Brief Note on The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro

On Dec 23, 2015

The Great bath has surprised both the Indian and European visitors. The Great Bath is the most interesting structure of the metropolis of Mohenjo-daro. It is about 55 meters long and 33 meters wide.

It is found to contain a large, open space at the centre. Galleries and rooms lie on all sides. In the central space, there was the provision of a large swimming enclosure, having the measurements of 12 meters long, 7 meters wide and 24 meters deep.

There is a set of steps from all four sides that leads towards the pool. The pool was fed with water through a well. The water was discharged probably by a huge drain with a cor-belled roof more than 1.8 meters in height.

Studies have suggested that every house had got a well-built bathroom and there were street water facilities. The presence of such a Great Bath indicates that there was some ceremonial occasion when people, in large numbers, used to go there to take bath.

Utmost importance were given to the privacy of the bather. There were small rooms on the raised platform on all the sides. These rooms must have been used for changing clothes. There is a probability that there was arrangement for hot water as well.

The strength and durability of the constructions of Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro were superb as they could withstand the ravages of five thousand years.

According to Archaeological studies of the ruins, it is suggested that the great bath was built between 3000 BC and 2000 BC.