As Indian cities search for ways to cope with rising temperatures, water shortages and increasingly erratic rainfall, one solution lies hidden underground.

Across the dry landscapes of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, and parts of central India stand thousands of stepwells, known locally as vavs, baolis and baoris. Today, many are visited as heritage monuments. But when they were built centuries ago, they served a much more practical purpose.

They collected water, stored it through long summers, helped recharge groundwater and created naturally cool spaces where people could escape extreme heat. Long before terms like climate adaptation and sustainable design entered public conversations, communities across India had already developed systems that addressed many of the same challenges.

Built for a land of uncertain rainfall

Stepwells originated in regions where rainfall arrived only during a short monsoon season. These structures were designed to provide access to groundwater through a series of descending steps, allowing people to reach water even as levels fluctuated throughout the year.

Unlike conventional wells, stepwells were expansive underground structures. Flights of stone steps led people deeper into the earth, making sure that water remained accessible during dry months when groundwater levels fell.

In areas prone to drought, this was not merely convenient........

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