4 ms·

India's Stepwells (2013)

128 points by Mz 9y ago

alphakappa 9y ago
One of those stepwells was used to great effect in Tarsem’s movie The Fall (which is a glorious visual feast where clever cinematography did things that you would expect to be CGI) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/
- mhd 9y ago
  I'm traveling to India in a few weeks and The Fall is basically my itinerary. After seeing the movie, this was one of the first place I googled because I didn't immediately get what this was for. It should have been obvious, but my preconceptions of deserts/arid places is based on the middle east, where (AFAIK) there are no step wells.
  - puranjay 9y ago
    If you care about the aesthetic alone, then I would suggest skipping the usual spots and add these to your itinerary: 1. Udaipur, Rajasthan (everything about this city is beautiful) 2. Orchha, particularly the "chattris" next to the river. 3. Khajuraho (the temples are stunning in the right weather)
    - piyush_soni 9y ago
      I'm from Udaipur, Rajasthan. @mhd, shoot up if you have any questions about it. :)
    - saiya-jin 9y ago
      also Jodhpur (the fortress on the hilltop is really impressive) and Jaisalmer (to add proper desert experience, unique for India)
helb 9y ago
HN discussion from 2015: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10179467 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10179467
mitul_45 9y ago
Related talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/anupam_mishra_the_ancient_ingenuity_of_water_harvesting https://www.ted.com/talks/anupam_mishra_the_ancient_ingenuit....
dragonsh 9y ago
These are beautiful been to many of them myself and in the old days could jump in them as the water was clean, 40 years ago. I don’t think they are important for current government, who are too busy worrying about mythical characters to muzzle freedom of expression and speech (want to behead an actresss). They want a temple at the cost of history and culture, even if that means destroying Taj Mahal. This step wells are too below the radar to be saved unless there is a temple or some idol of ram, hanuman or other Hindu deity in them.
- murukesh_s 9y ago
  What about the previous governments? The current govt is in place only for 3 years, isn't it..
- 1024core 9y ago
  I've been to a few too, and the decay has been setting in for a long time. Today, the water is very dirty, and access has been barred to the bottom. It is a shame, really, that you chose to use HN to try to score some cheap shots which anyone would see are wrong.
- cscurmudgeon 9y ago
  Let us please keep the weasel-words and politics out of HN. "I don’t think they are important for current government, who are too busy worrying about mythical characters to muzzle freedom of expression and speech (want to behead an actresss) You have intentionally phrased that to read as though the govt. wants to behead an actress.
- tinuviel 9y ago
  Go back to randia. HN is not a place for political BS. The mods of randia would appreciate your participate in their narrative.
- philonoist 9y ago
  Haha, If that is the case, lets put an Idol nearby there too! Actually, place 4 idols in each corner of these step-wells and say the water was once holy as held on some made up historical evidence by some local archaeologists themselves. I know, I know this is the low people have to hit for. But hey! to get good work done, its ok for a bad action against a bad guy! In flocks the world's second largest population and the Water is magically pure. People will see through this ploy if not immediately, then later. But, would the religious fanatics listen by that time? It will thrive. Either with archeological or religious interests from thereon. I think an ideal suggestion on paper is for United Nations and Indian govt. to declare it a heritage site. This is also the ripe chance to use Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) since it is in full swing. I am a Hyderabadi and you are correct. I have applied numerous requests only to be neglected and see my Charminar fall piece by piece...until I asked TV and media attention to focus. It was peppered with how muslims are neglected to the core of their history and religion. That save felt like resurrection to my soul. I understood, that day, that every action revolves around money. And how do you get that? Do some religious appeal and it pretty much works by itself even though it might neither be the necessary nor sufficient factor always. Should I write a letter to the state and central government and involve the media since it is attention whore and ready to sling mud at the running governments? Will this work? Let's see.
bloodorange 9y ago
There is one remarkable picture of a step well from India, taken by the master photographer Edward Burtynsky. A low res version can be found on this page: http://lenscratch.com/2016/04/edward-burtynsky-2/ http://lenscratch.com/2016/04/edward-burtynsky-2/ (No affiliation, I just love his work)
- stinos 9y ago
  Wow, that is one magnificent picture. The dark rigid structures in the bottom left combined with the sheer force of the white water on the right. And then you look further and see all the interesting details. Well done.
  - bloodorange 9y ago
    If you get a chance to see his photos in print, I highly recommend it. They are usually big prints (A1 or twice A1) and leave a strong impression on the viewer.
  - albertgoeswoof 9y ago
    That's not the stepwell - it's a dam in China. Here's the stepwell photo: http://lenscratch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Burtynsky_Water_03_Step-Well_India.jpg http://lenscratch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Burtynsky_W...
    - bloodorange 9y ago
      This photo is listed on that page and is the was talking about.
mkbkn 9y ago
Stepwells in India are a rare and forgotten beauty. Just sit there and listen to the silence, you'll love it. Most Stepwells are found in Rajasthan and some in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat too.
Angostura 9y ago
An unexpected treat. Thanks for posting.
Davisss 9y ago
Draudzīgi kredīti uzņēmumiem no https://www.cityfinances.lv/ https://www.cityfinances.lv/
SmellTheGlove 9y ago
I'm not sure how I got to my mid 30's and had never heard of stepwells until I played Civ 6, but these things are amazing. I'd love to see one in person some day.
bakul 9y ago
A more recent (Sep 2017) article on stepwells by the same author: https://www.archdaily.com/878527/the-astonishing-vanishing-stepwells-of-india https://www.archdaily.com/878527/the-astonishing-vanishing-s... I've been to the Adalaj Vav (stepwell) near Ahmedabad. Its distinctive architecture is a fusion of Hindu, Jain and Islamic styles. There is an interesting legend behind this. See http://jatinchhabra.com/adalaj-vav-stepwell-gujarat/ http://jatinchhabra.com/adalaj-vav-stepwell-gujarat/

