Situated about 85 km southwest of Ahmedabad, Lothal is an archaeological site that was a part of the Indus Valley civilisation existing almost 4500 years ago. Discovered in 1954, Lothal was excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India between the years 1955 to 1960.

Lothal (‘mound of the dead’ in Gujarati) is an interesting example of a well planned town from the Indus Valley Civilization. Excavations have revealed a dockyard at Lothal which is the world’s earliest. The complex lock gate system suggests that the Harappans must have possessed great knowledge relating to tides in order to build such a dock. Seals found during excavations reveal that Lothal was a vital and thriving trade centre in ancient times, with its trade of beads, gems and valuable ornaments reaching as far as Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia.

 The vast ruins of Lothal attract tourists to this ancient archaeological site. The ancient dockyard, the acropolis, the lower town, the warehouses, and the drainage system.are the main sites of Lothal.
Adjacent to the excavated areas stands the Archaeological Museum, where some of the most prominent collections of Indus-era antiquities such as jewellery, pottery, seals, weights and measures etc are displayed.

To visit Lothal you can make a day trip from Ahmedabad. The drive to Lothal takes about 3 hours and one can hire a taxi or take a bus from Ahmedabad.