Stuff like this:

A village tank in Kannur, Kerala
http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/3557/dsc01218i.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/ashsadubai/KannurTemples#

and

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/4316/dsc01443ll.jpg

good job! marathaman

^Thanks :D

Amriteshwar Kund, Ratanwadi, Maharashtra
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/4778/amriteshwarkundratanwadec.jpg
http://www.rainbowskill.com/tour-to-india/bhandardara-tour.php

The famous one at Abhaneri

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/2191/abhanerikundbydixielawj.jpg

And the famous one at Modhera:

http://donatoweb.com/resources/_wsb_634x475_Modhera1.jpg

and the famous one at Patan

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/4128042903_54607ef684.jpg

Why are these famous?Is this rainwater clean? I mean for cleaning and washing? How the water is cleaned. Is there a drainage system also

Its groundwater not rainwater. In regions that the water table is high the tanks are shallow. Otherwise you have to go deep (like the one in Abhaneri)

Also serves the dual purpose of rainwater harvesting to keep the water table stable.

and about cleaning of water, if people are washing & taking bath.

and about cleaning of water, if people are washing & taking bath.

You're not supposed to take a bath in the communal tank obviously. Though in a lot of places with water scarcity people wash/bathe in the tanks and the water gets polluted.

So main aim was to provide drinking water in the olden days.But even if u donot wash there, will it not be polluted as its open.

So main aim was to provide drinking water in the olden days.But even if u donot wash there, will it not be polluted as its open.

No. It won't be polluted if it is open. Have you never drank water from a well? :ohno:

Of course there is the problem of groundwater contamination due to industrial and pesticide pollution and that is indeed a serious problem in India.

Wells are not allowed in Chandigarh. No I never drank water from well.But I think the water from the well be salty/hard?

Wells are not allowed in Chandigarh. No I never drank water from well.But I think the water from the well be salty/hard?

The type of water will depend on local conditions.

Harishchandragarh, Maharashtra "Saptatirtha Pushkarni"
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/2502/img2821y.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/6934/dsc00458qh.jpg
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_i34XXrRdnzA/R1OhNeW_9eI/AAAAAAAACcA/RW6fo_N1Hxw/IMG_2821.jpg

Here is an interesting one, somewhere in Raichur district apparently:
http://picasaweb.google.com/vikrambatra13/MudgalFortVenkatappaBaviBaoli#

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9422/baoli.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9797/img2001x.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5830/img2012j.jpg

One in rather bad condition, Neemrana, Rajasthan. Its gone dry.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Kaushiki.Sanyal/TripToNeemranaRajasthan#5417366124846381602

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1411/dsc02240h.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8282/dsc02241d.jpg

^ ^ They fill up again every year during rainy season. we have one in our village as well and it fills up for few months a year with crystal clear blue water...

Even the Nawabs had one! Lucknow, UP.

http://picasaweb.google.com/atoorva/LucknowVisitApril2008#
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9273/lucknow20089.jpg

^ ^ They fill up again every year during rainy season. we have one in our village as well and it fills up for few months a year with crystal clear blue water...

That's not ideal. :(. The primary source should be groundwater, not rainwater. Just points to receding water tables.

Not exactly a stepwell, since water is supplied by pipes, but still a nice pool:

Fatehpur Sikri. Emperor Akbar's abode!

http://picasaweb.google.com/Uttar.Pradesh.Explored/FatehpurSikri#5455982149796766498
http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/8821/img0103np.jpg

Mehrauli, Delhi

http://picasaweb.google.com/AA.comfirst/DargahOfQutbuddinBakhtiyarKaKi#5440748342523661986
http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/7506/dscn8387.jpg

Stepwell in Neemrana, Rajasthan
CC: Myself

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/3940683421_c6e6680d4a_b.jpg

This one is inside Devanhalli fort, Karnataka. Most probably dates from the 1500s.

