Download PDF The Vanishing Stepwells of India

[Get.wu7f] The Vanishing Stepwells of India

[Get.wu7f] The Vanishing Stepwells of India

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Some of the most stunning architectural structures in India are to be found below ground: these are its stepwells, ancient water stores. Stepwells are unique to India and from around the 3rd century CE were built throughout the country, particularly in the arid western regions. Excavated several stories underground in order to reach the water table, these cavernous spaces not only provided water all year long but also fulfilled other functions; they offered pilgrims and other travelers a respite from the heat, and became places in which villagers could socialize. Stepwell construction evolved so that, by the 11th century, the wells were amazingly complex feats of architecture and engineering.The journalist Victoria Lautman first encountered stepwells three decades ago and now, a seasoned traveller to India, she has devoted several years to documenting these fascinating but largely unknown edifices before they disappear. Of the thousands of stepwells that proliferated across India, most were abandoned as a result of modernization and the depletion of water tables. Often commissioned by royal or wealthy patrons, the wells vary greatly in scale, layout, materials and shape. Those in what is now Gujarat state also served as subterranean Hindu temples that featured columned pavilions and elaborate stone carvings of deities. Islamic wells were generally less flamboyant, but incorporated arched side niches. Today, few stepwells are in use. The majority have been left to silt up, fill with rubbish and crumble into disrepair. Gradually, however, the Indian government and heritage organizations have come to recognize the need to preserve these architectural wonders. In 2014 Indias best-known stepwell, the Rani ki Vav in Patan, northern Gujarat, became a UNESCO World Heritage site.In her introduction, Lautman discusses why and where the stepwells were built. She reflects on the reasons they became derelict and considers how the appreciation of stepwells is changing with the work of organizations and individuals who aim to protect and restore them. The main part of the book is arranged in a broadly chronological order, with up to six pages devoted to each of c. 80 stepwells, every one unique in design and engineering. The name, location (including GPS coordinates) and approximate date of each well accompany color photographs and a concise commentary by Lautman on the history and architecture of the well and her experience of visiting it. While many of the stepwells are rather decrepit, their magnificent engineering and great beauty cannot fail to impress. Book review: The Vanishing Stepwells of India ancient The Vanishing Stepwells of India by Victoria Lautman Merrell Publishers 4/5 stars The cover of Victoria Lautmans book The Vanishing Stepwells of India carries WIREDjp The Vanishing Stepwells of IndiaMerrell Publishers2017 20173The Vanishing Stepwells The Vanishing Stepwells of India - merrellpublisherscom The Vanishing Stepwells of IndiaMerrell Publishers Victoria Lautman is a print and broadcast journalist specializing in arts and culture Travel & Leisure South China Morning Post If I discovered last week that the subject of dog poo could stir deep and powerful emotions among literally hundreds of readers then that is as nothing compared with The Golden Triangle - Asian and European Antiques The Golden Triangle located at 330 North Clark Street Chicago Illinois is a Chicago based furniture store The Golden Triangle offers a rare collection of Asian Travel Smithsonian A Culinary Renaissance in the Israeli Countryside Beyond Tel Aviv towns are adopting enticing new approaches to cuisine that celebrate the history of the region and Chicago Public Library We've got a promposal for you: Check out one of these DVDs stay home and soak up the prom experience with none of the disappointment merrellpublisherscom A timely exploration of the innovative use of words and letters in art by more than 40 artists from across the Arab world and Iran Victoria Lautman Journalist Author Lecturer The Vanishing Stepwells of India VICTORIA LAUTMAN Foreward by Divay Gupta Tourists throng Indias temples palaces forts and mosques but the countrys ancient BBC - Travel - Indias ancient engineering marvel American art historian and archaeologist Victoria Lautman author of the upcoming book The Vanishing Stepwells of India described the sensory overload of her first
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