Stunning, symmetrical, and sustainable: Stepwells of India

By Ishan Singhal

Imagine yourself as a city planner in ancient India. Your job is to design a solution for year-round water conservation in a dry and arid state, allowing your city to withstand droughts and keep cool during the beatings of the summer. Does your solution include an entirely new field of architectural design and a marvel of engineering? One that would become widespread across the northwest of India, gaining cultural, societal, and religious significance over the last 2,500 years. No? Let me introduce you to the marvel of the stepwells.

Stepwells, also called Vav in Gujarati and Baori/Baoli in north-western India, are massive sub-terranean structures. These wells were dug down for several stories, often descending hundreds of feet into the ground, until contact was made with a steady source of groundwater. To allow descent into the well, steps were carved out into the walls of the well. These flights of steps were where the architectural styles excelled. Repeating symmetrical pattern of masonry lined the walls. The steps not only allowed one to reach the well but also offered resting spots for travelers to cool off. Moreover, a stairway to the water allowed for maintenance and cleaning, a solution not offered by traditional wells and tanks at the time.

Many stepwells also had an intricate system of galleries and chambers to keep the wells cool even during peak summers. In no time, such stepwells became commonplace for drinking water, bathing, rest stops, and even cultural events. Allowing for community gatherings made the areas around the stepwells important for societal and religious gatherings. Many wells from here on were accompanied by temples, pillared corridors, and galleries for performance arts. The exact time period when stepwells were established is still debated in history. But there is agreement that they were around during the Mohenjo-Daro period (~2,500 years ago) and became commonplace in Indian architecture during the medieval period (~1,800 years ago).

One such stepwell also finds itself on the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list. Built over 1,200 years ago in the town of Patan (Gujarat) is this Rani Ki Vav (Queen’s Stepwell). This monument fortifies an inverted temple that leads to the water. The temple itself celebrates the sanctity of water. This well stretches across more than 200 feet and is nearly 100 feet deep. More than 1,500 sculptures depicting deities and apsaras surround the temple and the well. From paying homage to Hindu deities, the sculptures also extensively pay tribute to women of the time. Several sculptures depict the beauty, emotions, and styles of women’s everyday life. Rani Ki Vav is possibly the most magnificent exemplar of stepwell architecture in India.

Another stellar stepwell is the Chand Baori of Abhaneri in Rajasthan. It is a marvelous architectural feat, considering it is believed to have been constructed more than a thousand years ago. It is possibly the largest and deepest stepwell in the world. A fleet of 3,500 steps surrounds the walls of the well in a perfectly symmetrical fashion, descending close to 100 feet into the ground. The precision of this geometry is found nowhere else on the subcontinent during this time period. Additionally, this well has a prominent Jharoka (viewing gallery) with balconies. The galleries enshrine a collection of sculptures on display and are designed to remain cool via the well's water.

Revisiting these triumphs of engineering and architecture is crucially important in the present day. With a renewed focus on sustainable use and conservation of water, through these structures, we can find solidarity across our culture over the importance of water preservation. Not only are these stepwells a reminder of the innovative architectural practices of ancient India, but also a philosophical connection reminding us of conservation and art. For more than two thousand years, these stepwells have shown us how water consumption can be stunning, symmetrical, stylish, and sustainable.

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