Over the last few years, Stepwells have been drawing a large number of tourists to Rajasthan. Chand Baori in Abhaneri is one of the most popular tourist attractions; on the other hand, Panna Meena Kund in Jaipur is one of the top Instagrammable places in Jaipur. These step-wells are an important part of the heritage of Jaipur.
Baoris exist in dichotomy. Some are extremely popular, and others are living obscure life. The world has moved on and forgotten these water structures in their entirety unless they serve as tourist attractions. On the other hand, the tourist is unaware of the importance these stepwells played in the lives of people in the old days. These were not merely a source of water, rather stepwells represented a culture.
Importance Of Water
We already know water is important for the existence of human life. Historians concur that all ancient civilizations developed & prospered near water- rivers, and lakes. This holds true for the Chinese, Indus, Egyptian, and Mesopotamia civilizations. The importance of water did not end here. All dominant cities & kingdoms developed near the sea or river for example Lisbon, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and London, to name a few. Back in India, some of the important port cities were Muziris, Bharuch, Kaveripattinam, Nagapattinam, and Arikamedu. Water was needed not just for daily necessities; it also fueled travel, trade, & transportation by way of ships and boats. The role of water is well-known in the case of the industrial revolution. The fate of battles and wars was often decided by water availability. Every so often, the siege of a fort lasted for months in anticipation of water sources drying up among the enemy camp. It is definitely hard to imagine the importance of water in the days of modern piped water; think of our lives if there was no water.
Jaipur- Importance, context, and history of water
In a semi-arid landscape, the importance of stored water was immense. Jaipur still has two old water bodies to date, namely Jal Mahal and Talkatora. Both of these were not used for drinking purposes.
Rajamal Ka Talab,a considerably older one, doesn’t exist anymore. This was a natural lake to the north of City Palace and Govind Dev Ji Temple and south of Garh Ganesh Temple. All that exists presently in its place are dwelling units and Flower Bazaar. The water source for Rajamal Ka Talab was the overrun of rainwater from Nahargarh Fort hills.
The water shortages were mitigated by building stepwells and wells. There have been instances of famine and low rainfall for consecutive years; stepwells have aided to tide over such a situation. A few historians claim the existence of over 600 wells in the walled city area or “Char Diwari” during the days of the princely state. It is not difficult to find wells even now. Since most have been put out of use, these have either been covered, filled up, or locked.
Stepwells in Jaipur
Jaipur had many Stepwells or Baoris in and around the city. A few survived while others were filled in to make space for a dwelling unit or a commercial space. Even residents of Jaipur are not aware of the existence of most of these Baoris except the Nahargarh Baori and Panna Meena Kund. Here are the pictures of a few stepwells in and around Jaipur.
Jaipur was part of the Dhundhar region, characterized by a semi-arid landscape. The summers are hot with scorching sun and the primary source of water is rainfall. It was critical to saving the rainwater so that it could be utilized for the entire year. Jaipur did not have a perennial source of water like a river. Although some historians talk about the presence of the Dravyawati river, a lot is still to be known. People of this region had to rely on stepwells and wells for water. Piped water supply in Jaipur was made possible in 1868 AD during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II. Previously, one could fetch water from one of three Chaupars, wells & stepwells in the city.
One can still witness one or two step-wells in Brahampuri or Purani Basti areas, but a significant number of Stepwells have been filled in and dwelling units built over them. Thanks to the rapid urbanization over the last five decades. Both these areas are densely populated, and the land is expensive.
Locals share stories of having grown up with Baoris as an integral part of their life; sadly, those structures don’t exist anymore. Simultaneously, the ones that exist are not easy to detect because buildings have come up at a remarkably rapid pace in and around these step-wells. Illegal construction and encroachments are common occurrences.
Some communities regard Stepwells as sacred and the locals clean them regularly; very often the Baori was part of a temple complex. However, it is not the case with all communities. Integration and involvement with local communities are important for the survival of these ancient water structures.
These Baoris were not merely bodies that provided water, rather they were part of routine life. Baoris were the social places where women would catch up and chat.
