Aug 12, 2025: The Harappan site at Kotla Nihang Khan near Ropar city is at risk of losing its historical presence due to growing urbanisation.
The site, which was discovered in 1929 and provided insights into priceless artifacts, has been the subject of excavation. The absence of heritage protection policy on private land has caused irreparable damage at this spot. The mound at the site, which covered approximately 500 square meters, was once a vibrant representation of the Harappan civilization. Artifacts, including distinctive pottery and terracotta objects, had been uncovered here, giving historians valuable information about one of the world’s earliest urban cultures.
The Harappan remains are slowly disappearing because the site does not meet the ASI's protection criteria and the state does not have any regulations for preserving heritage on private land. A gurdwara, built by a Nihang sect, now occupies much of the land where the mound once stood. One of the area's last surviving pieces of history is a small structure. Kotla Nihang Khan was one of the first sites in the region where excavation was done. In 1929, MS Vats, an archaeologist, discovered the site and conducted small-scale excavations, confirming the presence of Harappan culture in this part of the country. The Kotla Nihang site also sheds light on the Bara culture, a late Harappan culture that developed around 2000 –1600 BCE.
Deputy Superintending Archaeologist Manoj Joshi said the Kotla Nihang site, due to its relatively small size, has not been considered of national importance.
As a result, the state government is in charge of safeguarding the location. However, the site is at the mercy of developers and private interests due to the absence of preservation laws on private land. Varjeet Singh Walia, Deputy Commissioner of Ropar, acknowledged that the site was on private land. He assured that the matter would be taken up with the state government to explore the possibility of preserving the spot due to its historical importance.
Minister for Tourism and Culture Tarunpreet Singh Sond could not be reached, despite numerous attempts. Meanwhile, Ropar is home to the Archaeological Site Museum, which houses a range of artifacts from the Harappan and subsequent cultural periods, including findings from Kotla Nihang, Bara, Sanghol and Dher Majhra.