128 points by Mz 9y ago

One of those stepwells was used to great effect in Tarsem’s movie The Fall (which is a glorious visual feast where clever cinematography did things that you would expect to be CGI) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/

mhd 9y ago
I'm traveling to India in a few weeks and The Fall is basically my itinerary. After seeing the movie, this was one of the first place I googled because I didn't immediately get what this was for. It should have been obvious, but my preconceptions of deserts/arid places is based on the middle east, where (AFAIK) there are no step wells.
- puranjay 9y ago
  If you care about the aesthetic alone, then I would suggest skipping the usual spots and add these to your itinerary: 1. Udaipur, Rajasthan (everything about this city is beautiful) 2. Orchha, particularly the "chattris" next to the river. 3. Khajuraho (the temples are stunning in the right weather)
  - piyush_soni 9y ago
    I'm from Udaipur, Rajasthan. @mhd, shoot up if you have any questions about it. :)
  - saiya-jin 9y ago
    also Jodhpur (the fortress on the hilltop is really impressive) and Jaisalmer (to add proper desert experience, unique for India)

helb 9y ago

HN discussion from 2015: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10179467 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10179467

mitul_45 9y ago

Related talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/anupam_mishra_the_ancient_ingenuity_of_water_harvesting https://www.ted.com/talks/anupam_mishra_the_ancient_ingenuit....

dragonsh 9y ago

These are beautiful been to many of them myself and in the old days could jump in them as the water was clean, 40 years ago. I don’t think they are important for current government, who are too busy worrying about mythical characters to muzzle freedom of expression and speech (want to behead an actresss). They want a temple at the cost of history and culture, even if that means destroying Taj Mahal. This step wells are too below the radar to be saved unless there is a temple or some idol of ram, hanuman or other Hindu deity in them.

