Adalaj Stepwell 4

by Uma Krishnamoorthy

Title

Adalaj Stepwell 4

Artist

Uma Krishnamoorthy

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Stepwells are wells in which the water may be reached by descending a set of steps.

Step wells were common in western India. They were found in more arid regions to collect and store rain water during seasonal monsoons. The step wells may have originated to ensure water during the period of drought. They also served as a place for social gatherings and religious ceremonies. Over the centuries, stepwell construction evolved so that by the 11th century they were astoundingly complex feats of engineering, architecture, and art.
Today, most of these stepwells are in a state of ruin, except for a few. They have been replaced by modern substitutes like village taps, plumbing, and water tanks. As obsolescence set in, stepwells were largely ignored.

Adalaj stepwell is located in the village of Adalaj close to Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat in India.

It is intricately carved and is five storeys deep. It was built in the year 1499. It is a tourist attraction today and a reminder of an ancient heritage.

Uploaded

August 17th, 2016

Colors

Embed

Share

Tags