Step Back In Time: A Look At India's Baolis

Stepwells in India were developed mainly to cope with the seasonal fluctuations of water availability. Dispersed mostly through Western India in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi, stepwells are ponds which can be reached by descending a set of steps. Serving just as much for leisure as providing a constant source of water, these locations were used to provide relief from the scorching heat of the summer. In some places, stepwells even became places of worship, often built next to a temple.