murukesh_s 9y ago
What about the previous governments? The current govt is in place only for 3 years, isn't it..
1024core 9y ago
I've been to a few too, and the decay has been setting in for a long time. Today, the water is very dirty, and access has been barred to the bottom. It is a shame, really, that you chose to use HN to try to score some cheap shots which anyone would see are wrong.
cscurmudgeon 9y ago
Let us please keep the weasel-words and politics out of HN. "I don’t think they are important for current government, who are too busy worrying about mythical characters to muzzle freedom of expression and speech (want to behead an actresss) You have intentionally phrased that to read as though the govt. wants to behead an actress.
tinuviel 9y ago
Go back to randia. HN is not a place for political BS. The mods of randia would appreciate your participate in their narrative.
philonoist 9y ago
Haha, If that is the case, lets put an Idol nearby there too! Actually, place 4 idols in each corner of these step-wells and say the water was once holy as held on some made up historical evidence by some local archaeologists themselves. I know, I know this is the low people have to hit for. But hey! to get good work done, its ok for a bad action against a bad guy! In flocks the world's second largest population and the Water is magically pure. People will see through this ploy if not immediately, then later. But, would the religious fanatics listen by that time? It will thrive. Either with archeological or religious interests from thereon. I think an ideal suggestion on paper is for United Nations and Indian govt. to declare it a heritage site. This is also the ripe chance to use Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) since it is in full swing. I am a Hyderabadi and you are correct. I have applied numerous requests only to be neglected and see my Charminar fall piece by piece...until I asked TV and media attention to focus. It was peppered with how muslims are neglected to the core of their history and religion. That save felt like resurrection to my soul. I understood, that day, that every action revolves around money. And how do you get that? Do some religious appeal and it pretty much works by itself even though it might neither be the necessary nor sufficient factor always. Should I write a letter to the state and central government and involve the media since it is attention whore and ready to sling mud at the running governments? Will this work? Let's see.

bloodorange 9y ago

There is one remarkable picture of a step well from India, taken by the master photographer Edward Burtynsky. A low res version can be found on this page: http://lenscratch.com/2016/04/edward-burtynsky-2/ http://lenscratch.com/2016/04/edward-burtynsky-2/ (No affiliation, I just love his work)

stinos 9y ago
Wow, that is one magnificent picture. The dark rigid structures in the bottom left combined with the sheer force of the white water on the right. And then you look further and see all the interesting details. Well done.
- bloodorange 9y ago
  If you get a chance to see his photos in print, I highly recommend it. They are usually big prints (A1 or twice A1) and leave a strong impression on the viewer.
- albertgoeswoof 9y ago
  That's not the stepwell - it's a dam in China. Here's the stepwell photo: http://lenscratch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Burtynsky_Water_03_Step-Well_India.jpg http://lenscratch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Burtynsky_W...
  - bloodorange 9y ago
    This photo is listed on that page and is the was talking about.

mkbkn 9y ago

Stepwells in India are a rare and forgotten beauty. Just sit there and listen to the silence, you'll love it. Most Stepwells are found in Rajasthan and some in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat too.

Angostura 9y ago

An unexpected treat. Thanks for posting.

Davisss 9y ago

Draudzīgi kredīti uzņēmumiem no https://www.cityfinances.lv/ https://www.cityfinances.lv/

SmellTheGlove 9y ago

I'm not sure how I got to my mid 30's and had never heard of stepwells until I played Civ 6, but these things are amazing. I'd love to see one in person some day.

bakul 9y ago

A more recent (Sep 2017) article on stepwells by the same author: https://www.archdaily.com/878527/the-astonishing-vanishing-stepwells-of-india https://www.archdaily.com/878527/the-astonishing-vanishing-s... I've been to the Adalaj Vav (stepwell) near Ahmedabad. Its distinctive architecture is a fusion of Hindu, Jain and Islamic styles. There is an interesting legend behind this. See http://jatinchhabra.com/adalaj-vav-stepwell-gujarat/ http://jatinchhabra.com/adalaj-vav-stepwell-gujarat/