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| Ancient Indian well |
Stepwells were traditionally used
throughout India to tap into the country's deep water tables -- and
some, like the Chand Baori (baori, one of the Hindi words for well) in
the western state of Rajasthan, run more than 100 feet into the ground.
"They
proliferated in places where it was hard to get water, like deserts,"
Lautman explains. Their designs -- which differ widely across regions,
are informed by varied environments.
"The shape and width, a lot of those
determinations [for design] had to do with the quality of stone and
soil. In some sandier places, like Gujarat, there are bridging elements
in place to keep walls from collapsing, because the soil is loose,"
Lautman observes.
Beyond a primary
water source, stepwells were used as civic structures -- they provided a
respite from heat, a place to socialize, and in many cases --
functioned as subterranean temples, with intricate carvings of deities.
These
days, few stepwells are in use. The majority of them are derelict,
filled with trash and abandoned. There are a few more known exceptions.
Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen's Stepwell) in Gujarat for example, was
recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014.
But
the majority of them have gone undocumented -- which makes Lautman's
ability to trace them, even more unusual. She relies on a mix of
research and word of mouth.
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