Stepwell

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Stepwells (also known as vavs or baori) are wells, cisterns or ponds with a long corridor of steps that descend to the water level. Stepwells played a significant role in defining subterranean architecture in western India from the 7th to the 19th century. ^[1] Some stepwells are multi-storeyed and can be accessed by a Persian wheel which is pulled by a bull to bring water to the first or second floor. They are most common in western India and are also found in the other more arid regions of the Indian subcontinent, extending into Pakistan. The construction of stepwells is mainly utilitarian, though they may include embellishments of architectural significance, and be temple tanks.

Contents

• Names
• History
• Location of a stepwell
• Function and use
• Details
• Stepped ponds
• In India
• In Pakistan
• Influence
• Gallery
• See also
• Notes
• References
• Further reading
• External links

Stepwells are examples of the many types of storage and irrigation tanks that were developed in India, mainly to cope with seasonal fluctuations in water availability. A basic difference between stepwells on one hand, and tanks and wells on the other, is that stepwells make it easier for people to reach the groundwater and to maintain and manage the well.

The builders dug deep trenches into the earth for dependable, year-round groundwater. They lined the walls of these trenches with blocks of stone, without mortar, and created stairs leading down to the water. ^[2] This led to the building of some significant ornamental and architectural features, often associated with dwellings in urban areas. It also ensured their survival as monuments.

A stepwell structure consists of two sections: a vertical shaft from which water is drawn and the surrounding inclined subterranean passageways and the chambers and steps which provide access to the well. The galleries and chambers surrounding these wells were often carved profusely with elaborate detail and became cool, quiet retreats during the hot summers. ^[3]

Names

A number of distinct names, sometimes local, exist for stepwells. In Hindi-speaking regions, they include names based on baudi (including bawdi (Rajasthani : बावड़ी), bawri, bawari, baori, baoli, bavadi and bavdi). In Gujarati and Marwari language, they are usually called vav, vavri or vaav (Gujarati : વાવ). Other names include kalyani or pushkarani (Kannada), baoli (Hindi : बावली), barav (Marathi : बारव) and degeenar (Bhojpuri: 𑂙𑂵𑂏𑂲𑂢𑂰𑂩).

History

The stepwell may have originated during periods of drought to ensure enough access to the water. The earliest archaeological evidence of stepwells is found at Dholavira where the site also has water tanks or reservoirs with flights of steps. Mohenjo Daro's great bath is also provided with steps on opposite directions. Ashokan inscriptions mention construction of stepwells along major Indian roads at a distance of every 8 kos (about 20.8 miles or 33.5 km) for the convenience of travellers, but Ashoka states that it was a well-established practice which predated him and was done by former kings as well.

King Devanampriya Priyadarsin speaks thus. On the roads banyan-trees were caused to be planted by me, (in order that) they might afford shade to cattle and men, (and) mango-groves were caused to be planted. And (at intervals) of eight kos wells were caused to be dug by me, and flights of steps (for descending into the water) were caused to be built. Numerous drinking-places were caused to be established by me, here and there, for the enjoyment of cattle and men. [But] this so-called enjoyment (is) [of little consequence]. For with various comforts have the people been blessed both by former kings and by myself. But by me this has been done for the following purpose: that they might conform to that practice of morality.

— Ashokan Pillar Edict No 7

The first rock-cut stepwells in India date from 200 to 400 AD. ^[4] The earliest example of a bath-like pond reached by steps is found at Uperkot caves in Junagadh. These caves are dated to the 4th century. Navghan Kuvo, a well with the circular staircase in the vicinity, is another example. It was possibly built in Western Satrap (200–400 AD) or Maitraka (600–700 AD) period, though some place it as late as the 11th century. The nearby Adi Kadi Vav was constructed either in the second half of the 10th century or the 15th century. ^[5]

The stepwells at Dhank in Rajkot district are dated to 550–625 AD. The stepped ponds at Bhinmal (850–950 AD) are followed by it. ^[4] The stepwells were constructed in the southwestern region of Gujarat around 600 AD; from there they spread north to Rajasthan and subsequently to the north and west India. Initially used as an art form by Hindus, the construction of these stepwells hit its peak during Muslim rule from the 11th to 16th century. ^[3]

One of the earliest existing examples of stepwells was built in the 11th century in Gujarat, the Mata Bhavani's Stepwell. A long flight of steps leads to the water below a sequence of multi-story open pavilions positioned along the east–west axis. The elaborate ornamentation of the columns, brackets and beams are a prime example of how stepwells were used as a form of art. ^[6]

