In the course of Indian history, stepwells played an essential role. In addition to the architectural beauty that they possessed, they served practical purposes such as supplying people with water. They played an essential role as providers of water for day-to-day activities thanks to the enormous water capacity of their systems. No matter how high or low the water level is, people may always reach the water through a series of cascading terraces that were built into the stepwells. Stepwells were meant to fill and empty with the changing of the seasons.
The following is a list of some of the most stunning stepwells that can be found throughout India.
Chand Baori, Abhaneri, Rajasthan
One of the stepwells that is most well-known all across the world is called Chand Baori. In the 9th century, the Hindu ruler Raja Chanda was responsible for the construction of the lower tiers of the Chand Baori. However, during the reign of the Mughal emperors in the 18th century, pavilions and arcades were added to the upper levels of the structure, giving it a more Islamic appearance than a Hindu one.
Rani-ki-Vav, Patan, Gujarat
The Hindu Queen Udayamati commissioned the construction of Raniki-ki-Vav, also known as The Queen’s Stepwell, in 1032 AD. The stepwell has a depth of more than 28 meters and was designed in the Maru-Gurjara architectural style. Today, Raniki-ki-Vav is on the list of World Heritage Sites maintained by Unesco due to its enormous superstructure as well as the complexity and beauty of the carvings of Vishnu and other deities that adorn every available inch of stone that is visible.
Agrasen Ki Baoli, Delhi
It is believed that the Agrasen Ki Baoli was most likely built during the Tughlaq period, which occurred in the 14th century and was during the time that Delhi was ruled by a dynasty of Turkic sultans. The stepwell is accessed via a single winding staircase and carves a 60-meter-long swath through the earth below the Indian capital. Its walls are lined with niches that are arranged under Islamic arches.
Adalaj Vav, Adalaj, Gujarat
Queen Rudadevi, Rana Veer Singh’s wife, commissioned the construction of the Adalaj Vav stepwell in 1498 so that she could honor her husband’s memory. It is covered in a filigree tracery of carved flowers, elephants, deities, and ornamental motifs, and it is designed to look like a jewel box with column-propped arcades that surround a central, octagonal well shaft.
The Pushkarinis of Hampi, Karnataka
The Pushkarinis stepwell is a classic example of an Indian stepwell. Although the upper pavilions of the stepwell have been removed for a long time, the stepwell’s eye-catching cascade of pyramid-shaped stairways has been preserved.
