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READING PASSAGE 14
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Stepwells
A millennium ago, stepwells were fundamental to life in the driest parts of India. Although many have
been neglected, recent restoration has returned them to their former glory. Richard Cox travelled to
north-western India to document these spectacular monuments from a bygone era.
During the sixth and seventh centuries, the inhabitants of the modern-day states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in
North-western India developed a method of gaining access to clean, fresh groundwater during the dry season
for drinking, bathing, watering animals and irrigation. However, the significance of this invention – the
stepwell – goes beyond its utilitarian application.
Unique to the region, stepwells are often architecturally complex and vary widely in size and shape. During
their heyday, they were places of gathering, of leisure, of relaxation and of worship for villagers of all but the
lowest castes.Most stepwells are found dotted around the desert areas of Gujarat (where they are called vav)
and Rajasthan (where they are known as baori), while a few also survive in Delhi.
Some were located in or
near villages as public spaces for the community; others were positioned beside roads as resting places for
travellers.
As their name suggests, stepwells comprise a series of stone steps descending from ground level to the
water source (normally an underground aquifer) as it recedes following the rains. When the water level was
high, the user needed only to descend a few steps to reach it; when it was low, several levels would have to be
negotiated.
Some
wells are vast, open craters with hundreds of steps paving each sloping side, often in tiers. Others are
more elaborate, with long stepped passages leading to the water via several storeys built from stone and
supported by pillars, they also included pavilions that sheltered visitors from the relentless heat. But perhaps
the most impressive features are the intricate decorative sculptures that embellish many stepwells, showing
activities from fighting and dancing to everyday acts such as women combing their hair and churning butter.
Down the centuries, thousands of wells were constructed throughout northwestern India,
but the majority have
now fallen into disuse; many are derelict and dry, as groundwater has been diverted for industrial use and the
wells no longer reach the water table. Their condition hasn’t been helped by recent dry spells: southern
Rajasthan suffered an eight-year drought between 1996 and 2004.
However, some important sites in Gujarat have recently undergone major restoration, and the state government
announced in June last year that it plans to restore the stepwells throughout the state.
In Patan, the state’s ancient capital, the stepwell of Rani Ki Vav (Queen’s Stepwell) is perhaps the finest
current example. It was built by Queen Udayamati during the late 11th century, but became silted up following
a flood during the 13th century. But the Archaeological Survey of India began restoring it in the 1960s, and
today it’s in pristine condition. At 65
metres long, 20 metres wide and 27 metres deep, Rani Ki Vav features
500 distinct sculptures carved into niches throughout the monument, depicting gods such as Vishnu and
Parvati in various incarnations. Incredibly, in January 2001, this ancient structure survived
a devastating earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.
Another example is the Surya Kund in Modhera, northern Gujarat, next to the Sun Temple, built by King
Bhima I in 1026 to honour the sun god Surya. It’s actually a tank (kund means reservoir or pond) rather than a
well, but displays the hallmarks
of stepwell architecture, including four sides of steps that descend to the
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bottom in a stunning geometrical formation. The terraces house 108 small, intricately carved shrines between
the sets of steps.
Rajasthan also has a wealth of wells. The ancient city of Bundi, 200 kilometres south of Jaipur, is reknowned
for its architecture, including its stepwells. One of the larger examples is Raniji Ki Baori, which was built by
the
queen of the region, Nathavatji, in 1699. At 46 metres deep, 20 metres wide and 40 metres long,
the intricately carved monument is one of 21 baoris commissioned in the Bundi area by Nathavatji.
In the old ruined town of Abhaneri, about 95 kilometres east of Jaipur, is Chand Baori, one of India’s oldest
and deepest wells; aesthetically, it’s perhaps one of the most dramatic. Built in around 850 AD next to the
temple of Harshat Mata, the baori comprises hundreds of zigzagging steps that run
along three of its sides,
steeply descending 11 storeys, resulting in a striking geometric pattern when seen from afar. On the fourth
side, covered verandas supported by ornate pillars overlook the steps.
Still in public use is Neemrana Ki Baori, located just off the Jaipur–Dehli highway. Constructed in around
1700, it’s nine storeys deep, with the last two levels underwater. At ground level, there are 86 colonnaded
openings from where the visitor descends 170 steps to the deepest water source.
Today, following years of neglect, many of these monuments to medieval engineering
have been saved by the
Archaeological Survey of India, which has recognised the importance of preserving them as part of the
country’s rich history. Tourists flock to wells in far-flung corners of northwestern India to gaze in wonder at
these architectural marvels from 1,000 years ago, which serve as a reminder of both the ingenuity and artistry
of ancient civilisations and of the value of water to human existence
