Agrasen Ki Baoli, Connaught Place, New Delhi May 26, 2025

Long before tanks and taps came along, people in India found a genius way to store water: stepwells, or baolis, as they"re fondly known. Known by many other names like bawdi, baori or vav, they have deep roots in Indian history and language, with origins in the Sanskrit word "vapi." In fact, the concept of stepwells dates all the way back to the Indus Valley Civilisation, with ancient sites like Dholavira showcasing some of the earliest examples of this ingenious way to manage water in arid climates.

© Neha Gupta/Getty Images

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