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    My favorite artworks from European Museums

    My favorite artworks from European Museums

    Gandhara Art in Humboldt Forum: Life of Lord Buddha

    Gandhara Art in Humboldt Forum: Life of Lord Buddha

    Jewish Heroes Square in Krakow, Poland

    Jewish Heroes Square in Krakow, Poland

    Block no. 4 in Auschwitz concentration camp

    Block no. 4 in Auschwitz concentration camp

    Ottoman tent in Princess Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland

    Ottoman tent in Princess Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland

    The Steam Engine Building, Potsdam, Germany

    The Steam Engine Building, Potsdam, Germany

    Assyrian human-headed winged bull from Nimrud; 9th cent. BCE; Pergamon Museum, Berlin

    Assyrian human-headed winged bull from Nimrud; 9th cent. BCE; Pergamon Museum, Berlin

    Catacombs in St Peter’s Abbey Salzburg, Austria

    Catacombs in St Peter’s Abbey Salzburg, Austria

    St Nicholas Church in #Leipzeg, #Germany

    St Nicholas Church in #Leipzeg, #Germany

    Gloriette, Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna,Austria

    Gloriette, Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna,Austria

    Matthias Church on Buda Castle Hill, Budapest

    Matthias Church on Buda Castle Hill, Budapest

    The Neptune fountain in Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

    The Neptune fountain in Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

    The Dohany Street synagogue in Budapest

    St Peter’s Abbey Church in Salzburg, Austria

    St Peter’s Abbey Church in Salzburg, Austria

    The Residence Fountain in Salzburg: Oundof Music

    The Residence Fountain in Salzburg: Oundof Music

    Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

    Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

    Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

    Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

    Jahan koshan cannon, Murshidabad

    Jahan koshan cannon, Murshidabad

    Takht-e Marar, Golestan Palance, Teheran, Iran

    Takht-e Marar, Golestan Palance, Teheran, Iran

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      My favorite artworks from European Museums

      My favorite artworks from European Museums

      Gandhara Art in Humboldt Forum: Life of Lord Buddha

      Gandhara Art in Humboldt Forum: Life of Lord Buddha

      Jewish Heroes Square in Krakow, Poland

      Jewish Heroes Square in Krakow, Poland

      Block no. 4 in Auschwitz concentration camp

      Block no. 4 in Auschwitz concentration camp

      Ottoman tent in Princess Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland

      Ottoman tent in Princess Czartoryski Museum in Krakow, Poland

      The Steam Engine Building, Potsdam, Germany

      The Steam Engine Building, Potsdam, Germany

      Assyrian human-headed winged bull from Nimrud; 9th cent. BCE; Pergamon Museum, Berlin

      Assyrian human-headed winged bull from Nimrud; 9th cent. BCE; Pergamon Museum, Berlin

      Catacombs in St Peter’s Abbey Salzburg, Austria

      Catacombs in St Peter’s Abbey Salzburg, Austria

      St Nicholas Church in #Leipzeg, #Germany

      St Nicholas Church in #Leipzeg, #Germany

      Gloriette, Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna,Austria

      Gloriette, Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna,Austria

      Matthias Church on Buda Castle Hill, Budapest

      Matthias Church on Buda Castle Hill, Budapest

      The Neptune fountain in Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

      The Neptune fountain in Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

      The Dohany Street synagogue in Budapest

      St Peter’s Abbey Church in Salzburg, Austria

      St Peter’s Abbey Church in Salzburg, Austria

      The Residence Fountain in Salzburg: Oundof Music

      The Residence Fountain in Salzburg: Oundof Music

      Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

      Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

      Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

      Sultana Daku and Raj Bhawan of Nainital

      Jahan koshan cannon, Murshidabad

      Jahan koshan cannon, Murshidabad

      Takht-e Marar, Golestan Palance, Teheran, Iran

      Takht-e Marar, Golestan Palance, Teheran, Iran

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      A moonlit Baoli called Chand Baori :

