STEPS to HOPE

About Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat and the seventh-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population of almost 7.4 Million.   The city was founded in 1411 on the banks of the Sabarmati River to serve as the capital of the Sultanate of Gujarat, by its namesake, Sultan Ahmed Shah. Under British rule, a military Cantonment was established and the city's infrastructure was modernized and expanded as part of the Bombay Presidency. After the bifurcation and establishment of Gujarat as a separate state in 1960, Ahmedabad served as the capital till1970; later the capital was shifted to the planned city of Gandhinagar.

The old city of Ahmedabad, recognised by UNESCO in 2017 as a World Heritage City, is endowed with a rich architectural heritage that is vital to its local identity. Along with its Indo-Islamic monuments dating from the 15th century, the walled city is marked by traditional residential clusters known as 'Pols'. Derived from the Sanskrit word Pratoli meaning gate, each Pol is inhabited by families linked by caste, culture or profession and is quite self-contained.

Water Heritage of Ahmedabad

Apart from the Sabarmati River, the urban waterscape of Ahmedabad is dotted with several natural lakes, stepwells and 'tankas' or household-based rainwater harvesting structures (tanks) in the Pols. Through this interactive map, we invite you to explore the stepwells of the city and its environs. Dating from the 15th century, stepwells were built as meritorious acts of patronage, often funded by the wives of rulers and merchants to not only provide a source of water, but equally a cool space for local communities and travellers to rest, meet and share conversations. Today many of these architectural wonders are abandonned, crumbling or in some cases, converted for other community uses such as temples or marriage halls.  While a few stepwells have been renovated, it is not always possible to revive them from a water lens as urbanisation has blocked natural aquifers and drainage channels. However, we hope that this effort will lead to the recognition of our water heritage as a living system and unlock its potential.

Stepwells of Ahmedabad