The Mughal emperors did not disrupt the culture that was practiced in these stepwells and encouraged the building of stepwells. The authorities during the British Raj found the hygiene of the stepwells less than desirable and installed pipe and pump systems to replace their purpose. ^[6]

Location of a stepwell

A stepwell is generally located in two places - as an extension or part of a temple, and/or the outskirts of a village. ^[2] When a stepwell is associated with a temple or a shrine, it is either at the opposite wall of it or in front of the temple. Sindhvai Mata stepwell in Patan, Mata Bhavani stepwell in Ahmedabad, and the Ankol Mata stepwell in Davad serve as a great example of the stepwells that house shrines. ^[2]

Function and use

The stepwell ensures the availability of water during periods of drought. The stepwells had social, cultural and religious significance. ^[6] These stepwells were proven to be well-built sturdy structures, after withstanding earthquakes. ^[2] Most places in India where there is abundant fresh water only during the monsoon season, stepwell and wells play a critical role in serving as a direct means to fresh water filtered through the earth. While the rivers, rivulets, creeks, and other natural water bodies dry up in this climate zone, stepwell and wells remain at a depth where there is less exposure to sun and heat. ^[2] The majority of surviving stepwells originally served a leisure purpose alongside being main source of water for basic needs like bathing, washing clothes, farming, and watering animals. Stepwells also served as a place for social gatherings and religious ceremonies. Usually, women were more associated with these wells because they were the ones who collected the water. Also, it was they who prayed and offered gifts to the goddess of the well for her blessings. ^[2]

The well-water is known to attract insects, animals, and many other germ breeding organisms. These stepwells, being a common space in frequent use by the inhabitants of the area, were considered to be a source of spreading epidemics and diseases. ^[2]

Details

Many stepwells have ornamentation and details as elaborate as those of Hindu temples. Proportions in relationship to the human body were used in their design, as they were in many other structures in Indian architecture. ^[7]

Stepped ponds

Stepped ponds are very similar to stepwells in terms of purpose. Generally, stepped ponds accompany nearby temples while stepwells are more isolated. ^[8] Stepwells are dark and barely visible from the surface, while stepped ponds are illuminated by the light from the sun. Stepwells are more linear in design compared to the rectangular shape of stepped ponds. ^[7]

In India

A number of surviving significant stepwells in India: can be found across India, including in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and North Karnataka (Karnataka). In 2016 a collaborative mapping project, Stepwell Atlas, ^[9] started to map GPS coordinates and collate information on stepwells, mapping over 2800 stepwells in India. Another project mapped the location of over 1700 stepwells in Maharashtra. ^[10]

Delhi & Haryana:

• Stepwells of Delhi & Haryana:
  In his book Delhi Heritage: Top 10 Baolis, Vikramjit Singh Rooprai mentions that Delhi alone has 32 stepwells. ^[11] Out of these, 16 are lost, but their locations can be traced. Of the remaining 16, only 14 are accessible to public and the water level in these keeps varying, while two are now permanently dry.

Gujarat:

• Rani ki vav at Patan
• Adalaj ni Vav at Adalaj, Gandhinagar
• Dada Harir Stepwell, Ahmedbad
• Navghan Kuvo and Adi Kadi vav, Uparkot Fort, Junagadh
• Vanarashi Vav, Vavdi, Bhavnagar district

Karnataka:

• Kalyani, Hulikere
• Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple, Karnataka

Kerala:

• Sree Peralassery Temple ^[12]

Maharashtra:

• Charthana Stepwell, Parbhani
• Pingli Stepwell, Parbhani
• Arvi Stepwell, Parbhani

Rajasthan:

• Bundi: has over 60 baolis in and around the town.
  • Raniji ki Baori in Bundi
• Jaipur:
  • Chand Baori in Abhaneri near Jaipur
  • Panna Meena ka Kund, Amer
• Jodhpur
  • Birkha Bawari,
• Neem Ka Thana
  • Udoji ki Baori at Mandholi 5 km north of Neem ka Thana on Neem ka Thana-Mandholi-Khetri highway.
• Udaipur

Telangana:

• Bansilalpet Stepwell ^[13]

Uttar Pradesh:

• Shahi Baoli, Lucknow

In Pakistan

Stepwells from Mughal periods still exist in Pakistan. Some are in preserved conditions while others are not.

