Stepwells

India is the largest user of the ground water in the world. The earliest stepwell found in India belongs to the Harappan civilisation. India has the largest number of the stepwells in the world. Construction of existing stepwells, in various parts of India, commenced from 7th century and went up to just before independence in 1947. Indians treated them like water temples-jal mandir-which served to fulfil the purpose of irrigation and domestic uses of the public at large, apart from being used for traders, armies and personal enjoyment. Stepwells lost their importance due to the advent of electrical pumps, tube wells and piped water supply. They were neglected and ultimately became waste dumping ground for public. However, with the grave water scarcity staring the human kind, the existing stepwells have regained their importance as the possible source of water. Rajasthan is said to be having the largest number of stepwells in India. But they have neither been surveyed and documented nor maintained and cared for. There is hardly any book, more so in English, containing their geographical location and present condition. The present book by Dr. Yatindra Pal Singh describes around 230 stepwells in detail. The book contains their geographical locations, present condition, historical details of construction, and architecture with coloured photographs. According to the available information, there is no other book, either in Hindi or English, containing so much details of so many stepwells. Many of these stepwells have immense potential to become great tourist attractions. This book is of great importance to the tourists, cultural and heritage enthusiasts and the government authorities responsible for the maintenance of these water structures.