
the northern arm. Unlike the wall, bastions and buttresses the gate was prepared
partially by massive dressed and polished stone blocks, indicating that it must have
been very impressive. Outside the gate was found base of a toran with octagonal
profile.
A passage was discovered in the eastern arm leading to the open space to the east of
the fort.
Inside the fort were identified several structural complexes located in the eastern and
southern half whereas north western part of the enclosure was left as open space.
Two large structural complexes were partially exposed in the eastern part of the
enclosure. In the south eastern corner of the fort was discovered a very large structural
complex composed of 6 rooms, out of which two large halls and four rear rooms were
identified. To the north of this complex was found another one not at all connected to
the former one. The letter has more than half a dozen rooms.
A number of iron objects, fragments of glass bangles, ivory and shall and, terracotta
objects were discovered.
In the mound under study a total of 6m cultural deposit was discovered and the
following cultural sequence was identified :

Pd I Late Historic Phase and

Pd II Medieval
Besides the structural remains and other immovable property, a good number of
ceramics, stones antiquity, copper objects, iron nails, pot antiquity, body sculptures, human
figurines, and bull and horse figurines are also collected. It reveals that the roof tiles,
terracotta objects and iron nails are widely available. Besides the above antiquity of historical
period cores, flakes and tools of chert, chalcedonies are also collected. This indicate that this
area was established by human being since a long time with occasional gaps in which jungle
and wild life used to cover up the habitations.
Second phase of digging and its details (Excavation at Chandravati 2014-15, Second
Season)
Discoveries and recovery
Excavation team has exposed the complete plan of settlement in one of the ancient
forts at Chandravati in Sirohi district. The ancient settlement is held to belong to
Parmaras of Abu branch spread in about 50 hectares.
The second season of excavation commenced from January 12 to March 2, a joint
venture of the Department of Archaeology and Museums and Rajasthan Vidyapeeth
University, Udaipur.
During the second seasons excavation work, three fortified enclosures have been
discovered.
The largest fortified area, spread in about four hectares, is located in the valley of
Banas whereas remaining two forts, about three dozen temples, around a dozen
bawaris, besides a very large settlement are located in the valley of Sevarni, a tributary
of the Banas.
One of the fortified areas located very close to museum building at Chandravati was
partially exposed in the first field season last year.
Three residential complexes are exposed in the fort area discovered in last seasons
work. One of them located in the south eastern corner with six rooms is believed to be
janana mahal. The second complex discovered in the north eastern part also has equal
number of rooms but no passage from this complex to janana mahal. The entrance to
the fort was given from north western corner.
In this season, in the south central part of the fort was discovered the third residential
complex with a few rooms and a very large hall opening towards janana mahal. In fact

janana mahal was completely bracketed by third complex, clearly suggesting that no
outsider was allowed to enter in it. Though no outlets for water have been discovered
so far. It suggests that the general slope of the land in the fort area is towards north
therefore it is quite likely that the waste water was being sent outside the settlement
through the main gate. A variety of minor objects like gamesman, terracotta beads,
copper and iron objects, animal figurines were discovered from these complexes.
It has been observed that the beginning of settlement at Chandravati would much
earlier than what is believed. It is because the township of Parmar kings is
superimposed on a very large ancient settlement, which is partially exposed close to
the fort. A huge storage jar has been discovered in one of rooms, it was strongly
protected in a chamber and blank space was filled with sand. Charcoal samples for
radio carbon dates and phytolith samples have been sent to concerned laboratories to
confirm the absolute dates.
This season, the team exposed another fort on the outskirts of Abu Road. This fort is
much bigger than the previous one and is protected by a hillock which was found to be
a watch tower.
At the entrance of the fort was found an inscription from the 12th century with depictio
n of a cow and a calf, perhaps denoting donation.
The epigraphic evidences housed in Mt Abu museum and other places reveal that Chan
dravati was the capital township of Parmar kings of Abu branch. Therefore, it is likely
that this fort may belong to the Parmar kings.
The newly found fort is rectangular in shape on oriented north south and was measured
200 meter X 110 meter. It has been strengthened by making several bastions and
buttresses which are round, square and pentagonal on plan.
This fort is located about 70 metres to the east of the previous one and has an entrance
on its western arm. The western and southern arms are stronger compared to eastern
one. There is a very strong building inside the fort, a small part of which is exposed. It
has survived up to a height of about 4 meters.
Some structures were built on a large platform. There were simpler structures which
present a long line of possible single rooms. A perusal of the building materials
indicate the presence of wattle and daub, bricks, roof tiles, stones, lime and mud. The
average bricks were well burnt and well made. The joints were also regular. These
large bricks were set in mud mortar. They were used for walls and as filling materials
of the platforms for the temples. The roof tiles were flat ones with unpraised sides.
These tiles were also probably made and well fired. This tradition can also see today.

Besides these tiles the other roofing material might be thatch which has not left any
trace.
There are remains of a step well located in the north western corner of the fort. It
perhaps a source of water for the king and his officers living inside the fort.

was

So far three cultural phases have been identified in the main mound of Chandrawati. A
mong these, the first one appears to belong to 6th to 8th century AD, the second one
between 9th to 10th century AD and the third one ranging from 11th to 15th century AD.
Although, in the season of 2013-14, we had identified only two cultural periods, but in
this season, three cultural phases are identified.
These cultural periods have been identified on the basis of pottery and other minor obj
ects. Altogether 7.50m thick cultural deposit has been discovered so far.
A large variety of objects such as terracotta figurines like horses, bulls, elephants,
camels, bangles of glass, beads of semi precious stone, lack and glass, a variety of
metal objects, remains of glass bottles have been discovered.

Post excavation (2014-15, Phase II) work

After the second phase of excavation work, a brief report included detailed
documentation of antiquities and line drawings of pottery will be done at Udaipur which will
continue for five to six months. During this period, a scientist from Birbal Sahni Institute of
Palaeobotany, Lucknow will study the charred grains. Some of the charcoal samples will be
sent to Birbal Sahni Institute for Palaeobotany, Lucknow for radio-carbon dating.
The analysis and documentation work will be carried out after completion the
excavation work. Preliminary sorting and documentation of pottery, preparation of radio
carbon samples and digitization of data will also be compiled after documentation of the same.
All the pot sherds will be counted, weighed; firing technique and surface treatment will also
be recorded. Besides, representing shapes will be sorted for line drawings.
About half a dozen charcoal samples will be sending to Birbal Sahni Institute for
Palaeobotany, Lucknow for radio carbon dating. We hope that the lab will provide dates with
in 8 to 10 months. Also the details of minor objects will be digitized.

Exposed the storage jar approximatly 3.25 meter below from upper surface of the soil
(season 2014-15)

Newly exposed structural remains in the fortified settlement (season 2014-15)

Straight wall (exposed during the excavation) (season 2014-15)

Huge fortification wall (season 2014-15)

Exposed structural remains of different phases (season 2014-15)

Exposed huge wall (season 2014-15)

Recovered animal figurine (season 2014-15)

Animal figurines (Season 2014-15)

Exposed outer and inner fortification wall of another fort area (season 2014-15)

Exposed structural remains at north-eastern arm of the fort area (season 2014-15)

Inspection of the trenches by the Director, Department of Archaeology and Museums

(Season 2014-15)

Inspection of the antiquities by the Director, Department of Archaeology and Museums

(Season 2014-15)