One of the world's best-preserved Bronze Age cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with excavated streets, a Great Bath, granary and citadel mound dating to around 2500 BCE.
Mohenjo-daro lies on the Indus River plain near Larkana in northern Sindh, its excavated ruins forming one of the best-preserved cities of the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization, dated to around 2500 BCE. Visitors walk the grid-planned streets of baked-brick houses, view the Great Bath's stepped tank believed to have served ritual bathing purposes, and climb the raised citadel mound where the granary and assembly hall once stood. An on-site museum displays artifacts recovered from the excavation, including the famous steatite seals, terracotta figurines and the small bronze 'Dancing Girl' replica (the original is held in New Delhi). The scale of the exposed ruins is considerable, and there is little shade across the site, so a visit works best paired with the museum to break up time outdoors. A full visit covering both the ruins and museum takes 2-3 hours. Winter mornings between November and February are by far the most comfortable time to explore, as Larkana's summer heat makes midday visits between May and September genuinely difficult.
| Admission | Adult PKR 3,000 for foreign nationals (approx $10.79); PKR 50 for Pakistani nationals · Child Reduced rate for Pakistani school-age children |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily, approx 9:00AM-5:00PM, shorter in summer around midday heat |
| Typical visit | 2-3 hours including the on-site museum |
| Best time | Winter mornings (November-February), when temperatures across the Larkana plain are far more comfortable |
| Getting there | Reached by road from Larkana city, roughly 25km away, or Sukkur; no direct public transport serves the site, so taxi or hired car is standard |
| Address | Mohenjo-daro Rd, near Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan |
Location
Mohenjo-daro Rd, near Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan
27.3294, 68.1378 View on map
Highlights
- Grid-planned Bronze Age streets and brick houses
- The Great Bath ritual bathing tank
- Citadel mound with granary and assembly hall remains
- On-site museum with Indus Valley seals and artifacts
- UNESCO World Heritage Site status
Tips for visiting
- Visit between November and February to avoid the extreme summer heat of the Larkana plain
- Hire a car or taxi from Larkana or Sukkur, as no direct public transport serves the site
- Bring a hat, sunscreen and water, since the excavated site offers little shade
- Start early in the day to combine the ruins and museum before the heat builds
- A local guide at the entrance can add useful context to the layout of the ruins
When to visit
Winter mornings (November-February), when temperatures across the Larkana plain are far more comfortable.
Accessibility
The site is largely unpaved with uneven excavated surfaces and no consistent ramps, making it difficult for wheelchair users to navigate fully.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Mohenjo-daro take?
Seeing the excavated ruins and the on-site museum together takes about 2-3 hours.
Is it worth visiting with children?
Older children interested in history and archaeology tend to get more out of a visit than very young children, given the site's size and lack of shade.
Is photography allowed at Mohenjo-daro?
Photography is generally permitted across the ruins; a separate rule may apply to flash photography inside the museum.