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31-475: Stepwells (also known as vavs or baori ) are wells , cisterns or ponds with a long corridor of steps that descend to the water level. Stepwells played a significant role in defining subterranean architecture in western India from the 7th to the 19th century. Some stepwells are multi-storeyed and can be accessed by a Persian wheel which is pulled by a bull to bring water to the first or second floor. They are most common in western India and are also found in

62-533: A bath-like pond reached by steps is found at Uperkot caves in Junagadh . These caves are dated to the 4th century. Navghan Kuvo, a well with the circular staircase in the vicinity, is another example. It was possibly built in Western Satrap (200–400 AD) or Maitraka (600–700 AD) period, though some place it as late as the 11th century. The nearby Adi Kadi Vav was constructed either in the second half of

93-428: A leisure purpose alongside being main source of water for basic needs like bathing, washing clothes, farming, and watering animals. Stepwells also served as a place for social gatherings and religious ceremonies. Usually, women were more associated with these wells because they were the ones who collected the water. Also, it was they who prayed and offered gifts to the goddess of the well for her blessings. The well-water

124-798: A temple or a shrine, it is either at the opposite wall of it or in front of the temple. Sindhvai Mata stepwell in Patan, Mata Bhavani stepwell in Ahmedabad, and the Ankol Mata stepwell in Davad serve as a great example of the stepwells that house shrines. The stepwell ensures the availability of water during periods of drought. The stepwells had social, cultural and religious significance. These stepwells were proven to be well-built sturdy structures, after withstanding earthquakes . Most places in India where there

155-904: A vertical shaft from which water is drawn and the surrounding inclined subterranean passageways and the chambers and steps which provide access to the well. The galleries and chambers surrounding these wells were often carved profusely with elaborate detail and became cool, quiet retreats during the hot summers. A number of distinct names, sometimes local, exist for stepwells. In Hindi -speaking regions, they include names based on baudi (including bawdi ( Rajasthani : बावड़ी ) , bawri , bawari , baori , baoli , bavadi and bavdi ). In Gujarati and Marwari language , they are usually called vav, vavri or vaav ( Gujarati : વાવ ). Other names include kalyani or pushkarani ( Kannada ), baoli ( Hindi : बावली ), barav ( Marathi : बारव ) and degeenar ( Bhojpuri : 𑂙𑂵𑂏𑂲𑂢𑂰𑂩). The stepwell may have originated during periods of drought to ensure enough access to

186-404: Is abundant fresh water only during the monsoon season, stepwell and wells play a critical role in serving as a direct means to fresh water filtered through the earth. While the rivers, rivulets , creeks, and other natural water bodies dry up in this climate zone, stepwell and wells remain at a depth where there is less exposure to sun and heat. The majority of surviving stepwells originally served

217-704: Is known to attract insects, animals, and many other germ breeding organisms. These stepwells, being a common space in frequent use by the inhabitants of the area, were considered to be a source of spreading epidemics and diseases. Many stepwells have ornamentation and details as elaborate as those of Hindu temples. Proportions in relationship to the human body were used in their design, as they were in many other structures in Indian architecture. Stepped ponds are very similar to stepwells in terms of purpose. Generally, stepped ponds accompany nearby temples while stepwells are more isolated. Stepwells are dark and barely visible from

248-424: Is the fifth and the only king of all Maitraka kings connected with sun-worship. All other kings were followers of Shaivism . The copperplate grants do not help in identifying their origin, they describe only that the dynasty was born from a war-like tribe whose capital was at Vallabhi and they were Shaivas . Chinese traveler Hieun-Tsang visited Vallabhi during the second quarter of the 7th century had described

279-570: The Aram Bagh in Agra was the first Mughal garden in India. It was designed by the Mughal emperor Babur and reflected his notion of paradise not only through water and landscaping but also through symmetry by including a reflecting pool in the design. He was inspired by stepwells and felt that one would complement the garden of his palace. Many other Mughal gardens include reflecting pools to enhance

310-512: The 10th century or the 15th century. The stepwells at Dhank in Rajkot district are dated to 550–625 AD. The stepped ponds at Bhinmal (850–950 AD) are followed by it. The stepwells were constructed in the southwestern region of Gujarat around 600 AD; from there they spread north to Rajasthan and subsequently to the north and west India. Initially used as an art form by Hindus, the construction of these stepwells hit its peak during Muslim rule from

