Exploring Stepwells for Reading Practice

Between the sixth and seventh centuries, people in present-day Gujarat and Rajasthan in north-western India devised a way to access clean groundwater during the dry season for drinking, bathing, watering livestock, and irrigation. However, the significance of this invention – the stepwell – extends beyond its practical uses.

Unique to the region, stepwells are often architecturally complex and vary widely in size and shape. During their heyday, they were places of gathering, of leisure, of relaxation and of worship for villagers of all but the lowest castes. Most stepwells are found dotted around the desert areas of Gujarat (where they are called vav) and Rajasthan (where they are known as baori), while a few also survive in Delhi. Some were located in or near villages as public spaces for the community; others were positioned beside roads as resting places for travellers.

As their name implies, stepwells consist of a series of stone steps descending from ground level to the water source, usually an underground aquifer that recedes after the rains. When the water level was high, users only needed to descend a few steps to reach it; when it was low, negotiating several levels was necessary.

Some wells resemble vast, open craters with hundreds of steps lining each sloping side, often arranged in tiers. Others are more elaborate, featuring long stepped corridors leading to the water across multiple levels. Constructed from stone and supported by pillars, they also included pavilions that provided shelter from the relentless heat. However, the most impressive aspects are the intricate decorative sculptures adorning many stepwells, depicting scenes from battle and dance, as well as everyday activities such as women combing their hair and churning butter.

Over the centuries, countless wells were built across northwestern India, yet today, many lie abandoned and dry, their water diverted for industrial purposes, unable to reach the water table. Recent dry periods have worsened their condition; southern Rajasthan endured an eight-year drought from 1996 to 2004.

Nevertheless, significant sites in Gujarat have recently undergone extensive restoration efforts, with the state government announcing plans in June of last year to restore stepwells across the entire state.

In Patan, the state’s ancient capital, the stepwell of Rani Ki Vav (Queen’s Stepwell) is perhaps the finest current example. It was built by Queen Udayamati during the late 11th century, but became silted up following a flood during the 13th century. But the Archaeological Survey of India began restoring it in the 1960s, and today it’s in pristine condition. At 65 metres long, 20 metres wide and 27 metres deep, Rani Ki Vav features 500 distinct sculptures carved into niches throughout the monument, depicting gods such as Vishnu and Parvati in various incarnations. Incredibly, in January 2001, this ancient structure survived a devastating earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.

Another example is the Surya Kund in Modhera, northern Gujarat, next to the Sun Temple, built by King Bhima I in 1026 to honour the sun god Surya. It’s actually a tank (kund means reservoir or pond) rather than a well, but displays the hallmarks of stepwell architecture, including four sides of steps that descend to the bottom in a stunning geometrical formation. The terraces house 108 small, intricately carved shrines between the sets of steps.

Rajasthan also has a wealth of wells. The ancient city of Bundi, 200 kilometres south of Jaipur, is renowned for its architecture, including its stepwells. One of the larger examples is Raniji Ki Baori, which was built by the queen of the region, Nathavatji, in 1699. At 46 metres deep, 20 metres wide and 40 metres long, the intricately carved monument is one of 21 baoris commissioned in the Bundi area by Nathavatji.

In the old ruined town of Abhaneri, about 95 kilometres east of Jaipur, is Chand Baori, one of India’s oldest and deepest wells; aesthetically, it’s perhaps one of the most dramatic. Built in around 850 AD next to the temple of Harshat Mata, the baori comprises hundreds of zigzagging steps that run along three of its sides, steeply descending 11 storeys, resulting in a striking geometric pattern when seen from afar. On the fourth side, covered verandas supported by ornate pillars overlook the steps.

Still in public use is Neemrana Ki Baori, located just off the Jaipur–Dehli highway. Constructed in around 1700, it’s nine storeys deep, with the last two levels underwater. At ground level, there are 86 colonnaded openings from where the visitor descends 170 steps to the deepest water source.

After years of neglect, these marvels of medieval engineering have been rescued by the Archaeological Survey of India, recognizing their importance in preserving the rich history of the country. Travelers now flock to wells in remote corners of northwestern India to marvel at these architectural wonders from a millennium ago, reminding us of the ingenuity and artistry of ancient civilizations and the critical importance of water to human existence.

Questions 1–5

Are the following statements consistent with the information provided in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1–5 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE           if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE          if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN    if there is no information on this

1   Examples of ancient stepwells can be found all over the world.

2   Stepwells had a range of functions, in addition to those related to water collection.

3   The few existing stepwells in Delhi are more attractive than those found elsewhere.

4   It took workers many years to build the stone steps characteristic of stepwells.

5   The number of steps above the water level in a stepwell altered during the course of a year.

Queries 6–8

Respond to the queries below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 6–8 on your answer sheet.

6   Which part of some stepwells provided shade for people?

7   What type of serious climatic event, which took place in southern Rajasthan, is mentioned in the article?

8   Who are frequent visitors to stepwells nowadays?

Questions 9-13

Fill in the table provided below

Choose ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.

Responses: 

1. FALSE (Đoạn 2, “Most stepwells are found dotted around the desert areas of Gujarat (where they are called vav) and Rajasthan (where they are known as baori), while a few also survive in Delhi.” → Chỉ tìm thấy ở Ấn Độ, chứ không phải quanh thế giới)

2. TRUE (Đoạn 2, “During their heyday, they were places of gathering, of leisure, of relaxation and of worship for villagers of all but the lowest castes. Some were located in or near villages as public spaces for the community” → Nhiều chức năng)

3. NOT GIVEN (Không có thông tin về so sánh trang trí Stepwell và các loại giếng khác)

4. NOT GIVEN (Không có thông tin về việc mất bao nhiêu thời gian để xây)

5. TRUE (Đoạn 3, “When the water level was high, the user needed only to descend a few steps to reach it; when it was low, several levels would have to be negotiated.” → Mực nước thay đổi khiến cho số bậc dãn xuống giếng cũng thay đổi theo)

6. Pavilions (Đoạn 4, “they also included pavilions that sheltered visitors from the relentless heat.”

7. Drought (Đoạn 5, “southern Rajasthan suffered an eight-year drought between 1996 and 2004”)

8. Tourists (Đoạn cuối cùng, “Tourists flock to wells in far-flung corners of northwestern India to gaze in wonder at these architectural marvels from 1,000 years ago,…”

9. Earthquake (Đoạn 7, “Incredibly, in January 2001, this ancient structure survived a devastating earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.”)

10. Four sides/ 4 sides  (“…including four sides of steps that descend to the bottom in a stunning geometrical formation. The terraces house 108 small, intricately carved shrines between the sets of steps.”)

11. Tank (Đoạn 8, “It’s actually a tank (kund means reservoir or pond) rather than a well, but displays the hallmarks of stepwell architecture, including four sides of steps that descend to the bottom in a stunning geometrical formation.”)

12. Verandas/ verandahs (Đoạn 10, “On the fourth side, covered verandas supported by ornate pillars overlook the steps.”