• Bahar Wali Baoli, in Kharian
• Rohtas Fort, near Jhelum
• Wan Bhachran, near Mianwali
• Losar Baoli, near Islamabad
• Makli Baoli, near Thatta

Influence

Stepwells influenced many other structures in Indian architecture, especially those that incorporate water into their design. ^[3] For example, the Aram Bagh in Agra was the first Mughal garden in India. ^[7] It was designed by the Mughal emperor Babur and reflected his notion of paradise not only through water and landscaping but also through symmetry by including a reflecting pool in the design. He was inspired by stepwells and felt that one would complement the garden of his palace. Many other Mughal gardens include reflecting pools to enhance the landscape or serving as an elegant entrance. Other notable gardens in India which incorporate water into their design include:

• Humayun's Tomb, Nizamuddin East, Delhi
• Taj Mahal, Agra
• Mehtab Bagh, Agra
• Safdarjung's Tomb
• Shalimar Bagh (Srinagar), Jammu and Kashmir
• Nishat Gardens, Jammu and Kashmir
• Yadvindra Gardens, Pinjore
• Khusro Bagh, Allahabad
• Roshanara Bagh

Gallery

• 
  Large stepwell at Nagnath Mandir in Hatnoor Village, Parbhani District in Maharashtra
• 
  View of a stepwell at Fatehpur, Shekhawati
• 
  The 18th-century Baoli Ghaus Ali Shah, in Farrukhnagar, Haryana
• 
  Birkha Bawari, a stepwell at Jodhpur
• 
  Rudabai stepwell or Adalaj ni Vav at Adalaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• 
  Toor Ji Ka Jhalra, stepped well, Jodhpur
• 
  Stepped well, Hampi
• 
  Jachcha Ki Baori in Hindaun, Rajasthan

See also

• Ancient India
  • Water supply and sanitation in the Indus-Saraswati Valley Civilisation
  • History of stepwells in Gujarat
• Important water resource topics of India
  • Water conservation in India

Notes

Related Research Articles

Mehrauli is a neighbourhood in South Delhi, Delhi, India. It represents a constituency in the legislative assembly of Delhi. The area is close to Gurugram and next to Vasant Kunj.

Adalaj is a census town in Gandhinagar district located in the western Indian state of Gujarat. With a population of roughly 12,000 residents within the town limits as of 2011, Adalaj is known for its semi-arid climate and its historic and religious establishments. The town sits in a generally flat area covering about 18 sq. km.

Meham, also spelled Maham, is a small city in Rohtak district of the Indian state of Haryana. It is one of the two sub-divisions in Rohtak district. As a tehsil, it is further divided into two community development blocks, Maham and Lakhan-Majra.

Agrasen Ki Baoli is a 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical stepwell in New Delhi, India.

Temple tanks are wells or reservoirs built as part of the temple complex near Indian temples. They are called pushkarini, kalyani, kunda, sarovara, tirtha, talab, pukhuri, ambalakkuḷam, etc. in different languages and regions of India. Some tanks are said to cure various diseases and maladies when bathed in. It is possible that these are cultural remnants of structures such as the Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro or Dholavira, which was part of the Indus Valley civilization. Some are stepwells with many steps at the sides.

Rani Ki Vav is a stepwell situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat, India. It is located on the banks of the Saraswati River. Its construction is attributed to Udayamati, the spouse of the 11th-century Chaulukya king Bhima I. Silted over, it was rediscovered in the 1940s and restored in the 1980s by the Archaeological Survey of India. It has been listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India since 2014. This stepwell is designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water. It is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels. These panels have more than 500 principal sculptures and over 1000 minor ones combining religious, secular, and symbolic imagery.

Chand Baori is a stepwell situated in the village of Abhaneri in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It extends approximately 30 m (100 ft) into the ground, making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India. It is named after a local ruler of Nikumbh dynasty called Raja Chanda and its construction is dated to the 8th-9th century. It has 3500 steps cascading 13 stories deep into a massive tank at the bottom and has been constructed in an upside-down pyramid-style.

Adalaj Stepwell or Rudabai Stepwell is a stepwell located in the small town of Adalaj, close to Gandhinagar city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was built in 1498 in the memory of Rana Veer Singh of the Vaghela dynasty.

Rajon ki Baoli also referred as Rajon ki Bain is a famous stepwell in Mehrauli Archaeological Park of Delhi, India.