341-560: The 11th to 16th century. One of the earliest existing examples of stepwells was built in the 11th century in Gujarat, the Mata Bhavani's Stepwell . A long flight of steps leads to the water below a sequence of multi-story open pavilions positioned along the east–west axis. The elaborate ornamentation of the columns, brackets and beams are a prime example of how stepwells were used as a form of art. The Mughal emperors did not disrupt

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372-482: The Tajjika (Arab) invasions, no historical source mention how the dynasty ended. More than hundred temples of this period are known, mostly located along the western coast of Saurashtra. Early scholars like Fleet had misread copperplate grant and considered Maitrakas as some foreign tribe defeated by Bhaṭārka. Bhagwanlal Indraji believed that Maitrakas were foreign tribe while Bhaṭārka, who defeated them, belonged to

403-465: The culture that was practiced in these stepwells and encouraged the building of stepwells. The authorities during the British Raj found the hygiene of the stepwells less than desirable and installed pipe and pump systems to replace their purpose. A stepwell is generally located in two places - as an extension or part of a temple, and/or the outskirts of a village. When a stepwell is associated with

434-559: The decline of the Gupta Empire , Maitraka dynasty was founded by Senapati (general) Bhaṭārka, who was a military governor of Saurashtra under Gupta Empire, who had established himself as the independent around 475 CE. The first two Maitraka rulers Bhaṭārka and Dharasena I used only the title of Senapati (general). The third ruler Droṇasiṁha declared himself as the Maharaja . During the reign Dhruvasena I, Jain council at Vallabhi

465-551: The indigenous dynasty. Later readings corrected that Bhaṭārka was himself Maitraka who had succeeded in many battles. The earlier scholars had suggested the name Maitraka is derived from Mithra , the Sun or solar deity , and their supposed connection to Mihira and their sun-worshiping inclination . Though Mitra and Mihira are synonyms for the sun, the Sanskrit literature does not use it in sense of sun-worshipers. Dharapaṭṭa

496-648: The landscape or serving as an elegant entrance. Other notable gardens in India which incorporate water into their design include: Azmi, Feza Tabassum. The ancient stepwells helping to curb India's water crisis , BBC Water well Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.226 via cp1108 cp1108, Varnish XID 259031477 Upstream caches: cp1108 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 10:52:00 GMT Maitraka Following

527-573: The location of over 1700 stepwells in Maharashtra. Delhi & Haryana : Gujarat : Karnataka : Kerala : Maharashtra : Rajasthan : Telangana : Uttar Pradesh : Stepwells from Mughal periods still exist in Pakistan . Some are in preserved conditions while others are not. Stepwells influenced many other structures in Indian architecture, especially those that incorporate water into their design. For example,

558-529: The other more arid regions of the Indian subcontinent , extending into Pakistan . The construction of stepwells is mainly utilitarian , though they may include embellishments of architectural significance, and be temple tanks . Stepwells are examples of the many types of storage and irrigation tanks that were developed in India, mainly to cope with seasonal fluctuations in water availability. A basic difference between stepwells on one hand, and tanks and wells on

589-555: The other, is that stepwells make it easier for people to reach the groundwater and to maintain and manage the well. The builders dug deep trenches into the earth for dependable, year-round groundwater. They lined the walls of these trenches with blocks of stone, without mortar , and created stairs leading down to the water. This led to the building of some significant ornamental and architectural features, often associated with dwellings in urban areas. It also ensured their survival as monuments. A stepwell structure consists of two sections:

620-678: The period when the Vallabhi kingdom declined in the 8th century AD. The Maitrakas were follower of the Shiva except Dhruvasena I who was Vaiṣnava and Dharapaṭṭa who was sun-worshiper. They all used title of parama-maheshwara before the names of king except those two. It is evident from the use of symbols like Nandi , the Bull and Trishula , the trident in their coins and inscriptions. There were presence of Vaishnavism and Goddess worship under their rule. There were large number of Buddhist Viharas in

651-419: The rule of Harṣa in the mid-7th century, but retained local autonomy, and regained their independence after Harṣa's death. When I-Tsing , another Chinese traveller, visited Vallabhi in the last quarter of the seventh century, he found Vallabhi as a great center of learning including Buddhism . Gunamati and Sthiramati were two famous Buddhist scholars of Vallabhi in the middle of the seventh century. Vallabhi

