HAVELIS OF HARYANA

HISTORICAL WATER BODIES OF HARYANA

Water is essential for life. Life is impossible without water. Therefore, water sources and structure related to them occupies great spaces in people’s lives. The water structures, about which we are talking, belong to the time gap of ancient time to colonial period. There are evidence of ancient water bodies which from Rakhigarhi, Banawli, and Kunal sites. Even during that time wells and ponds were used and after that kund and sarovar`s were made. Provision of drinking water was considered to be meritorious deed ‘punya karma’. Bawdi well, sekhawati well and talab were made in medieval period.  Haryana has many water structures in different regions, many villages have sekhawati type stepwells built in 18 or 19 century which was used by local people. Later structures called  johad were constructed as source of water.

- Ancient Well in Banawli

Most water structures are used for a variety of everyday and sacred activities, washing, for cattle, for religious ceremonies and festival. Water related structures are places where people meet, rest, and chat while doing their daily chores, and many structures are a center for pilgrim attraction. The architectural styles, patrons and water levels of these structure change with rulers and seasons, water architecture continues to be of crucial importance for the people of India and Haryana, These water structures had multiple purposes, used for religious purposes – like sarovar, tirth, kund,talab, for public use, drinking water, irrigation, and harvesting like Bawdi, Johad, well, Tank, Gladstone reservoir and also for symbol of power- Jal Mahal, and some talab. Some ceremonies like childbirth, Kua pujan, initiation, marriage, death, ancestral rituals are prevalent even now.   Haryana has a rich heritage on water bodies’ structures.

List of water structure in Haryana-                   

1.     BAOLI –A Baoli is deep well with a broad flight of steps leading down to the water; in old days it served many functions. It was not merely  a source of water of domestic and agricultural use but also a cool resort, security, religious purpose, in Haryana it’s also known as Bawdi and Bay. 

                                                   kaithal baoli

2.     KUND (SURAJKUND, FARIDABAD­-   The word kund is derived from the sanskrit word kunda. Kunds are stepped water basins which penetrate deep into the ground and resemble the shape of a funnel with a relatively small water area at the bottom. They are circular and rectangular in shape. They are steps in all the four sides of its basin and kunds are found in only Rajasthan, Gujrat and Haryana ; Ex- Surajkund in Fridabad.

- General view of Surajkund

3.     Talab - It’s an area filled with water, either natural or artificial, that is usually smaller than a lake. Talabs are frequently man-made, or expanded beyond their original depth and bounds. They are used for water harvesting, sacred bath, and religious purpose. Talabs are called by different names like tal, talao,sagar depending on the region or local language. In Haryana mostly talab has many ghats and steps inside the structure. In talabs the ghats are used for religious bathing and purification rituals. Example- Chota bada talao, anup talao, Gopal talao in Narnaul.

- Gopal talao in Narnaul

4.     SAROVAR (Braham Sarovar, Narnaul)  -  Sarovar refers to the sacred waters of a pool, or moat like tank, built around or close to temples and religious place. These are square or rectangular open pool with steps descending into the water, they are used for holy dip by devotee before the prayers and ceremonies takes place, during Amavas and other religious festivals . Ex- Braham sarovar, Sanjit sarovar in Kurukshetra and Sobha sarovar in Narnaul.

                                   

                                             General view of Braham Sarovar (Kurukshetra)

5.     GLADSTONE RESERVOIR water tank (AMBALA) - A very different example of water architecture, built in the colonial period. The structure is circular made of brick masonry and has timber on the upper part. The structure has a large cast iron water tank which was used to store water and it was first example which used mechanical system to pump water upwards, located in Ambala district-

                                        . Gladstone reservoirs in Ambala district

6.     JAL MAHAL (NARNAUL)- These structure was made as a symbol of power and strength. The structure is in the middle of water approached by a bridge. This  structure is surrounded by water with beautiful lwans chattris and arches, it is personal use by emperor and his family. Ex- Jal Mahal (Narnaul ) 

                                             General view of Jal mahal Narnaul

7.     WELL (Sekhawati well)- Wells are vertical cylindrical shafts which penetrate  deep into the ground and always trap ground water, the most reliable source of water. Wells are usually located in public areas which are easily accessible to the people, larger houses and places have  private wells.  Haryana has also a Sekhawati example of well, which is used in many villages, and they were made by rich sahukar, jamidaar wells were built in every village and residential place, Sekhawati well was also made in many villages. But there are presently in neglected and are ruined.

                           

     

                               General view of Ruined sekhawati well In village Dhanana (Bhiwani)

8. JOHAD -Johad is a community-owned traditional harvesting rainwater storage principally used for effectively harnessing water resources in the state of Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh, that collects and stores water throughout the year. They recharge the groundwater in the nearby water wells, washing, bathing and drinking by humans and cattle. In Haryana they are still used in rural areas. 

                                 

                                         - Johad in Haryana village

9.     LAKES-  A Lake is an area with water, and large body of water (larger and deeper than a pond ) within a body of land .  It is connect with a river or canals. Also uses a stored and harvesting of water in Haryana have famous Karan lake (Karnal) and Hali lake (Panipat) know used as a tourist spot and botting area.

                                                       Side view of Karan Lake, Karnal

10. TIRTAHS- Tirth is a Sanskrit word "crossing place, ford", and refers to any place, text or person that is holy. It particularly refers to pilgrimage sites and holy places in Hinduism as well as Jainism. They are believed to supernatural powers, and to be locations where contact with the divine is more likely. Tirthas are places of pilgrimage to which devotees travel often KOS parikarma, because at these places a crossing to higher sphere may safely to be made. There is a tank of large water body with ghats periphery. Example- Pharal tirth (Kaithal),  Pnadu Pindara tirth (Jind)

                                        View of Village Pandu Pindara tirth (JIND)

 These are some of the water bodies in Haryana. There are many more structure which was once in use but now neglected or seldom used.

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