The wonders of stepwells in India
The wonders of stepwells in India
Stepwells are one example of the many types of water storage and irrigation tanks developed in India most designed to accommodate seasonal fluctuations in water levels Large and small rock temples are common in northwestern India from Delhi down through Rajasthan and Gujarat where a large and small number of large and small rock temples are concentrated The wonder of rock temples locally known as baori or vaou lies in the fact that instead of being built high above the ground they are built skyward
A fundamental difference between stepwells and tanks and wells is that stepwells provide easy access to groundwater as well as maintenance and management The passageways and chambers surrounding these wells are often intricately carved providing a tranquil and cool environment during the summer months The builders dug deep trenches into the earth to ensure a year-round supply of groundwater They then lined these trenches with stones without mortar and built steps leading down to the water source Stepwells may have originated during the dry season to ensure a sufficient supply of water
The earliest archaeological evidence of stepwells is found at Dholavira which also contains a water tank or reservoir with several steps Stepwells are most commonly found in western India and other arid areas of the Indian subcontinent extending as far as Pakistan Stepwell construction is largely functional although they may also feature architecturally significant ornamentation This has led to the construction of some significant decorative and architectural features often associated with urban dwellings This has also allowed these decorative features to survive as monuments and possibly as temple reservoirs
Some stepwells are multi-tiered and accessed using a Persian wheel pulled by oxen to bring water to the first or second level A stepwell is a reservoir or well with a long stair-like passage leading down to the water level Stepwells played a crucial role in shaping subterranean architecture in western India from the 7th to the 19th centuries The stepwell structure consists of two parts a vertical shaft for drawing water a surrounding sloping underground passage and a chamber and stairs connecting to the well