Some Baoris were built outside the city limits and functioned as Dharamashalas or guest houses. The gates of the city would close at a designated time. Anyone reaching beyond this stipulated time could spend the night in Baori. This is evident in Sarai Baori, a stepwell in Jaipur. The word Sarai means guest houses. This was well known to the travelers in this region. A temple was also part of this Baori. As per information available, it was built during the rule of the Mughal emperor, Akbar.
Many Baoris have undergone renovation under the SURAJ project of Nagar Nigam Jaipur, State Urban Agenda For Rajasthan as recently as 2017. While it is definitely a way forward, we also need to find some use for the same.
Why it is called Stepwell?
Stepwell is called so because it is essentially a well with steps. The water can be accessed at any level with the help of steps. Stepwells are known by many names like Baori, Baoli, Bawdi, Vav, to name a few. The simple premise of building stepwell was to allow people to access water at all levels. The water level inside the structure can fluctuate according to the underground water table. The steps allow one to access this water no matter what the level is.
Stepwell vs Well
Stepwell is spread over a more substantial area than a well. The structure of the well typically consists of a deep pit in a circular shape. Very often, depending on the geographic location and time period, it can possess decorative elements & a pulley to help draw water. In stark contrast, stepwells can have many unique layouts and designs. Some of the stepwells are incredibly beautiful with ornate carvings. The best example is Chand Baori, near Jaipur. Stepwell could additionally serve as a resting place for travelers during ancient times. Wells, on the other hand, provided just water. In short, stepwell is an extension of a well.
stepwell architecture
Stepwell in India varied immensely in terms of layout and architecture. In Rajasthan, Chand Baori is one of the largest stepwells in India. On the other hand, the Baori in Modhera, Gujarat possess an element of art. Stepwells like Chand Baori and Panna Meena Kund are square in shape whereas most Baoris tend to be rectangular. Some believe Chand Baori is best classified as a Step pond. In many Baoris in Jaipur and Rajasthan, a well is a part of the Baori structure. The water can be fetched with a pulley for drinking purposes. Usually, this well is at the farthest end of the Baori.
Stepwells in Jaipur were largely utilitarian in design and were not ornate. As an exception, a few of the structures feature relief work or niches on the walls. Jaipur stepwell is similar to Agrasen Ki Baoli in Delhi, in terms of architecture.
Some of the stepwells have beautiful gates built-in vernacular architectural style. And some have design elements similar to the old entry gates in Jaipur.
Innovative uses for Stepwell
- Travel & Tourism-While the stepwells across Rajasthan and India have ceased to provide utility to the people for which they were constructed, there is a silver lining. Many Baoris have become immensely popular among travelers and tourists like Panna Meena Kund, Chand Baori, and Nahargarh Baori to name a few. Heritage water walks are being conducted in many places. Nahargarh Water Walk & Amer Water Walk Ramgarh Heritage Water Walk is another water walk.
- Meeting spots & cultural events– In some places, Baoris serve as a venue for holding meets, traditional dances, Sufi dances, music, Qawalli, etc. Such performances attract many new people and allow them to explore forgotten places. Toor Ji Ka Jhalra in Jodhpur is a good example of the same.
- Water Conservation campaigns-The Baoris remain excellent places to convene meetings on raising awareness of conserving water.
- The water scarcity issue is already surfacing every now and then. Some of these water bodies can be utilized to help us tackle water scarcity. One of the key issues in fixing the water use & collection is illegal construction obstructing the water inflow systems.
- Dinner Venue-During my visit to Khandela, I was surprised to know that Baori is used as a dinner venue for travelers. The Baori is lit up with lanterns, and folk artists perform at the venue. This provides travelers with a unique experience. Here is one such Baori from Shekhawati near Jaipur. Many resorts are now using Baoris as candlelit dinner venues offering a novel experience.
History of Stepwell
As per historians, stepwells have been part of western India for the last 1200 years. These underground water structures are usually between three to eight or nine stories. A large number of stepwells were also part of temple complexes and also functioned as community spaces. Some experts are of opinion that step ponds were part of the temple structure but step wells were not. In my opinion, this is not always the case.
