第1段

During the sixth and seventh centuries, the inhabitants of the modern-day states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in north-western India developed a method of gaining access to clean, fresh groundwater during the dry season for drinking, bathing, watering animals and irrigation. However, the significance of this invention – the stepwell – goes beyond its utilitarian application.

在公元6和7世纪期间，印度西北部古吉拉特邦和拉贾斯坦邦的居民发明了一种在旱季获得清洁淡水的方法，用于饮水、洗浴、给动物饮水和灌溉。然而，这一发明——踏井的意义远不止于其实用应用。

第2段

Unique to this region, stepwells are often architecturally complex and vary widely in size and shape. During their heyday, they were places of gathering, of leisure and relaxation and of worship for villagers of all but the lowest classes. Most stepwells are found dotted round the desert areas of Gujarat (where they are called vav) and Rajasthan (where they are called baori), while a few also survive in Delhi. Some were located in or near villages as public spaces for the community; others were positioned beside roads as resting places for travellers.

独特于该地区的踏井在建筑上通常复杂多样。在它们鼎盛时期，它们是聚集、休闲、放松和崇拜的场所，除了最低阶层的村民。大多数踏井散布在古吉拉特邦（称为vav）和拉贾斯坦邦（称为baori）的沙漠地区，而少数也保存在德里。有些踏井位于村庄附近或村庄内作为社区的公共场所；另一些则位于道路旁，供旅行者休息。

第3段

As their name suggests, stepwells comprise a series of stone steps descending from ground level to the water source (normally an underground aquifer) as it recedes following the rains. When the water level was high, the user needed only to descend a few steps to reach it; when it was low, several levels would have to be negotiated.

正如其名称所示，踏井由一系列从地面到水源（通常是地下含水层）的石级组成，随着雨水的减少而下降。当水位较高时，用户只需走几步就能到达水源；当水位较低时，就需要走过几层级。

第4段

Some wells are vast, open craters with hundreds of steps paving each sloping side, often in tiers. Others are more elaborate, with long stepped passages leading to the water via several storeys. Built from stone and supported by pillars, they also included pavilions that sheltered visitors from the relentless heat. But perhaps the most impressive features are the intricate decorative sculptures that embellish many step wells, showing activities from fighting and dancing to everyday acts such as women combing their hair or churning butter.

一些井是巨大的、开放的圆坑，每一侧铺设着数百级台阶，通常分层。另一些则更为复杂，有长长的阶梯通道通向水源，包括数层。它们由石头建成，由支柱支撑，还包括凉亭，可遮蔽游客免受酷热。但也许最令人印象深刻的特点是装饰精致的雕塑，装饰着许多踏井，展示了从战斗和舞蹈到日常活动，如梳头或搅奶油等活动。

第5段

Down the centuries, thousands of wells were constructed throughout northwestern India, but the majority have now fallen into disuse; many are derelict and dry, as groundwater has been diverted for industrial use and the wells no longer reach the water table. Their condition hasn’t been helped by recent dry spells: southern Rajasthan suffered an eight-year drought between 1996 and 2004.

多年来，成千上万的水井在印度西北部被建造，但大多数现在已经废弃；许多已经荒废和干涸，因为地下水被转移到工业用途，井已经无法到达水位。它们的状况并没有受到最近干旱的帮助：拉贾斯坦邦南部在1996年至2004年间遭受了长达八年的干旱。

第6段

However, some important sites in Gujarat have recently undergone major restoration, and the state government announced in June last year that it plans to restore the stepwells throughout the state.

然而，古吉拉特邦的一些重要遗址最近经历了重大修复，该邦政府去年6月宣布计划恢复整个邦的踏井。

第7段

In Patan, the state’s ancient capital, the stepwell of Rani Ki Vav (Queen’s Stepwell) is perhaps the finest current example. It was built by Queen Udayamati during the late 11th century, but became silted up following a flood during the 13th century. But the Archaeological Survey of India began restoring it in the 1960s, and today it is in pristine condition. At 65 metres long, 20 metres wide and 27 metres deep, Rani Ki Vav features 500 sculptures carved into niches throughout the monument. Incredibly, in January 2001, this ancient structure survived an earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.

