Project Name:
Restoration of Heritage step wells
Brief description of step wells restored by GBS
Gram Bharati Samiti (GBS)
Gram Bharati Samiti (GBS) means Society for rural development is a voluntary organization (NGO)
formed by some senior social activists, Gandhian workers and professionals with an overall mission of
“Establishing a society based on humanitarian, democratic values and ecologically balanced habitat”
and registered on July 28, 1984 in Jaipur under “Rajasthan Societies Registration Act, 1958”. It has
been registered for exemption from income tax under section 80 G, 12 A and 35 AC for exemption
from Income Tax. GBS has got special consultative status with United Nations Economical and Social
Council (ECOSOC).
GBS focus of work
 Women’s empowerment by making them aware of their rights and economically self reliant
 Prevention of HIV/AIDS among the rural/tribal women and migrant populations
 Protection and improvement of environment through wastelands development
 Non formal education and skill development among adolescent girls
 Conserving forests and water by restoring traditional water structures i.e. traditional step wells
Heritage of step wells
From the fifth to the nineteenth centuries, the people of western India built stone cisterns to collect the
water of the monsoon rains and keep it accessible for the remaining dry months of the year. These
magnificent structures known as step wells are much more than utilitarian reservoirs. Their lattice-like
walls, carved columns, decorated towers, and intricate sculpture make them exceptional architecture,
while their very presence tells much about the region's ecology and history. For the past 500 to 1,500
years, step wells have been an integral part of western Indian communities, particularly in Rajasthan
as sites for drinking, washing, and bathing, as well as for colorful festivals and sacred rituals. In
stunning color and quad tone photographs and drawings, steps to water reveals the depth of the step
wells' beauty and their intricate details, and serves as a lens on these fascinating cultural and
architectural monuments.
Cultural value
Like the Egypt's great pyramids, inverted and elegantly lodged in the earth to serve a subcontinent's
thirst for water, the role of India's step wells from the 5th through 19th centuries served to catch water
from the monsoons and save it for drinking, washing and bathing. Being best place for the long
distances travelers on foot or camels to quench their thirst and repose for a while, the step wells or
Bawaries (a local name) have been at one time the prominent place of social gatherings on specific
festive occasions like Gangaur, Dashehara, Deewali and religious ritual like new born, wedding, death
etc. For the Indian summer, these step wells not only fulfilled the original purpose of giving water but
also became cool retreats. Art became a part of step wells. Walls, cornices, pilasters, pillars and
niches were decorated with reliefs and sculptures. Over the years, the medieval architects also
experimented with different designs which still attract the visitors.
Destruction of heritage
With unfortunate abundance and destruction of these step wells not only a big and sustainable source
of safe drinking water for the village communities and both water and repose for the long distance
travelers was lost, but a beautiful part of heritage of social get to gather and festive events for the
rural India have become a glory of the bygone days. The village women have lost an opportunity to
enjoy freely a small part of their drudgery life on these sites.
Most of the step wells need to be restored urgently as a big part of their construction e.g. walls, pillars,
drainage, stone carvings etc. have broken down, paintings, artistic designs of collages got destroyed,
windows, doors and fencing have damaged.
A pilot project
GBS implemented a pilot project of restoring 5 such step wells with support from the Prince Claus
Fund, the Netherlands. Below is a brief description of the step wells restored under the pilot project.
There are a few more step wells those are important for their historical, cultural, ethical and
architectural background. GBS would like to take them up for restoration in the next phase.
Attempts are being made to explore resources for this purpose.
Banjaron ki Bawari
Banjaron ki Bawari based in village Thali said to be constructed by Lakhi Banjara, a well-known
leader of nomadic tribe long before habituating the village. It is said that it was built in 1500 years
before with the white stone of one mines only of the nearby village. It was constructed with stone only
without using any supporting material i.e. cement, lime, gravel etc. The Banjaron ki Bawari was the
only source of water when the village Thali was populated. The community people used to perform all
the rituals from birth to death near the step well. Also water was used for cultivation. There is an old
temple of God Sitaramji opposite the step well, which might have been built at the same time. People
perform their prayers in the temple after having bathed in the step well.
Before restoration
After restoration
Boharaji ki Bawari
As per a legend Boharaji ki Bawari or Raniji ki Bawari and Thakurji’s temple was built by Deenaramji
Bohara on the insistence of his wife in 1510. Its water was used for drinking, worshipping and
irrigation purposes. Number of cultural and religious events was organized at the step well. There
would be a fair of Jobner Mataji (a Goddess) every year. Thousands of the visitors of the fair would
have bathed in the Boahara ji ki bawari and then worshipped in the temple.
Before restoration
After restoration
Chooli Bawari (Meenon ki Bawari)
According to some legends village Sarjoli was settled by the Mandar Meena community and Kanaram
Meena, the leader of the tribe had constructed the step well by tearing the nearby hill to solve the
problem of drinking water of the villagers. But when there was no water in the step well he asked a
learned Brahmin (Scholarly person) the reason of it. The Brahmin told Kanaram that water would
come only when a person would be prepared for self-immolation by performing profound meditation (a
high level of yoga). Chooli, Kanram’s daughter heard this discussion and determined for her
immolation for the sake of solving the acute problem of water of the whole community. She
announced her decision and sat for immolation for a pious cause and there was profound amount of
water in the step well immediate after Chooli’s sacrifice.
Two faces of the Bawari after restoration
of pilgrims come over here to visit the religious place, particularly on Mondays and Saturdays being
the auspicious days for worshipping and prayers etc. The name of the step well was then labeled
with her name ‘Chooli’ and it became a centre of religious standing. Also, there is an old temple of
Hanumanji and place of ascetic practice performed by a saint Gyandas. Once Bhartrihari, a famous
saint of India while travelling through the way stayed here with Gyandas for a night and so there is a
place of his ascetic fire. Thousands
Bagichiwali Bawari
Bagichiwali Bawari of was constructed at the corner of village Bhanpur by a business family in 1625.
There is a temple in front of the step well where people perform their prayers with water taking from
the step well. A tank has been built outside the step well to provide the birds and animals with water.
All the social and religious rituals are performed by the villagers at the big enclosure constructed on
the land attached to the step well.
Before restoration
After restoration
Balaji ki Bawari
Balaji ki Bawari was constructed by the same business family, which constructed the Bagichiwali
Bawari in village Bhanpur in the year 1208 to provide the community people of village Baas with
potable water as there was no source of drinking water in and around the area. A temple of Balaji
(Hanumanji) was built first at a big piece of land and then the step well; therefore it was popularly
known as Balaji ki Bawari. Accommodation was also developed in the premises to provide the
villagers with facilities for performing worships, hawan (offerings in sacrificial fire), yagya (sacrificial
act) and other rituals.
Before restoration
After restoration
Restoration of Heritage step wells -Some more photos