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682-714: The ruler as a Kshatriya. Later Mahayana Buddhist work Manju-Shri-Mula-Kalpa had described them as Varavatya Yadava. The late Jain traditional work Shatrunjaya-Mahatmaya of Dhaneshwara describes Śilāditya as the Yadavas of Lunar race . Virji concludes that Maitrakas were a Kshatriya of Lunar race and their origin was probably from Mitra dynasty which once ruled region around Mathura (now in Uttar Pradesh , India). Several scholars like Benerjee, D. Shastri, D. R. Bhandarkar agree with her conclusion. The Maitrakas ruled from their capital at Vallabhi . They came under

713-667: The surface, while stepped ponds are illuminated by the light from the sun. Stepwells are more linear in design compared to the rectangular shape of stepped ponds. A number of surviving significant stepwells in India : can be found across India, including in Rajasthan , Gujarat , Delhi , Madhya Pradesh , Maharashtra , and North Karnataka ( Karnataka ). In 2016 a collaborative mapping project, Stepwell Atlas, started to map GPS coordinates and collate information on stepwells, mapping over 2800 stepwells in India. Another project mapped

744-500: The water) were caused to be built. Numerous drinking-places were caused to be established by me, here and there, for the enjoyment of cattle and men. [But] this so-called enjoyment (is) [of little consequence]. For with various comforts have the people been blessed both by former kings and by myself. But by me this has been done for the following purpose: that they might conform to that practice of morality. The first rock-cut stepwells in India date from 200 to 400 AD. The earliest example of

775-444: The water. The earliest archaeological evidence of stepwells is found at Dholavira where the site also has water tanks or reservoirs with flights of steps. Mohenjo Daro's great bath is also provided with steps on opposite directions. Ashokan inscriptions mention construction of stepwells along major Indian roads at a distance of every 8 kos (about 20.8 miles or 33.5 km) for the convenience of travellers, but Ashoka states that it

806-406: Was a well-established practice which predated him and was done by former kings as well. King Devanampriya Priyadarsin speaks thus. On the roads banyan-trees were caused to be planted by me, (in order that) they might afford shade to cattle and men, (and) mango-groves were caused to be planted. And (at intervals) of eight kos wells were caused to be dug by me, and flights of steps (for descending into

837-402: Was described by Hiuen Tsang , visited in 640 CE, as a "monarch of great administrative ability and of rare kindness and compassion". Śilāditya I was succeeded by his younger brother Kharagraha I. Virdi copperplate grant (616 CE) of Kharagraha I proves that his territories included Ujjain . During the reign of the next ruler, Dharasena III, north Gujarat was included in this kingdom. Dharasena II

868-458: Was famous for its liberalism and the students from all over the country, including the Brahmana boys, visited it to have higher education in secular and religious subjects. We are told that the graduates of Valabhi were given higher executive posts. The Charanas of the region connect themselves with the last Maitraka ruler Śilāditya VI. Goddess Khodiyar is considered a contemporary figure of

899-472: Was probably held. The next ruler Dharapaṭṭa is the only ruler considered as a sun-worshipper. King Guhasena stopped using the term Paramabhattaraka Padanudhyata along his name like his predecessors, which denotes the cessation of displaying of the nominal allegiance to the Gupta overlords. He was succeeded by his son Dharasena II, who used the title of Mahadhiraja . His son, the next ruler Śilāditya I Dharmāditya

930-434: Was succeeded by another son of Kharagraha I, Dhruvasena II, Balāditya. He married the daughter of Harṣavardhana . His son Dharasena IV assumed the imperial titles of Paramabhattaraka Mahrajadhiraja Parameshvara Chakravartin . Sanskrit poet Bhatti was his court poet. The next powerful ruler of this dynasty was Śilāditya II. During the reign of Śilāditya V, Arabs probably invaded this kingdom. The last known ruler of this dynasty

961-589: Was Śilāditya VI. Maitrakas set up a Vallabhi University which came to be known far and wide for its scholastic pursuits and was compared with the Nalanda University . They came under the rule of Harṣa of Vardhana dynasty in the mid-seventh century, but retained local autonomy, and regained their independence after Harṣa's death. After repeated attacks by Arabs from the sea, the kingdom had weakened considerably. The dynasty ended by 783 CE. Apart from legendary accounts which connect fall of Vallabi with

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