It is also a common belief among historians & researchers that step ponds were meant for bathing & rituals. One such step pond exists in Jaipur in the Galta Temple complex. Step pond is a smaller structure and never as deep as stepwell.
Many stepwells were built by the rulers and rich merchants as charitable & benevolent activity, especially in the Shekhawati region, which was part of Jaipur state. Stepwells in India can be found largely in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. With respect to the Jaipur region, settlement in Amer dates back to the 10th-11th century. We have stepwells in Amer, the most famous being Panna Meena Kund. Not much information is available as to when stepwells were first built in Amer. As per popular belief, these must have been built from the 15th-16th century, onwards.
The stepwells in Jaipur have lost their real relevance, however, it is important to preserve these water structures because they are an important part of our history and heritage. A lot has been done in this direction, but a lot more is needed. What do you think? Have you ever visited any Baori in Jaipur or elsewhere in Rajasthan or India? Do share your thoughts.
JaipurThruMyLens 
Your lengthy post contains a wealth of information on the history and importance of step-wells. They are a very important part of India’s architectural accomplishments. The photos alone are a virtual feast to behold. Throughout the article, we learn how important water is even more so in our modern time.
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True. Many people believe that wars in future will be fought over the water. While it may be out of place to use stepwell for the same purpose today, maintaining them is certainly important. I’m happy you enjoyed reading this post. Appreciate your thoughts. Have a great week, ahead.
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So informative Arv! There is so much to see in Jaipur. God willing soon 👏
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Yes, there is. I’m sure…. once things are back to normal.
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The photos of the stepwells are amazing. You write that it gets scorchingly hot in summer and I wonder if they were ever covered by some roof structure to limit evaporation. My impression is that they are all open at the top.
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Yes, they are mostly open to the sky. Evaporation does happen but a lot of these are deep and often sun doesn’t reach them, completely. The water in these is dependent on water table.
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Wow! Thanks for the history lesson! I love your blog. I learn something new everytime I visit. Awesome photos as well!
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I’m glad you enjoyed this post. I’m sure this all seem so exotic from your part of the world. This was an important part of our culture. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lisa
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Absolutely fascinating. I’ve never heard of these before. So these are basically enormous rain barrels?
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These are not really rain barrels. The water in these is actually ground water and depends on water table too.
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That is such a wonderful and comprehensive post on stepwells. I did not know that Jaipur has so many. And the photos are a visual treat.
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Vaidehi, Jaipur did have many stepwells, a lot of these have been filled in and therefore do not exist, anymore. The rest, I’m not sure how long they will survive. A few are quite popular among travelers, like Panna Meena Kund and Nahargarh Baori. Both these have been featured in movies and the former is a big hit among Instagrammers.
I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Beautifully captured pictures! I really want to backpack in Rajasthan. Hopefully next year!
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I guess next year or late this year will be good.
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This is such a great post loaded with so much information. Stepwells are heritage and whatever remains should be preserved. The information on the various ways of using stepwell is quite interesting, especially the dinner around it. But I think many of these could be used for their original purpose of storing water. I have only seen one stepwell – Adalaj Stepwell near Ahmedabad.
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Yes, certianly we can use these structures for the original purpose, however, it is unlikely that we will use them given where we are. The facility of pipe water and RO processes makes us lazy and question the quality of water from stepwell. But it is not impossible as it is all about mindset. Yes, you are right, we should preserve these structures. Adlaj is one of popular stepwells in the western part of India. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Neel.
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The water stored can be used for other purposes and there might be a way of connecting them to household pipes. Water is a precious commodity afterall.
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Yes, you are right. I guess a mental shift is needed. We need to make a departure from western thinking process. There are some stepwells in Karnataka too. Have you seen any of those?
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I haven’t seen any in Karnataka. Let me check out in google. In fact I didn’t know they are found in Karnataka too.
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I can recall having read about a few these. It is possible they are in the proxomity with the old temples. I’m sure you can easily find out about these, Neel.
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This is a lot of information and some good photos of Stepwell, Arv. Apart from the utility and the other purpose of the stepwell I am always so intrigued by these structures that I just love to visit them, though did not have the opportunity to see a lot.
