INDIA, September 7, 2015 (Ancient Origins): Imagine a country so dry that you have to build a 10-level stepped structure going down into the earth to get water. Such is India, where thousands of ingenious stepwells were built from the 2nd century AD through the 19th century, many financed by philanthropists, to whom the parched population were entirely grateful [HPI note: actually step well date back far further, to Indus Valley at least]. This was before sophisticated technology allowed people to pump water from deep in the earth.
Many stepwells have been abandoned and are in disrepair since the introduction of modern waterworks, plumbing and village taps. Some have been destroyed. Because the water table is even lower in recent years, many are now dry. Victoria Lautman, a freelance journalist in Chicago, has been traveling around India documenting stepwells before more fall into dereliction are destroyed by neglect or outright demolition.
Over the centuries, stepwell construction evolved so that by the 11th century they were astoundingly complex feats of engineering, architecture, and art,” she wrote on ArchDaily. She said no two stepwells are identical and each has a unique character. Some are utilitarian, some complex. Some have statuary depicting Hindu Deities, to whom the stepwells were dedicated. Lautman said some stepwells were like “bona-fide subterranean temples.” Hindu stepwells were places for prayer and ritual bathing, and some are still in use as temples today.
Beautiful photos and much more of this article at source.