The Indus valley civilization forms an important link in the chronology of development of human civilization, and the archaeological evidence found at Harappan and Mohenjo-daro is still a big unsolved mystery. The famous bronze statue of a dancing girl is a perfect example of the high metallurgical skill achieved by the inhabitants of the Indus valley. Gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and iron were known and used in antiquity in India, attesting to the knowledge of the metallurgy of these metals. The author reviews the chronological development of the art of metal extraction and metal working in India, discusses the controversial issue of the origin of iron metallurgy, and deals with the independent development of iron extraction and wootz steel making. The iron pillar of Delhi is also mentioned. -- AATA