Huge architectural gems built deep into the Earth like inverted fortresses are scattered around India – and restoring them may be a solution to help the country's parched communities.

巨大的建筑瑰寶遍布印度各地，猶如倒置的城堡被建在地下深處，修復(fù)它們也許是幫助印度干旱地區(qū)的一個辦法。

An exquisitely carved maze of 3,500 steps, arranged in perfect symmetry, descends with geometrical precision to reach a well. Criss-crossed steps encircle the water on three sides, while the fourth side is adorned by a pavilion with embellished galleries and balconies. Built by Rajput ruler Raja Chanda during the 8th-9th Century, Chand Bawri in Abhaneri, Rajasthan, is India's largest and deepest stepwell. Extending down 13 floors, or 100ft (30m), into the ground, it is a captivating example of inverted architecture.

這座雕刻精美的迷宮由完美對稱的3500個臺階排列而成，精準(zhǔn)的幾何形狀直通地下的一口水井。縱橫交錯的臺階從三面環(huán)繞井水，第四面裝飾著一座亭子，里面帶有裝飾性畫廊和陽臺。月亮水井坐落在印度拉賈斯坦邦艾芭奈麗村，由拉其普特統(tǒng)治者拉賈·錢達(dá)建造于8-9世紀(jì)，是印度最大和最深的階梯井。階梯共13層，深達(dá)100英尺（30米），它是倒置建筑的迷人典范。

Plunging into the earth, stepwells like Chand Bawri were built in drought-prone regions of India to provide water all year round, ensuring communities had access to vital water storage and irrigation systems.

像月亮水井這種深入地下的階梯井被建造在印度干旱地區(qū)，全年提供水資源，確保社區(qū)接近至關(guān)重要的蓄水和灌溉系統(tǒng)。

Centuries of natural decay and neglect, however, have pushed these structures into oblivion. Dating back more than 1,000 years, the stepwells (baoli, bawri, or vav) are crumbling into obscurity. Their value has gone largely unnoticed by town planners as modern running water systems eclipsed their importance. Many stepwells are in shambles or have caved in. Some have disappeared completely.

然而，數(shù)個世紀(jì)的自然衰敗和疏于修護(hù)已使這些建筑被人遺忘。擁有一千多年歷史的階梯井正變得無人問津，城市規(guī)劃者基本忽視它們的價值，因為現(xiàn)代自來水系統(tǒng)使它們失去了意義。許多階梯井處在廢墟或坍塌狀態(tài)，有些已經(jīng)完全消失了。

But in recent years, many of these ancient edifices are being restored to help tackle India's acute water problem. The country is currently undergoing the worst water crisis in its history, according to a recent government report. There are hopes that the ancient technology of the stepwells might offer a solution.

但近些年來，許多這樣的古老建筑正在得到修復(fù)，幫助印度解決嚴(yán)重的缺水問題。最近的政府報告顯示，印度正在遭遇有史以來最嚴(yán)重的水危機(jī)。人們希望古老的階梯井技術(shù)能解決問題。

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), India is the world's largest extractor of groundwater. The groundwater level in India is estimated to have declined by 61% between 2007 and 2017. The depletion of this vital resource not only threatens people's access to drinking water but also food security by resulting in a reduction in food crops by up to 68% in severely-hit regions.

根據(jù)聯(lián)合國教科文組織的說法，印度是世界上最大的地下水開采國。據(jù)估算2007-2017年，印度地下水位下降了61%。至關(guān)重要的水資源枯竭不僅威脅到人們獲取飲用水，而且威脅到糧食安全，重災(zāi)區(qū)的糧食作物減產(chǎn)高達(dá)68%。


There are thousands of stepwells across India but as modern water systems have been installed many have been neglected

印度各地有數(shù)千個階梯井，但由于安裝了現(xiàn)代自來水系統(tǒng)，許多階梯井已被忽視。

India receives about 400 million hectare metres of rain annually, but nearly 70% of surface water is unfit for human consumption due to pollution. India is ranked 120th out of 122 countries in the water quality index. An estimated 200,000 people die every year due to inadequate water.