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9128/img0219b.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/rithesh.rg/RanabairegowdaFort#

This one is in Amritsar:

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2602/4188033954b7a3f7c3c1b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75014027@N00/4188033954/

Adalaj near Gandhinagar

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3748/adalaj.jpg

source (http://www.flickr.com/photos/44258423@N06/4476679369/sizes/o/)

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/3941/adalaj1.jpg

source (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rupp/4202008949/sizes/l/)

Chanderi, MP
http://picasaweb.google.com/brandt.sj/20091216IndiaXmas#5432419235942918754
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/9319/india091020280.jpg

Battisi Stepwell in Chanderi (1484)

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/1470/battisistepwell.jpg
http://www.chanderi.net/BattisiStepwell.php

Hanamkonda, Andhra Pradesh
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1705/img1427.jpg

Nelliteertha, Andhra Pradesh
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/360/cimg6312.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/yshant/KateelNellitheerthaCycleTrek#5178715378350259346

The beautiful one at Melukote, Karnataka

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8177/4364899096d5d0a5c71db.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/niyaz_m/4364899096/sizes/l/

At the Jain teerth - Shravanabelagola, Karnataka

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3778469853_8ae279801a_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prashanth_chandra/3778469853/sizes/o/

Dad Hari Vav in Ahmedabad (Guj)(1501)
http://picasaweb.google.com/wade.n.harrison/DadaHariWav#

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8509/img1919.jpg

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/1860/img1900u.jpg

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/8076/img1916d.jpg

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/4033/img1931r.jpg

These are Talparige (freshwater springs) in Karnataka

http://www.flickr.com/photos/indiawaterportal/sets/72157605996676637/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2639960064_505e982eac_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2640464353_8bb50a2283_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2640566205_ea69994db4.jpg

Agrasen ki baoli in Delhi is a 60m x 15 m stepwell located next to CP and close to Hailey road

Copyright prayash.giria
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9728/36670034694517099f3ao.jpg


Copyright Ajay Jain
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/258/22371546wx9.jpg


Copyright agarwalaayush
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3398/4403237172a71314126fb.jpg

Ratangad, Maharashtra

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4497/dscn0612.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/prasadpardeshi23/RatangadPartII#5462287970485416738

Mandu, MP

http://www.flickr.com/photos/payalvora/4411178915/
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/9206/4411178915a24f0cd28fb.jpg

Lakkundi, Karnataka
http://picasaweb.google.com/Bharath.DVG2010/Lakkundi_Itagi_TripJan2010#
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/7982/1003241q.jpg

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7475/1003242m.jpg

Edakkunni, Kerala
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?q=Edakkunni%20
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9738/edakkunni20temple20012.jpg

Peralassery, Kerala

http://www.flickr.com/photos/prasanthank/3611060666/
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/7144/3611060666b620eec23bo.jpg

Inside Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh:

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/7366/37186195979d5d0a4bf7o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/loupiote/3718619597/sizes/o/

In Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6998/1628180619225884f0c8o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12047351@N04/1628180619/

Bhandarej, Rajasthan

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5571/73812121ab0337afa8b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karans/73812121/sizes/l/

Amber Village, Jaipur,Rajasthan
cc:carol mitchell
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/198/448979481_e84e2ef87d_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/199/448240690_4876bc3693_z.jpg?zz=1

Gulab Sagar, Jodhpur
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3439/dsc03715h.jpg

Deogarh, Rajasthan

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6353/img3306i.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/300407DanielaPeter/Indien_042009_Diashow02#5490871660501968658

Thanks for the pics Marathaman. This thread is indeed unique and special.

I never knew there were such excellent water resourviors built by ancient rulers of India.

I hope India's current rulers learn some lessons from the past. Water is a huge problem in India. Proper water management holds the key to the development and growth of India especially its vast rural population which depends on agriculture.