Dwarka Baoli is a historical stepwell recently discovered in Dwarka Sub City, in south west New Delhi, India. It was constructed for the residents of Loharehri village by the Sultans of the Lodi Dynasty in the early 16th century. Dwarka now stands where the Loharehri village once stood. Located in a barren stretch of land between a residential society and a private school on Azad Hind Fauj Marg, Sector 12, Dwarka, at 28-35-58.95 degree North and 77-02-38.67 degree East. It was hidden by a large group of Peepal trees and covered by a thick undergrowth which seems to have aided in its relative obscurity. It is mentioned in Maulvi Zafar Hasan's 1910 Monuments list which says it was not very deep and had 22 steps. It is under restoration by the State archeological department and work will be taken up by INTACH Delhi Chapter.

Amritavarshini Vav, also known as Panchkuva Stepwell or Katkhuni Vav, is a stepwell near the Panchkuva Darwaja in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Bai Harir Sultani Stepwell is a 15th century stepwell in Asarwa area 15 km off Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Mata Bhavani's Stepwell or Mata Bhavani ni Vav is a stepwell in Asarwa area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Jethabhai's Stepwell or Jethabhai ni Vav, is a stepwell in Isanpur area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. It was situated near sha e Alam and one of the heritage stepwells in Ahmedabad.

Vikramjit Singh Rooprai is an Indian author, educator, and heritage activist. He started his career as a software engineer and later became a digital marketing consultant. He left his full time IT job in 2015, and became an educator, establishing heritage labs in schools and training teachers on how to use history to teach various subjects. His first book Delhi Heritage: Top 10 Baolis, dedicated to the stepwells of Delhi, is published by Niyogi Books.

The Baolis of Mehrauli are four stepwells approached through single stage or three stage steps, located in Mehrauli in Delhi, India, in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park mainlined by the Archaeological Survey of India. These are the Anangtal Baoli, the Gandhak Ki Baoli, and the Rajon Ki Baoli. These were built below the ground level as ground water edifices and were built near shrines in medieval times.

Stepwells are wells in which the water is reached by steps. They are most commonly found in western India especially Gujarat where over 120 such wells are reported. The origin of the stepwell may be traced to reservoirs of the cities of the Indus Valley civilization such as Dholavira and Mohenjo-daro. The stepwells were constructed in the south western region of Gujarat around 600 AD. From there they spread north to Rajasthan and subsequently to north and west India. Construction activities accelerated during the tenth to 13th century during the Chaulukya and Vaghela periods. The construction of these stepwells hit its peak during the 11th to 16th century. The Muslim rulers of the 13th to 16th century did not disrupt the culture that was practiced in these stepwells and encouraged the building of stepwells. The wells lost their significance in the 19th century due to introduction of water pumps and pipe-systems.

Māru-Gurjarat architecture or Solaṅkī style, is the style of West Indian temple architecture that originated in Gujarat and Rajasthan from the 11th to 13th centuries, under the Chaulukya dynasty. Although originating as a regional style in Hindu temple architecture, it became especially popular in Jain temples, and mainly under Jain patronage later spread across India, then later to diaspora communities around the world.

The Shahjahan ki baoli, more commonly known as the Choron ki baoli, is a baoli in Maham, Haryana, India. The structure, which was built during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan, collects and holds rainwater for use by the nearby town of Maham. While no longer in mainstay use, the baoli has been persevered as a tourist attraction.

The Architecture of Gujarat consists of architecture in the Indian state of Gujarat.

References

• Rima Hooja: "Channeling Nature: Hydraulics, Traditional Knowledge Systems, And Water Resource Management in India – A Historical Perspective". At infinityfoundation.com
• Livingston, Morna & Beach, Milo (2002). Steps to Water: The Ancient Stepwells of India. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN   1-56898-324-7.
• Vikramjit Singh Rooprai. Delhi Heritage: Top 10 Baolis (2019). Niyogi Books. ISBN   9-38913-611-3.
• Jutta Jain Neubauer The Stepwells of Gujarat: An art-historical Perspective (2001)
• Philip Davies, The Penguin guide to the monuments of India, Vol II (London: Viking, 1989)
• Christopher Tadgell, The History of Architecture in India (London: Phaidon Press, 1990)
• Abhilash Shekhawat, "Stepwells of Gujarat." India's Invitation. 2010. Web. 29 March 2012.<http://www.indiasinvitation.com/stepwells_of_gujarat/>.
• "Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent – glossary". Indoarch.org. Retrieved 18 December 2006.

Further reading

Azmi, Feza Tabassum. The ancient stepwells helping to curb India's water crisis , BBC

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stepwells .

• Stepwell Atlas
• Stepwells of India
• Agrasen ki Baoli
• Stepwell architecture
• Stepwell on Oxfort Art Online
• India's Forgotten Stepwells at ArchDaily