preview

Characteristics Of Baolis In India

Better Essays

Chapter 1: ABSTRACT Baoli also called bawdi or stepwell, or vaav are wells or ponds in which the water can be reached by descending a set of steps. They may be covered and protected, and are often of architectural significance.. Built by successive rulers of Delhi to provide constant water supply to the city, baolis are an important aspect of Delhi’s architecture. Though not as ornate as the medieval Gujarati stepwell or vav, Delhi’s baolis are, nevertheless, unique and grand in their structure. Baolis or stepwells is well which is approached by a flight of stpes from one side or either of four sides depending upon the planning and style of baoli built in that phase of period. All forms of the stepwell may be considered to be particular examples of the many …show more content…

So many pillars and lintels are made to support the five or seven storeys and that too everything under the surface of the earth. Stepwells have also withstood the earthquakes in the range of 7.6 on the Richter scale – the large flat stones joined superbly are hard to move. So, by taking so many reasons the structures of baolis evolved at every period For the Indian summer, these not only fulfill the original purpose of giving water but also became cool retreats. Art became a part of stepwells. Walls, cornices, pilasters, pillars and niches were decorated with reliefs and sculptures. Over the years, the medieval architects also experimented with different designs. There are four types of stepwells but reality shows countless variations of this basic classification: • Nanda – the simplest and common type with one flight of steps leading to the shaft. • Bhadra – two flights of steps aligned in line with the shaft in the middle. • Jaya – three flights of steps perpendicular to the adjacent ones and arranged in three directions around the central shaft. • Vijaya – similar to Jaya but in four

Get Access