Lok Sabha Question No. 1133 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Archaeological Excavations in Braj Region
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Smt. Hema Malini

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1133

ANSWERED ON-10.02.2025

## ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN BRAJ REGION

+1133. SMT.  HEMA MALINI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  emphasizing  on  more  and  more  archaeological  excavations  to understand the ancient culture of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Braj is a very important region from the point of view of Indian culture but very little archaeological excavation has been done in the region; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a)  and  (b)  The  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  regularly  conducts  archaeological excavations to understand the ancient culture of the country. The details  of the archaeological excavations  conducted  by  the  ASI  across  the  country  during  the  last  ten  years  are  given  at Annexure-I .

(c) and (d) ASI has conducted several archaeological excavations in Braj region. The details of excavations conducted in this region are given at Annexure-II .

## ANNEXURE-l

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  and  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1133 FOR 10.02.2025.

## DETAILS OF EXCAVATIONS CARRIED OUT BY ASI FROM 2015-16 to 2024-25:

|   S. no. | Name of Site                                               | Year                |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|        1 | Adichanallur and cluster of sites, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu | 2021-22 and 2022-23 |
|        2 | Ajatshatru ka Qila Maidan/ New Rajgriha, Bihar             | 2023-24             |
|        3 | Asurgarh, Kalahandi, Odisha                                | 2018-19             |
|        4 | Bahaj, Deeg, Rajasthan                                     | 2023-24             |
|        5 | Barabati Fort, Cuttack, Odisha                             | 2023-24             |
|        6 | Barnauli ki Dhai, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh                   | 2021-22             |
|        7 | Barnawa, Uttar Pradesh                                     | 2017-18             |
|        8 | Bewan, Neem ka Thana, Rajasthan                            | 2022-23             |
|        9 | Bhadiswar, Birbhum, West Bengal                            | 2024-25             |
|       10 | Bharati Huda, Cuttack, Odisha                              | 2017-18             |
|       11 | Bharatpur, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal                    | 2022-23             |
|       12 | Bhimbetka, Raisen, Madhya Pradesh                          | 2023-24             |
|       13 | Bibi-Ka-Maqbara, Aurangabad, Maharashtra                   | 2021-22 to 2023-24  |
|       14 | Binjore, Rajasthan                                         | 2015-16 and 2016-17 |
|       15 | Brahmagiri, Chitradurga, Karnataka                         | 2024-25             |
|       16 | Buddhist stupa, Kesariya, East Champaran, Bihar            | 2023-24             |
|       17 | Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu                                   | 2024-25             |
|       18 | Choskor, Gangles, Ladakh                                   | 2015-16             |
|       19 | Dum Dum Mound, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal              | 2022-23             |
|       20 | Eran, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh                                | 2019-20 and 2020-21 |
|       21 | Erich, Uttar Pradesh                                       | 2018-19             |
|       22 | Gorakshana Mound, Gaurisagar, Sibsagar, Assam              | 2022-23             |
|       23 | Gottiprolu, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Andhra Pradesh    | 2018-19 and 2019-20 |
|       24 | Group of temples Bateswar, Morena, Madhya Pradesh          | 2022-23             |
|       25 | Gunja, Mehsana, Gujarat                                    | 2018-19             |
|       26 | Halebidu, Hassan, Karnataka                                | 2020-21             |
|       27 | Harinagar, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh                           | 2016-17             |
|       28 | Janampet, Badrari Kothagudam, Telangana                    | 2018-19             |
|       29 | Jangalisthan ka Tila, Bhagalpur, Bihar                     | 2023-24             |
|       30 | Jharhiamba, Angul, Odisha                                  | 2017-18             |
|       31 | Kachhwa, Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh                           | 2024-25             |
|       32 | Kalibanga, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan                          | 2019-20 and 2020-21 |
|       33 | Karti-Wdre, Jammu and Kashmir                              | 2024-25             |
|       34 | Kaserua Khera, Palwal, Haryana                             | 2022-23 and 2023-24 |
|       35 | Keeladi, Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu                             | 2015-16 and 2016-17 |
|       36 | Kesariya, East Champaran, Bihar                            | 2018-19             |