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I noted from your post, you visited Panna Meena Kund in Jaipur. I agree with your thoughts. While we do know something about stepwell, there are many aspects we still don’t know. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Sarmistha.
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Such a fascinating article, with some beautiful photos. We only got to see one step well on our visit to India a few years ago, at Mehrauli Park near Delhi. But your photos, particularly Chand Baori, are on a much higher level. Thank you for sharing!
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The stepwell in Delhi you mentioned is one of the popular ones. I’m glad you had the opportunity to witness one. Yes, Chand Baori is one of the biggest stepwells in India.
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I was really fascinated by step wells when we visited Jaipur (we saw some in Varanasi as well, but Jaipur has the coolest one I saw.)
I love the way they are so practical and yet beautiful. I didn’t know the history behind them, so I really enjoyed this post. 🙂
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I’m glad you had the opportunity to witness stepwells in India. Certainly, these are beautiful.
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How did I miss this stepwell?? Another wonder of Jaipur and another reason for me to return one day. Thanks
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Well, I can only agree. Stepwells have gained prominence among travelers, recently. Even then, only among a select ones. Yes, you must visit Jaipur, again.
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Arv, again what a truly amazing post of yours about these step wells , its quite fascinating to learn about them, another gem of loving Jaipur.
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Cornelia, I’m glad you liked this post. Imagine if the stepwells were active…..this would be an amazing place for photographers to click pictures. May be the local women?
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Oh this would be heaven for a photographer project, the local women is a great idea. Thank you Arv.
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That’s exactly what I thought would interest you. 🙂
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You know me. Thank you
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🙂 you are welcome. 🙂
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Wow! I’ve seen the occasional picture of a stepwell but never knew they had such a rich history. The wide range of conditions they’re in is fascinating as well as their uses and the ways communities gathered around them. The Chand Baori is incredible and I’d love to see it in person some day!
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I’m sure visiting a couple of these will be a rewarding travel experience. Have you ever visited India?
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I’ve been to Kerala but never to Jaipur. I would love to see the north of India the next time I go!
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Certainly, you must visit Jaipur, someday
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Would love to return to India to see the places in your posts that I missed.
Hope you’re OK.
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All is well, at the moment, Nilla. Appreciate the concern. I’m hoping you do get to visit Jaipur, again. I assume your part of the world is now infection free.
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I’m back in Australia and things aren’t too bad here but our government (Federal and States) has been tough on any outbreak. Hope things improve in India.
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I have heard of the tough stand and how the govt has come under immense pressure to bring back Australian citizens from countries ravaged by COVID. I guess every stand has its plus and minus. Thanks for the good wishes. Happy to hear all is well at your end, Nilla. 🙂
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This was such an informative article full of details. I had seen pictures of these before but I had no idea of the history and significance.
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I’m happy you found this useful, Donna Someday you should visit a stepwell, in person.
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Fascinating place with all the step-wells. First time I hear of the step-wells. thanks for an informative article.
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I’m not surprised since Stepwells are specific to a geographic region. I’m glad you found this useful
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I can absolutely understand why the Stepwells might be the most instragramable spot in Jaipur. I am not sure I have ever visited something this unique. And I certainly did not know that the step wells were built as part of the mitigation strategy for water shortages. The Civil Engineer in me is fascinated by the variety and design.
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I’m happy that you found stepwells fascinating. I hope someday you visit these in person. Have you been to India?
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This is a really fascinating article. I never had any idea that so many magnificent step wells existed or the history behind them. I would love a tour if I visit India
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I’m sure a Stepwell tour will be an enriching experience, Kerry.
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Wow! Intriguing post! And the stairs remind me of some kind of maze! I’ll bet seeing it with the naked eye makes it even more fascinating! 🙂
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Absolutely, Cherie. You gotta to visit Jaipur and the rest of places for the stepwells. I’m sure you will love the experience, in person.
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I know I would! Thank you so much, Arv!
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👍😊 where are you based?
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I’m in the Southern USA. Tennessee.
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Great. Tennessee reminds of Nashville and Memphis.
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I live about 30 miles from Memphis. 🙂
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Great! Must be beautiful and scenic.
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