The state directorate of archaeology has been conducting excavations at Nagardhan for three years with experts from Deccan College, Pune. The Vakatakas, who ruled from the mid-third to fifth Century AD, had four branches, of which two are known. Nagardhan, called Nandivardhan in the Vakataka era, is located around 5 kms from Ramtek, where Kalidasa is believed to have written his epic 'Meghadoot'. "The site was populated even before the Vakataka era to the late iron age dating back to 1,000 to 600 century BC," explained Sontakke. "Vakataka era remains show public investments and public works... irrigation structures like bricked canals and ponds, terracota pipelines used to take sewage away and public places.

Source: dna April 02, 2018 00:00 UTC