I was recently in Shanghai, China. It receives not more than 20 to 30% rains that Mumbai gets. Still it has 24hr water supply...unlike Mumbai which gets ony a few hours of water daily.

cc:blauart

A one in the inner city of Jodhpur
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/3697/2278507825f2c27e334db.jpg

Stepwell in Dholpur, Rajasthan

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/38650869
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/5857/38650869.jpg

Peshwa-era stepwell in Karwi, MP

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1441/karwi20baoli52.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9626/karwi20baoli51.jpg

Hulikere Karnataka

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4656/16105093.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/16105099

http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/4117/hulikerehoysalakalyanit.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hulikere_Hoysala_Kalyani%28tank%29.jpg

Kapadvanj, Gujarat

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/7509/32759427.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/32759427

Suraj Kund, Faridabad, Haryana (10th century AD)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/6576/surajkundpanoramic.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Surajkund_panoramic.jpg

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/9049/5180698067018c71c2a6b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rahulsahdev/5180698067/in/set-72157625277196473/

This is a series of interconnected water structures linked to a canal system and dam with sluice gates. The location is Patan, Gujarat (approx 10th-11th century AD, Solanki dynasty)

http://picasaweb.google.com/manasichaudhai/GujaratVisit2010#
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5998/photo1058p.jpg

http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/5236/photo1055.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2213/photo1056x.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7240/photo1066j.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1881/photo1050u.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/224/photo1065.jpg

Narlia, Rajasthan

http://picasaweb.google.com/travelinnuk/KashmirRajasthanMPUPApril2010#5472747267486409746
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/1760/p1110346.jpg

del

Bundi, Rajasthan

Twin Stepwells:

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/5585/5482942893186b59045ab.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreakirkby/5482942893/sizes/l/

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/9908/54829432958d76eb2abfb.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreakirkby/5482943295/sizes/l/

Couple in Vadnagar, Gujarat
http://www.sid-thewanderer.com/2011/01/vadnagar-temples-torans-havelis-and.html
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/8977/vadnagargaurikund210.jpg

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/4531/vadnagargaurikund109.jpg

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/804/vadnagarpaschimmehtaniv.jpg

Bakshi ka talab, Lucknow, UP
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1698287
http://img815.imageshack.us/img815/3017/1698287.jpg

Stunning one Marathaman. This is the first time I'm going through this one. No words to express the beauty and architectural expertise behind all these monuments. Fantastic. Fantastic. You have done a great job.

one of the finest thread in SSC I

thank u Marathaman :)

Todaraisingh, Rajasthan

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/8117/57850129.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/57850129?source=wapi&referrer=www.panoramio.com

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/7907/57850194.jpg

Mulbagal, Karnataka

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7062/6001530976322706f9f0b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/indiawaterportal/6001530976/in/set-72157627213972327

Barwa, Haryana

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8437/37317550.jpg

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/37317550

Meham, Haryana

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/8859/50495347.jpg

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/50495347

Rameshwaram, TN
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/45136580
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1361/45136580.jpg

CC: Naga-s
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5640729917_602956bdda_z.jpg

CC: Painted Stork
http://imagegallery.paintedstork.com/d/2213-2/hampi_kalyani.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/6194827989_4a5c338332.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66265723@N08/6194827989/)
302129_293236290691891_134113386604183_1414033_1876109342_n (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66265723@N08/6194827989/) by aragon... (http://www.flickr.com/people/66265723@N08/), on Flickr

Cross Posting this TED Youtube video, on water resources by India, the ancient way..



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJCTAXb_BWs

these structures are really fascinating.

What a precious thread !
Which was the one in movie Rang De Basanti ?

That's at Nahargarh fort, Jaipur.

Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple and Padma Theertham, Trivandrum Kerala
The richest Temple/Religious Centre in the World.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3237/sreec.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/215/sreec.jpg/)

Image by : Hemalatha Narayanappa

Sri Ananthapathma Swamy Temple; Kasargod Kerala
The Sree Ananthapathma Swamy Lake Temple at Kasargod is one of the iconic temples in Kerala, for being the only full fledged lake temple in the state.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/419023_372831729403282_129890600364064_1422937_2010718844_n.jpg


CC Mohammed Irshad

Peralassery Temple pond Kerala

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6569857071_8ee1bb9ea4_b.jpg

CC: Sreelesh Sreedhar

Charthana, Maharashtra

http://i.imgur.com/jBHQ0.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vijo/7601798310/

The best thread on SSC :cheers2:

Magnificent structures

Hanuman Dhara, Chitrakoot Dham, Uttar Pradesh

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8150/7468013914_a4047606bd_b.jpg

Copyrights:- Meenakshi Mallik (http://www.flickr.com/photos/64464890@N07/)