印度每年降雨量約4億公頃米，但接近70%的地表水由于污染而不適合人類飲用。印度的水質(zhì)指數(shù)在122個國家中排名第120位，每年約有20萬人因缺水而死亡。

The government emphasises the need to use India's historic water management systems for solutions to these problems. States can leverage new technologies to modify traditional water systems for local requirements. In a nation where 600 million people – around half the population – face severe water shortages daily, traditional water-harvesting solutions are a harbinger of hope. "With India's water table rapidly declining, stepwells can help refill ground aquifers and harvest runoffs. In three months during the rainy season, millions of litres of water can be collected," says Ratish Nanda, a conservation architect and projects' director at the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, an organisation leading restoration efforts.

印度政府強(qiáng)調(diào)有必要使用古代的水管理系統(tǒng)來解決這些問題，各邦利用新技術(shù)因地制宜地改造傳統(tǒng)水系統(tǒng)。印度有6億人（約一半人口）每天面臨嚴(yán)重的缺水問題，傳統(tǒng)取水方法蘊藏著希望?！霸谟《鹊叵滤谎杆傧陆档那闆r下，階梯井能幫助恢復(fù)地下含水層和獲取徑流。三個月的雨季期間可收集數(shù)百萬升水”，負(fù)責(zé)修復(fù)工作的阿加汗文化信托基金會的文物保護(hù)建筑師和項目總監(jiān)拉蒂什·南達(dá)說道。

In 2018, the government of Rajasthan, one of the most water-scarce regions in the world, drew up a comprehensive frxwork, with technical assistance from the World Bank, for restoration of the stepwells, including Chand Bawri.

印度拉賈斯坦邦是世界上最缺少的地區(qū)之一，2018年，邦政府起草了一份綜合框架，旨在世界銀行的技術(shù)援助下修復(fù)階梯井，包括月亮水井。

"The Rajasthan government, through its flagship program Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan, has taken initiatives to make villages self-sufficient in water by reviving the non-functional rainwater harvesting structures," says Mohit Dhingra, who teaches at Jindal School of Art and Architecture in Sonepat, India, and is associated with conservation projects in India.

“拉賈斯坦邦政府實施旗艦計劃，率先通過恢復(fù)集雨建筑物的功能來實現(xiàn)村莊用水自給自足”，印度索內(nèi)帕特縣金達(dá)爾藝術(shù)與建筑學(xué)院教師、參與印度保護(hù)項目的莫希特·丁格拉說道。

"India has a comprehensive water eco-system, but most of the traditional water bodies have become defunct. Reviving the stepwells will enable people to reclaim their traditional resources and spaces of community life. With the holding capacity that stepwells like Chand Bawri have, a great burden of water scarcity can be mitigated," he says.

“印度擁有綜合的水生態(tài)系統(tǒng)，但大多數(shù)傳統(tǒng)水體已失去作用?；謴?fù)階梯井能讓人們開發(fā)利用傳統(tǒng)水資源和社區(qū)生活空間。有了月亮水井這種階梯水井的蓄水能力，就能極大緩解缺水問題”，他說道。

Bansi Devi, who rears cattle for a living in Rajasthan, has already noticed a change. "We had to walk for hours searching for water," she says. "Now I can use water from the revived baoli in my village for our domestic use and also for feeding and washing the cattle."

班西·杰維在拉賈斯坦邦以養(yǎng)牛為生，他已經(jīng)注意到變化?！拔覀円郧氨仨氉吆脦讉€小時去找水”，她說道?！拔椰F(xiàn)在使用村子里修復(fù)好的階梯井取水，滿足了家庭用水和對牛的飼養(yǎng)與清洗”。

In Jodhpur city, the Toorji stepwell was restored after a team spent several months pumping out stagnant water. Decades of toxic water had turned the red sandstone white, with half an inch of thick crust covering much of the surface. Sand-blasting was carried out to clean the thick white crust of deposits on the wall, at a cost of about 1.5 million Indian rupees (￡14,784). About 28 million litres (6.2 million gallons) of water per day is supplied to the city by other recently cleaned stepwells for irrigation and domestic purposes.

在佐德普爾市，一支團(tuán)隊修復(fù)了焦特布爾階梯井，花了數(shù)月時間從中抽出死水。幾十年來的毒性水已將這里的紅色砂巖染成白色，大部分表面覆蓋著一層半英寸厚的硬層。團(tuán)隊利用噴砂處理清除了沉積在墻體表面的白色硬層，耗資約150萬印度盧比（14784英鎊）。該市最近還清理了其他用于灌溉和家庭的階梯井，每天可為該城市供應(yīng)大約2800萬升（620萬加侖）水。

Gram Bharati Samiti (Society for Rural Development), a non-profit in the Jaipur district of Rajasthan, has carried out restoration work of seven stepwells in the villages of Rajasthan, providing around 25,000 people with a more reliable water source.

