The Harappans had a diverse agricultural portfolio. They grew wheat and barley as staples, along with peas, lentils, linseed, and mustard. They are also credited with being the first to cultivate cotton. While rice remains were found, it was not a primary crop compared to wheat and barley.

Harappa is located in the Punjab Province of Pakistan on the old bed of the River Ravi. Conversely, Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh), and Lothal (Gujarat) are all located within modern-day India.

Sutkagan Dor is the westernmost known archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilization. It is located in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, near the Iranian border, whereas Rangpur, Surkotada, and Desalpur are located in Gujarat, India.

While the Harappans had excellent town planning, their underground drainage system was unique in the ancient world. Almost every house was connected to street drains, which were covered, paved with bricks, and equipped with manholes for cleaning, showing an unparalleled focus on sanitation.

Unlike Mesopotamia or Egypt, the Indus Valley Civilization lacks evidence of monumental temples, palaces, or clear public places of worship. Religion appears to have been a more private matter, or rituals were performed in places like the Great Bath rather than temple structures.

Harappa was the first city excavated (circa 1921) and discovered in this region. Although the civilization had roots in earlier cultures like Mehrgarh, the discovery of the great urban center at Harappa defined the civilization, which is why it is academically called the Harappan Civilization.

The Great Bath is one of the most iconic structures of the Indus Valley Civilization, located at Mohenjo-daro in Sindh, Pakistan. It is a large public water tank likely used for ritualistic bathing/cleansing.

Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni started the first extensive excavations at Harappa in 1920–21. This work preceded the excavations at Mohenjo-daro by R.D. Bannerji, leading to the naming of the culture as the 'Harappan Civilization'.

Farmers in the Indus Valley were the first to spin and weave cotton. Fragments of cotton textiles dated between 3250 and 2750 BCE have been recovered at Mohenjo-daro, and cotton seeds found at Mehrgarh date back even further to 5000 BCE.

Chanhudaro is identified as a major industrial center of the Indus Civilization, famous for bead-making, shell-working, and seal-making. It is often referred to as a town of craftsmen, though excavations there have been less frequent in recent times.