Ancient Stepwells Of India: Symbol Of Sacred Water And Boundary Between Heaven And Earth

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - People of ancient India were famous for building outstanding stepwells and their architecture varies by type, location, and age. Early stepwells were made of stone. Later their builders used mortar, stucco, rubble, and laminar stones.

Surya Kund of Modhera is a large rectangular stepwell known as the finest example of geometry. Here we also see the sun temple. Credit: Parag Sane - CC BY-SA 3.0

Stepwells And Sacredness Of Water

Water plays a special role in Hindu mythology. It is a boundary between heaven and earth known as tirtha. Indian cosmology identifies water as a purifying and renewing element, and it is a crucial part of prayer and consecration.

Its sacredness finds acknowledgment across the subcontinent. It is seen in extraordinary and monumental architecture that displays the engineering achievements of India’s designers and builders.

The stepwells – considered to be manmade tirtha -  became not only sources of drinking water but cool sanctuaries for bathing, prayer, and meditation.

The Pushkarni Octogonal Tank Hampi (Chalukya architectural style) was built in the 15th century, Vijayanagara Dynasty. Credit: Balraj D - CC BY-SA 4.0

Water is also held in reverence because of its shortage in many parts of India. This large country depends on the monsoon rains to refill its water sources and for irrigation. Failure of the monsoon means death and famine to many, while its timely arrival is an occasion for rejoicing.

The concept of the vav, or stepwell, was a response to the harsh climate of Gujarat and Rajasthan in the west of India and the acute shortage of water. Since wells access ground-water, they are the most reliable source of a continuous water supply.

The vav came to be associated with more than just a water source.

“The architecture around the original well was designed in such a way that the vav came to be a subterranean retreat. The vav consists of two elements. The well itself is a vertical shaft with a thick surrounding wall to maximize water retention. A series of imposing flights of steps, built over an inclined passage, broken at various regular levels by landings, leads from the ground level to the water level deep below,” writes Thapar Bindia in her book 'Introduction to Indian Architecture.

Many Stepwells Have Survived The Test Of Time

A number of surviving stepwells can be found across India. They have survived the test of time and are most common in western India and are also found in several other more arid regions of the Indian subcontinent, extending into Pakistan.

One of the recent discoveries is a stepwell in Dholavira, Kutch.

Ancient ruins of the Dholariva stepwell. Credit: Lalit Gajjer - CC BY-SA 4.0

Dholavira is an archaeological site in the state of Gujarat in western India and one of the five largest Harappan sites that contain ruins of an ancient Indus Valley civilization.

The 5,000-year-old stepwell is impressive and huge in size structure; it is rectangular and 73.4m long, 29.3m wide, and 10m deep. Moreover, it is three times bigger than the Great Bath at Mohenjo Daro and the best furnished ancient reservoir discovered so far in the country.

This stepwell is not the only one in the area. There may be many more, both stepwells and reservoirs buried in Dholavira ancient site. A huge lake and an ancient shoreline are most likely buried in the site.

Among many stepwells of India, there are some particularly popular; we mention a few of them.

Adalaj Stepwell With Frieze Of Nine Planets

Located in a small village of Adalaj near Ahmedabad, Gujarat,  Adalaj Vav was built in 1499 by Queen Rudabai, the wife of a local chieftain. It is covered with sculptures of dancing maidens, erotica, women churning buttermilk, images of Shiva, and the Kalpa Vriksha (a tree of life) carved out of a single slab of stone.

There is a belief that the small frieze of navagraha (nine-planets) towards the edge of the well protects the monument from evil spirits.

The structure comprises a series of platforms and galleries raised on pillars on the sides of the stepwell. It has served as a resting place for many centuries for caravans and pilgrims. An opening in the ceilings above the landing, allows the light and air to enter the octagonal well. However, direct sunlight does not reach the stepwell’s interior except for a brief period at noon.

It is said that the atmosphere inside the well is six degrees cooler than the outside. Another remarkable feature of this stepwell is that out of the many stepwells in Gujarat. It is the only one with three entrance stairs. All three stairs meet at the first story, underground in a huge square platform, which has an octagonal opening on top.

Rani ki Vav Stepwell

Rani ki vav, or Ran-ki vav (Queen’s step well) was constructed during the rule of the Chaulukya dynasty. It is generally assumed that it was built in the memory of Bhima I (r. c. 1022–1064) by his widowed queen Udayamati and probably completed by Udayamati and Karna after his death.

The Rani-ki-Vav at Patan, which descends to seven stories beneath the ground level and measures 36 meters by 4 meters, gives an idea of the scale. The flights of steps, built between two massive retaining walls, are covered at various levels, as are the series of pillared galleries and chambers that open out from each landing. Pillars, capitals, railings, and walls, all made of local stone, are sumptuously carved, with a mixture of decorative motifs and iconography, creating a unique architecture.

Agrasen's Baoli (Agrasen ki Baoli) with 103 steps

Some parts of the Baoli are permanently immersed in water, but there exist three levels in the visible area (the area which is above the water) of the Baoli, each of which is lined with arched niches on either sides.

The Baoli is 60 meters long and 15-meter wide rectangular stepwell, made up of a series of superimposed arches supported on piers or columns.

Some parts of this stepwell are permanently immersed in water, but there exist three levels in the visible area (the area which is above the water) of the Baoli, each of which is lined with arched niches on either side.

Remarkable Chand Baori in Abhaneri

Constructed in 800 AD, Chand Baori consists of 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories. It extends approximately 30 m (100 ft) into the ground, making it one of India's deepest and largest stepwells.

Chand Baori in Abhaneri, near Jaipur, Rajasthan is a remarkable stepwell and one of the oldest and most attractive landmarks in Rajasthan. It is considered the most visually spectacular stepwells.

Chand Baori is a deep four-sided structure with an immense temple on one face. 3,500 Escher-esqe terraced steps march down the other three sides 13 stories to a depth of 100 feet.

Modhera Stepwell

One of the three components of the Sun Temple at Modhera, Gujarat, India, is Kunda, the reservoir. The reservoir has steps to reach the bottom and numerous small shrines. The geometry of this structure is amazing.

Modhera stepwell. Credit: Shakti - CC BY-SA 3.0

The Sun Temple complex of Modhera, situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati, Modhera temple is under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India. Surya Kund of Modhera is a large rectangular stepped water tank known as the finest example of geometry.

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

Updated on August 1, 2021

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