拉賈斯坦邦齋普爾區(qū)的非營利組織“農(nóng)村發(fā)展協(xié)會”修復(fù)了村莊里的七個階梯井，為25000人提供了更加可靠的水源。

"We have restored seven stepwells where ground water has been recharged and storage capacity has increased," says Kusum Jain, secretary of Gram Bharati Samiti. "Most stepwells can provide ample water for the daily needs of the villagers. It saw a unique coming-in of volunteers from different communities, exemplifying India's religious harmony."

“我們已修復(fù)七個階梯井，地下水得到了補給，蓄水量已有所增加”，“農(nóng)村發(fā)展協(xié)會”秘書庫?！り饶钦f道?！按蠖鄶?shù)階梯井能提供足夠的水滿足村民的日常需求。罕見地吸引了來自不同社區(qū)的志愿者，為印度的宗教和諧樹立了榜樣“。

Rajkumar Sharma, a head teacher of the Government Primary School, in Shivpura, Rajasthan, is elated to see the revival. "Baolis are an integral part of our cultural life," he says. "The stepwell in our village was the only source of water. With time, it had dried up and had converted into a heap of rubbish. We now have access to clean water for drinking, domestic use and for religious ceremonies. The baoli has become the grandeur of our village."

拉賈斯坦邦Shivpura地區(qū)公立小學(xué)的校長拉杰庫馬爾·沙瑪是對階梯井的修復(fù)興高采烈?！半A梯井是我們文化生活中不可缺少的一部分”，他說道?！拔覀兇宓碾A梯井是唯一的水源。它隨著時間的推移干涸了，變成一堆垃圾?，F(xiàn)在我們有了清潔水可供飲用、家用以及宗教儀式使用，階梯井已成為我們村子的宏偉建筑”。
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Evidence of stepwells dates back to the Indus Valley Civilisation between 2500-1700 BC. Initially constructed as crude trenches, they slowly evolved into engineering marvels between 11th-15th Century. In 2016, Stepwell Atlas, mapped the coordinates of around 3,000 existing stepwells in India. Delhi, the capital, alone has 32 stepwells.

階梯井的證據(jù)可追溯到公元前2500-1700年的印度河流域文明。最初建造的是簡陋的溝渠，在11-15世紀(jì)逐漸演變成為工程奇跡。2016年，《階梯井地圖冊》繪制出印度大約3000處現(xiàn)存階梯井的坐標(biāo)，光是首都德里就有32處。


Stepwells usually have cascading galleries and steps to a central pool of water

階梯井通常有大量的畫廊和臺階通往中央的水池。

Stepwells are multi-storied subterranean structures with significant ornamental and architectural features. They usually have two parts: a vertical shaft of water and the cascading galleries, chambers and a flight of orchestrated steps. "Stepwells are a repository of India's historical tales, used for social gatherings and religious ceremonies," says historian Rana Safvi. "They served as cool retreats for travellers as the temperature at the bottom was often five-six degrees lesser. Stepwells helped create bonhomie in common spaces as well as providing water for communities. They are an ingenious system for rainwater harvesting and served as water reservoirs. Revival of stepwells could be a significant step in our fight to overcome water shortage."

階梯井是一種多層地下建筑，具有顯著的裝飾和建筑特點。階梯井通常由兩部分組成：取水用的豎井，大量的畫廊、房間、精心設(shè)計的階梯?！半A梯井是印度歷史故事的寶庫，是用于社交聚會和舉行宗教儀式的場所”，歷史學(xué)家拉娜·薩菲說道?！八鼈冊怯慰偷募{涼之地，因為地下的溫度通常低5-6度。階梯井也能幫助營造公共場所的友善氛圍，并為社區(qū)提供用水。它們是別出心裁的雨水收集系統(tǒng)，還能起到蓄水池的作用，修復(fù)階梯井可能是解決我們水短缺問題的重要一步”。

Chicago-based author Victoria Lautman describes them as "gates to the underworld" in her book, The vanishing stepwells of India. "Stepwells are unique since we generally look up at architecture, not down into it," she says. "As one looks around the parade of steps, tall columns loom over, creating shifting views through a powerful play of light and shadow that is beautiful as well as mysterious.