在帕坦，该邦的古都，Rani Ki Vav（女王踏井）可能是最好的现有例子。它是由乌达亚玛蒂王后在11世纪晚期建造的，但在13世纪的洪水后淤泥。但印度考古调查局在20世纪60年代开始修复它，如今它状况良好。Rani Ki Vav长65米，宽20米，深27米，在整个纪念碑的壁龛上雕刻了500尊雕塑。令人难以置信的是，这座古老的建筑在2001年1月经受了里氏7.6级的地震而幸存下来。

第8段

Another example is the Surya Kund in Modhera, northern Gujarat, next to the Sun Temple, built by King Bhima I in 1026 to honour the sun god Surya. It actually resembles a tank (kund means reservoir or pond) rather than a well, but displays the hallmarks of stepwell architecture, including four sides of steps that descend to the bottom in a stunning geometrical formation. The terraces house 108 small, intricately carved shrines between the sets of steps.

另一个例子是古吉拉特邦北部Modhera的Surya Kund，毗邻阳神庙，由比玛一世于1026年建造，以供奉太阳神苏利亚。实际上它更像是一个水池（kund意为水库或池塘），而不是一口井，但它展现了踏井建筑的特点，包括四面的台阶，呈现出令人惊叹的几何形态。这些平台之间有108座小巧精致的神龛。

第9段

Rajasthan also has a wealth of wells. The ancient city of Bundi, 200 kilometres south of Jaipur, is renowned for its architecture, including its stepwells. One of the larger examples is Raniji Ki Baori, which was built by the queen of the region, Nathavatji, in 1699. At 46 meters deep, 20 metres wide and 40 metres long, the intricately carved monument is one of 21 baoris commissioned in the Bundi area by Nathavatji.

拉贾斯坦邦也拥有众多的水井。距离斋浦尔南部200公里的古城邦迪以其建筑而闻名，包括其踏井。其中较大的一个例子是Raniji Ki Baori，是该地区女王纳塔瓦特吉于1699年建造的。深46米，宽20米，长40米，这座雕刻精美的纪念碑是由纳塔瓦特吉委托在邦迪地区建造的21座baori之一。

第10段

In the old ruined town of Abhaneri, about 95 kilometers east of Jaipur, is Chand Baori, one of India’s oldest and deepest wells; aesthetically it’s perhaps one of the most dramatic. Built in around 850 AD next to the temple of Harshat Mata, the baori comprises hundreds of zigzagging steps that run along three of its sides, steeply descending 11 storeys, resulting in a striking pattern when seen from afar. On the fourth side, verandas which are supported by ornate pillars overlook the steps.

在斋浦尔东部约95公里处的旧废弃城镇阿巴内里，是印度最古老和最深的水井之一——Chand Baori，美学上也许是最引人注目的。它建于公元850年左右，毗邻哈沙特玛塔寺庙，包括数百条蜿蜒的台阶，沿着它的三侧陡峭地下降11层，从远处观看时呈现出令人惊叹的图案。在第四侧，由华丽的支柱支撑的走廊俯瞰着这些台阶。

第11段

Still in public use is Neemrana Ki Baoriy located just off the Jaipur-Delhi highway. Constructed in around 1700, it is nine storeys deep, with the last two being underwater. At ground level, there are 86 colonnaded openings from where the visitor descends 170 steps to the deepest water source.

位于斋浦尔-德里高速公路旁的Neemrana Ki Baoriy仍在公共使用中。它约建于1700年，深九层，最后两层位于水下。在地面上，有86个有柱走廊的开口，游客可以从那里下降170级台阶到最深的水源。

第12段

Today, following years of neglect, many of these monuments to medieval engineering have been saved by the Archaeological Survey of India, which has recognised the importance of preserving them as part of the country’s rich history. Tourists flock to wells in far-flung corners of northwestern India to gaze in wonder at these architectural marvels from hundreds of years ago, which serve as a reminder of both the ingenuity and artistry of ancient civilisations and of the value of water to human existence.