|   37. | Kodumanal, Erode, Tamil Nadu                               | 2017-18                        |
|-------|------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|    38 | Kodumbalur, Tamil Nadu                                     | 2024-25                        |
|    39 | Kohla, Nagpur, Maharashtra                                 | 2023-24                        |
|    40 | Kurisarai, Gaya, Bihar                                     | 2021-22                        |
|    41 | Kushan Stupa known as Jarasandha Ka Qila, Asandh, Haryana  | 2023-24 and 2024-25            |
|    42 | Lagundi Hills, Jajpur, Odisha                              | 2019-20 and 2020-21            |
|    43 | Mahurjhari, Nagpur, Maharashtra                            | 2019-20 and 2020-21            |
|    44 | Man Singh Palace, Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh    | 2022-23                        |
|    45 | Nachna Kuthara, Panna, Madhya Pradesh                      | 2023-24                        |
|    46 | Nara Huda, Khurda, Odisha                                  | 2021-22 to 2023-24             |
|    47 | Obra, Chatra, Jhakhand                                     | 2022-23                        |
|    48 | Ojiyana, Bhilwara, Rajasthan                               | 2022-23                        |
|    49 | Palace and temple complex at Navratangarh, Gumla, Jhakhand | 2023-24                        |
|    50 | Pan Supari Bazar, Kamalapura, Karnataka                    | 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2024-25   |
|    51 | Papur, Siwan, Bihar                                        | 2016-17                        |
|    52 | Parabhadi (Sukhuapada), Cuttack, Odisha                    | 2022-23                        |
|    53 | Pattanam, Ernakulam, Kerala                                | 2023-24                        |
|    54 | Phubgaon, Amaravati, Maharashtra                           | 2017-18 and 2018-19            |
|    55 | Purana Qila, Delhi                                         | 2017-18, 2019-20, and 2022-23  |
|    56 | Raigad fort, Raigad, Maharashtra                           | 2017-18                        |
|    57 | Rakhigarhi, Hisar, Haryana                                 | 2018-19 and 2020-21 to 2024-25 |
|    58 | Ramtal, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh                             | 2015-16                        |
|    59 | Ratnagiri, Odisha                                          | 2024-25                        |
|    60 | Rithi-Rajna, Nagpur, Maharashtra                           | 2017-18                        |
|    61 | Rukministhan, Nalanda, Bihar                               | 2016-17                        |
|    62 | Sakatpur, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh                        | 2016-17                        |
|    63 | Sari Deul, Bhubaneswar, Odisha                             | 2021-22                        |
|    64 | Sarwal, Patan, Gujarat                                     | 2023-24                        |
|    65 | Saser, Nubra, Indian Side of Karakoram, Leh, Ladakh        | 2015-16                        |
|    66 | Shakra Tila, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh                         | 2017-18                        |
|    67 | Sinauli, Uttar Pradesh                                     | 2017-18 and 2018-19            |
|    68 | Sitagarha, Hazaribagh, Jhakhand                            | 2019-20 to 2021-22             |
|    69 | St. Augustine Tower, Old Goa, Goa                          | 2022-23                        |
|    70 | Suabarei, Puri, Odisha                                     | 2015-16                        |
|    71 | Taranga, Mehsana, Gujarat                                  | 2018-19                        |
|    72 | Tewar, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh                            | 2020-21 and 2021-22            |
|    73 | Thed Mound, Sirsa, Haryana                                 | 2018-19 to 2020-21             |
|    74 | Thiruvanchikulum, Thrissur, Kerala                         | 2016-17                        |
|    75 | Tibba Taliana, Jinder Mehlu Village, Jammu and Kashmir     | 2020-21                        |

|   76. | Tilwara Sakin, Uttar Pradesh         | 2024-25             |
|-------|--------------------------------------|---------------------|
|    77 | Ultakhera, Hastinapur, Uttar Pradesh | 2021-22             |
|    78 | Uren, Lakhisarai, Bihar              | 2016-17 to 2018-19  |
|    79 | Vadakupattu, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu | 2022-23 and 2023-24 |
|    80 | Vadnagar, Mehsana, Gujarat           | 2015-16 to 2021-22  |
|    81 | Vangchhia, Champhai, Mizoram         | 2017-18 and 2018-19 |
|    82 | Vihar, Gandhinagar, Gujarat          | 2021-22 to 2022-23  |

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ANNEXURE-ll ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) and (d) OF LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1133 FOR 10.02.2025.

DETAILS OF EXCAVATIONS CARRIED OUT IN BRAJ REGION BY ASI:

|   S.No. | Name of the Site                               | Years                      |
|---------|------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|
|       1 | Katra Mound, Mathura                           | 1954-55 and 1973-74        |
|       2 | Khalaua, Agra                                  | 1965-66                    |
|       3 | Sonkh, Mathura                                 | 1966-67,1968-69 to 1972-73 |
|       4 | Katra Mound, Tila, Hathi Tila, Mathura         | 1974-75                    |
|       5 | Katra Mound, Kankali Tila, Hathi Tila, Mathura | 1975-76 and 1976-77        |
|       6 | Batesvara, Agra                                | 1975-76                    |
|       7 | Rambagh                                        | 1976-77                    |
|       8 | Fathehpur Sikri, Agra                          | 1976-77 to 1988-89         |
|       9 | Sadhwara Khera, Agra                           | 1991-92                    |
|      10 | Mehtab Bagh, Agra                              | 1993-94,1996-97            |
|      11 | Bir Chhabili Tila, Fathehpur Sikiri, Agra      | 1999-2000                  |
|      12 | Barnauli Ki Dhai, Mathura                      | 2021-22                    |
|      13 | Bahej, Deeg                                    | 2023-24                    |

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