芝加哥作家維多利亞·羅特曼在她所著的《消失的印度階梯井》一書中將它們形容為“地下世界的門戶”。“階梯井是獨一無二的，因為我們普遍仰望而非俯視它”，她說道?！爱?dāng)你環(huán)顧層層階梯，赫然聳立的高柱時，強(qiáng)烈的光暗對比營造出變幻莫測的神秘美景”。

"Awareness of India's stepwells has grown exponentially recently. It's ironic that they've been ignored, considering how wonderfully efficient stepwells were at providing water for nearly 1,500 years. Now, thanks to the restoration efforts, stepwells will come full circle."

“最近人們對階梯井的認(rèn)識迅速增加。諷刺的是，高效供水長達(dá)1500多年的階梯井竟然被忽視了?，F(xiàn)在多虧了修復(fù)工作，階梯井將恢復(fù)原狀”。

Stepwells were built along natural slopes to collect run offs and acted as rainwater catchment areas, often connected to ponds so they could channel rainwater. Excavating and building these underground fortresses with pre-industrial tools and techniques must have been an enormous task, says Lautman.

階梯井被建在自然邊坡上是為了收集徑流和作為雨水收集區(qū)，階梯井通常與池塘相連，這樣可以調(diào)集雨水。利用工業(yè)化前的工具和技術(shù)挖掘和建造這些地下城堡必定是一項艱巨的任務(wù)，洛特曼說道。

"Built using masonry, rubble or brick, stepwells involved careful placement of a long staircase and side ledges around a trench that allowed access to water," she adds. "During rainy seasons, the trench would transform into a huge water cistern, filling to capacity. Their close-packed design helped reduce evaporation."

“使用磚石瓦礫建造的階梯井需要在溝渠四周精心布置長樓梯和側(cè)面壁架來獲取水源”，她補充道?！懊康接昙荆瑴锨妥兂梢粋€巨大的蓄水池，里面注滿了水。階梯井的密集設(shè)計有助于減少蒸發(fā)”。
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Stepwells used for farming had drainage systems that channelled water into the fields. The Moosi Rani Sagar revival project in Rajasthan is one such multi-level plan involving wells, dams and canals from the top of the Aravalli hill to the stepwell at the foothills. Restoration work started in 2020 and required extensive cleaning and desilting, removing debris and invasive weeds and firming up civic structures. From a cesspool, the channel has transformed into a fresh waterway, with thriving fish and turtles.

農(nóng)業(yè)用途的階梯井配有排水系統(tǒng)，可以將水引入農(nóng)田。拉賈斯坦邦的修復(fù)工程是一項多層次規(guī)劃，包括水井、水壩、以及從阿拉瓦利山頂通往山腳下階梯井的水渠。修復(fù)工作開始于2020年，需要進(jìn)行大量的清理和疏浚，清除垃圾和入侵的雜草，對市政建筑物進(jìn)行加固。這條水渠已從一條污水池變成一條干凈河道，魚和烏龜在里面繁衍生息。


Stepwells are not just useful for water storage but form an important focal point of communities and their heritage

階梯井不僅用于蓄水，而且是社區(qū)及其遺產(chǎn)的重要活動中心。

Researchers have explored the application of fractal geometry in stepwells, which had both an aesthetic and functional purpose. This provided stability, buttressing walls against water pressure, owing to which many stepwells have survived and have the potential to be restored.

研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)了分形幾何學(xué)在階梯井中的應(yīng)用，兼具美學(xué)與功能。這提供了堅固性，使階梯井抗住水壓，所以許多階梯井才得以幸存，并有修復(fù)的潛力。

In 2017, the government identified 15 stepwells in Delhi for restoration. In 2019, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture partnered with the German Embassy in India to restore a stepwell in the Humayun Tomb complex in Delhi. "It mandated re-grading the earth and rebuilding the walls," says Nanda. "The efforts helped recharge aquifers through an investment of 4.15 million Indian rupees (￡40,500/$54,990). This catchment area will help conserve 150,000 litres (32,995 gallons) of rainwater."

