Which of the following were Harappan cities?

(A) Pataliputra

(B) Lothal

(C) Harappa

(D) Dholavira

(E) Banawali

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct option is (B), (C), (D) and (E).

To understand why this is the correct choice, let us analyze each of the given cities and check their association with the ancient Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization:
1. (A) Pataliputra: This was a major ancient city in ancient India, but it was not a Harappan city. It was founded in the 5th century BCE by the ruler Udayin of the Haryanka dynasty and later served as the capital of major empires like the Nanda, Maurya, and Gupta empires. Since the Harappan Civilization flourished much earlier (c. 2600 – 1900 BCE), Pataliputra is excluded.
2. (B) Lothal: Located in modern-day Gujarat, India, Lothal was one of the most prominent cities of the Harappan Civilization. It is particularly famous for having the world's earliest known dockyard, which connected the city to an old course of the Sabarmati River.
3. (C) Harappa: This was the first site of the civilization to be excavated in the 1920s (located in modern-day Punjab, Pakistan). It is the namesake city of the "Harappan Civilization" and served as a major urban center.
4. (D) Dholavira: Located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India, Dholavira is another major Harappan city. It is well-known for its unique water harvesting system, grand reservoirs, and highly sophisticated urban planning.
5. (E) Banawali: Located in the Fatehabad district of Haryana, India, Banawali is an important Harappan site showing signs of pre-Harappan, Harappan, and post-Harappan cultures. It has yielded significant archaeological finds like clay models of plows.

By evaluating these options, we can see that Lothal (B), Harappa (C), Dholavira (D), and Banawali (E) are all verified Harappan cities, whereas Pataliputra (A) belongs to a later historical period. Therefore, the combination containing (B), (C), (D), and (E) is the correct answer.