      inOur Cultural Heritage
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      Whenever we think of Indian architecture, we think of the Taj Mahal, the Khajuraho Temples etc. but the most important contribution of Indian architecture are not its the majestic forts, beautiful tombs and sublime temples and mosques but a unique water management system known as India’s step wells.
      The states of Gujarat and Rajasthan are normally dry with low rainfall and thus rain water harvesting and conservation of water was of utmost importance especially in periods of drought. Water has always played a major role in the lives of Indians with the rivers being worshipped as goddesses and it was just a natural corollary that the places where people gathered to worship, bathe or collect water for daily needs became a focal point of their lives too.
      The steps and platforms built on the banks of rivers known, as ghats may perhaps have been the inspiration for the baolis/ baori/vav as stepwells are called in Rajasthan and Gujarat. These also have places of worship and rooms for relaxation attached to it.
      The way a step well works is that there is a central, vertical shaft with water, which spreads out to a pool with a broad mouth, and steps are built around it. The baoli itself can be round, rectangular or square and built with the simplicity or magnificence of the means at the command of the builder. The number of subterranean passages and rooms all around it would also depend on the same.
      Its depth would depend on the underground water levels and thus inspire elaborate designs for the steps.
      These were the precursors of exclusive clubs in ancient and medieval India where people could hang out with each other, provide hospitality to guests from out of town and also get water for their daily needs.
      This water management system was discouraged by the British who couldn’t digest that the same water could be used for drinking as well as washing and bathing. They already had their own exclusive clubs and smoke rooms so they just developed the systems of pumps and pipes thus leading to the drying up, clogging and eventual deterioration of this ancient lifestyle.
      Though North India has many baolis with Delhi alone boasting of about 30, some of which are still functional my heart was enchanted by the one in Abhaneri. It is just 200 km from and Delhi is one of the world’s oldest, deepest and most spectacular step well.
      Called Chand Baori of Abhaneri , in district Dausa of Rajasthan, it is a feat of mathematical perfection from an ancient time. It has 3500 steps built on 13 levels and with the most amazing symmetry as they taper down to meet the water pool.
      Said to be the upside down pyramids this baori was built in 9-10th century by Raja Chanda of the Chauhan dynasty.
      It was attached to the temple of Harshat Mata and it was a ritual to wash hands and feet at the well before visiting the adjoining temple.
      The temple was razed during the 10th century but its remains still boast architectural and sculptural styles of ancient India. Harshat Mata is considered to be the goddess of joy and happiness. According to myth, the goddess is always cheerful, and she imparts her joy and happiness to the whole village.
      Nowadays there are railings and so we can’t go down the steps but the temperature at the bottom is 5-6 degrees cooler and must have provided solace during the hot summer days and nights to the locals.
      Later the Mughals added galleries and a compound wall around the well and today these house remains of profuse and exquisite carving, which were either in the temple or in the various rooms of the baoli itself.
      It is one of the few step wells or rather step pond as Morna Livingston writes in Steps to Water: The Ancient Stepwells of India that it showcases “two classical periods of water building in a single setting.”
      An upper palace building was added to one side of the baoli which can be seen from the trabeate arches used by the Chauhan rulers and the cusped arches used by the Mughals.
      Access to these rooms are now blocked for tourists and much as I wanted to, I couldn’t go in and can only use my imagination.
      If the stones could speak they would recount stories of a time when royalty would have sat in these rooms and heard the pitter patter of the raindrops on the roof and seen it splashing on the beautiful steps with strains of raag malhar being sung by the court musicians in each period.
      Perhaps the peacocks would be dancing on the surrounding walls while coourt dancers danced with abandon on the platforms in front of the royal apartments.
      Though now stripped of plaster these stone walls would have been plastered with profuse paintings to emphasise the feeling of being in a beautiful moonlit oasis of happiness.
      The chanting of the priests as they went down to pray must have accentuated the spirituality of the shimmering water pool and the singing of the women as they went to collect water must have gladdened even the hardest of hearts.
      I can’t describe the absolute feelings of awe and wonder that descended on me as I stood there soaking in the ambience of the Moonlit Baori under the bright rays of the sun.

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      Rana Safvi

      Come, explore and fall in love the Beauties of Delhi (Dilli ki Ranaiya’n) and the World with me, Rana Safvi

      I have a masters in medieval history from the prestigious Centre for Advanced Studies, Dept. of History, AMU. A firm believer in our Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb, I am passionate about gaining and sharing knowledge and these days I am doing it via the social media platform.

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      © 2018 Rana Safvi - A blog Exploring Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb of India, website handcrafted by Abu Sufiyan.