2017年，印度政府確認(rèn)對德里的15處階梯井進(jìn)行修復(fù)。2019年，阿加汗文化信托基金會與德國駐印度大使館開展合作，修復(fù)德里胡馬雍陵墓的階梯井。“政府命令重整地形，重建墻體”，南達(dá)說道?！巴ㄟ^投資415萬印度盧比（40500英鎊/54990美元），這項工作有助于恢復(fù)地下含水層。這片集水區(qū)可幫助收集150000升（32995加侖）雨水”。
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The 14th-century Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi was restored earlier. Portions of the baoli had collapsed, threatening the families living nearby, who were relocated to safer places. "It required rebuilding the collapsed portion with traditional materials, removing 700 years of accumulated debris, extensive cleaning and de-silting 80ft below the ground, and removal of the epoxy layer involving 8,000 man-days of work with the help of volunteers. The efforts helped in recharging underground aquifers," says Nanda.

建于14世紀(jì)的尼桑木丁圣陵建筑群先前已得到修復(fù)。階梯井已部分坍塌，威脅到周邊住戶，這些居民已遷居到安全地區(qū)。“重建坍塌的部分需要使用傳統(tǒng)材料，清除700年來堆積的廢棄物，深入地下80英尺進(jìn)行大規(guī)模清潔和清淤工作，在志愿者的幫助下花8000個工作日清除環(huán)氧層。這些工作有助于恢復(fù)地下含水層”，南達(dá)說道。

"The Dargah baoli is special as people consider it sacred and believe that the water has medicinal property. They carry water for drinking and healing purposes. The locals are enthused to see fresh water in the baoli," says Kaleemul Hafeez, a resident of Delhi.

“達(dá)加階梯井很特殊，因為人們認(rèn)為它很神圣，相信這里的水有治病功效，他們?nèi)∷嬘煤椭尾?。?dāng)?shù)厝丝匆婋A梯井里的新鮮水興奮不已”，德里居民卡雷穆爾·哈菲茲說道。
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Unfortunately, there is no universal way of restoring a baoli. Restoration needs to be done using traditional materials with skilled craftsmen, architects and structural engineers, according to Nanda.

可惜的是，修復(fù)階梯井沒有通用的辦法。據(jù)南達(dá)透露，修復(fù)工作需要使用傳統(tǒng)材料、嫻熟的工匠、建筑師、結(jié)構(gòu)工程師。

"Undertaking restoration is not easy. It's a complex project involving a multi-disciplinary team," says Nanda. "It requires surveying surrounding structures to prevent any damage. A baoli needs a proper catchment area through which water can reach underground aquifers."

“修復(fù)工作并非易事。這是一項復(fù)雜工程，需要一支多學(xué)科團(tuán)隊”，南達(dá)說道?！斑@需要測繪周邊結(jié)構(gòu)來防止破壞。階梯井需要適當(dāng)?shù)募畢^(qū)，從而使雨水到達(dá)地下含水層”。

Most restoration work has been carried out through partnerships between government and non-governmental organisations, local volunteers and donors. "The restoration projects are a lesson in how local communities can be brought closer to their heritage by offering them a sense of ownership and responsibility," says Safvi.

大多數(shù)修復(fù)工作是通過與政府、非政府組織、當(dāng)?shù)刂驹刚?、捐獻(xiàn)者合作的方式而開展的?！靶迯?fù)工程給我們的經(jīng)驗是，通過培養(yǎng)主人翁意識和責(zé)任感，可以拉近當(dāng)?shù)厣鐓^(qū)與遺產(chǎn)之間的距離”，薩菲說道。

But stepwells are not just a water source, they are also part of India's architectural history. They are heritage sites, surrounded by native trees and foliage, which need to be preserved. They can serve as vibrant social centres and can attract tourists. One approach to fund their upkeep has been to use heritage funds that can be built through municipal revenue generation and donations for restoration and maintenance.

但階梯井不只是水源，它們也是印度建筑史的一部分。它們是遺產(chǎn)地，周邊的本土樹木和枝葉應(yīng)該受到保護(hù)。它們可以成為充滿活力的社會中心，可以吸引游客。

"Restoring stepwells may not solve the country's water problem completely, but can certainly provide solutions at the local level to battle water scarcity," says Nanda.

“修復(fù)階梯井可能無法徹底解決印度的缺水問題，但必然能給地方解決缺水問題提供解決辦法”，南達(dá)說道。