Its another marvel in #IncredibleIndia

Gavin Moffat
Mar 16, 2023
1 min read

This is Panna Meena ka Kund. It’s a square stepwell, with adjoining stairways on the corners and a room on the Northern wall. It’s in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India and was built in the 16th century. Stepwells are water management systems generally found in areas with low rainfall. Its primary purpose was to store and provide access to water with ancillary benefits such as a communal place to gather and chat, for kids to swim, washing of clothes and bathing.

The first rock cut stepwells appeared between the 2nd and 4th centuries CE. Although there are no accurate numbers it is estimated that several thousand stepwells have been built and few are well maintained or still in use. Panna Meena ka Kund is one of the exceptions and is fully restored and functional although not in everyday use.

Humankind’s ability to construct functional and utilitarian structures is admirable but often uninspiring. Panna Meena ka Kund on the other hand is both functional and beautiful, complex and useful and it has been around a lot longer than the dynasty that built it.

So many things, found only here. #incredibleindia