The Vanishing Stepwells of India

Some of the finest architectural structures in India are to be found below ground: these are its ancient stepwells. Stepwells are unique to India; the earliest rudimentary wells date from about the 4th century CE, and eventually they were built throughout the country, particularly in the arid western regions. Stepwell construction evolved so that, by the 11th century, they were amazingly complex feats of architecture and engineering, not only providing water all year round but also serving as gathering places, refuges and retreats.

The journalist Victoria Lautman first encountered stepwells three decades ago, and this book - now available in paperback for the first time - is a testament to her determined efforts over several years to document these fascinating but largely unknown structures before they disappear. Of the thousands of stepwells that proliferated across India, most were abandoned as a result of modernization and the depletion of water tables. Frequently commissioned by royal or wealthy patrons, the wells vary greatly in scale and design. Some also functioned as subterranean Hindu temples, featuring columned pavilions and elaborate stone carvings. Islamic wells were generally less flamboyant, but often incorporated shady loggias and small chambers in which to relax and escape the stifling heat. Today, few stepwells are in use. The majority have been left to silt up, fill with rubbish and crumble into disrepair. Gradually, however, the Indian government and heritage organizations are recognizing the need to preserve these architectural wonders. In 2014 India's grandest and best-known stepwell, the Rani ki Vav in Patan, Gujarat, became a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In her introduction, Lautman discusses why and where the stepwells were built. She reflects on the reasons they became derelict and considers how the appreciation of stepwells is changing with the work of organizations and individuals who aim to protect and restore them. The main part of the book is arranged in a broadly chronological order, with up to four pages devoted to each of c. 70 stepwells, every one unique in design and engineering. The name, location (including GPS coordinates) and approximate date of each well accompany colour photographs and a concise commentary by Lautman on the history and architecture of the well and her experience of visiting it. While many of the stepwells are rather decrepit, their magnificent engineering and great beauty never fail to impress.

Author: Victoria Lautman
Publisher: Merrell
Published: 10/06/2020
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 2.95lbs
Size: 11.40h x 9.70w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781858946894

About the Author
Lautman, Victoria: - Victoria Lautman is a print and broadcast journalist with a Master of Arts degree in art history. After working at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., she hosted and produced several long-running radio programmes in Chicago devoted to art and culture. She has written for dozens of international publications, and her first book, The New Tattoo, was published by Abbeville Press in 1994. A frequent traveller to India since 1982, she now writes and lectures about the subcontinent.Gupta, Divay: - Divay Gupta is Principal Director of the Architectural Heritage Division at the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in New Delhi. One of the country's leading conservation architects, he has been managing and conserving the cultural resources of India for more than twenty years. He has also participated in missions to Nepal and Cambodia as a conservation expert with UNESCO and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). His projects in Ladakh have won UNESCO awards of Merit and Excellence.