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https://reasonstobecheerful.world/reviving-indias-stepwells-water-scarcity/>
"The lawns of Purana Qila in the historic quarters of New Delhi have been
gleaming a brighter shade of green these past few years. The site — whose name
means “old fort,” a nod to its 16th-century vintage — has benefited from
regular watering from a new source of irrigation: the stepwell within its
premises.
Due west of India’s capital, in the desert state of Rajasthan, the Toorji ka
jhalra stepwell in Jodhpur and the Moosi Rani Sagar stepwell in Alwar have been
cleaned up and given a fresh lease of life, attracting tourists and locals
alike. And in Hyderabad in the southern state of Telangana, the Bansilalpet
stepwell, dating back to the 17th century, has recently been thrown open to the
public in its new incarnation as a performance venue.
Stepwells are water reservoirs found in various parts of India that were
created by digging deep down into the earth and making use of natural aquifers
to trap rainwater and groundwater. Most of them have several levels going deep
into the soil (typically at least 25 meters or 82 feet) and are reached through
a series of stone steps. For several centuries, stepwells provided people with
a perennial water source, particularly in areas prone to arid climates and
drought, such as Delhi and Rajasthan — until they fell out of use under British
rule in the 19th century.
Renowned conservation architect and former principal director of the
Architectural Heritage Division at the Indian National Trust for Art and
Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Divay Gupta, says that ancient stepwells were built
with the reverence reserved for temples and palaces — indicating their role in
providing precious water to the people — and had magnificent architecture, with
flourishes like delicate arches and intricately carved statues in wall niches
along the steps.
“They were secular in their function, fulfilling the civic and socioeconomic
needs of the local communities which built them,” he explains. So, apart from
being reliable water sources, stepwells played other social functions: The
shaded pavilions along their steps offered places for weary travelers to rest,
and they served as social hubs for women to meet and chat with friends in the
midst of their busy days.
Art historian Jutta Jain-Neubauer, who conducted research on the stepwells of
Gujarat for her PhD thesis, adds that stepwells in India have long been a
unique and ingenious response to any communities’ need for water: “The
descending passage allows access to the water in the lowest story, where often
there is a small reservoir or pond, where people can sit around, wash
themselves or their clothes and utensils, or provide water to their pack
animals.” She further explains that a special construction technique meant that
this water was not allowed to flow back into the well, keeping it unpolluted.
“The spacious platforms, balconies, and occasionally also underground chambers,
were comfortable and cool resting places for villagers as well as for travelers
with their caravans,” she says."
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*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
