Page 40 - Seniorstoday April 2023 Issue

Travel
Water Wonders
Gujarat’s tryst with water gave us a magnificent heritage, writes Malti
Gaekwad
Rainwater harvesting seems to be a
fairly new term and every year before the
monsoon we start seeing advertisements
and hoardings to advocate collection
of rainwater. While the awareness of
rainwater harvesting seems like a new
fad in the face of growing shortage of
drying rivers and portable water due to
environmental imbalance Gujarat has
for many many centuries had a shortage
of water. On one side it is the state in
India having the largest coastline and is
surrounded by sea water on three sides,
while the flip side is the high degree of
saltwater ingress.... The seepage of salt
in the groundwater levels has always left
Gujarat asking for more drinking water.
The state of Gujarat is dotted with over
500 big and small step wells. The origins
of these step wells may be traced to
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reservoirs in the ancient cities of the Indus
Valley civilization such as Dholavira and
Mohenjo-daro. Most of these step wells
which were constructed centuries ago, are
wonderful examples of technology, art and
architecture. The purpose of the step well
was to recharge the groundwater, collect
rain water and supply it in times of drought.
Intriguing features of the step wells are:
the sun rays do not directly reach the water
surface, so evaporation is controlled, plus
water remains fresh due to the natural
floor. Also they were constructed in a
way that they can resist 7.6 Ricther scale
earthquakes!
Many dynasties such as the Chavdas,
Solankis, Vaghelas as well as the Jain
merchants funded innumerable temples,
lakes and stepped wells and embellished
them magnificently with sculptures