Gadwal Stepwell Revival Restores Water and Tradition
HYDERABAD: A centuries-old stepwell in Peddadinne village of Gadwal district is being restored after lying buried under silt and neglect for years. The effort is also bringing back hopes of reviving local traditions and improving water availability.
The stepwell once supported agriculture and community use. Over time, it dried up and fell into disuse after silt filled the structure, as reported by TNIE.
Push to Bring Back Temple Festival
The revival has also raised hopes for the return of the annual Teppotsavam (float festival) at the Venkateswara Swamy temple. The festival stopped when the water body disappeared.
The temple priest appealed for the restoration, which led to the current project.
Heritage-Led Restoration Effort
Kalpana Ramesh, founder of The Rainwater Project, is leading the restoration work. She began the initiative after receiving the request from the temple priest.
Archaeologist E Sivanagi Reddy said the structure is likely from the late Kakatiya and Vijayanagara periods. This gives the site stronger historical importance than earlier estimates of 200–300 years.
Stone carvings and temple designs still exist at the site. However, earlier repainting has hidden several original details. Kalpana said painting over stone has damaged parts of the heritage record.
Manual Work Used to Protect Structure
Workers faced major challenges during restoration. One wall had already collapsed. The stepwell was also filled with 15–20 feet of silt.
Teams avoided heavy machinery to prevent further damage. They used manual labour and pulley systems instead. This helped clear debris and rebuild the damaged wall safely.
Funding Challenges and Community Support
Funding remained a major obstacle. Many CSR programmes avoid religious-linked sites.
Private donors later supported the project. Some contributions even came from the United States.
Water Storage and Farming Benefits
As desilting continued, the stepwell started holding water again. It can store over 1 lakh litres of rainwater.
The revived structure will help recharge groundwater in nearby areas. Farmers expect more stable irrigation as borewell levels continue to drop.
Kalpana described such stepwells as climate-resilient systems. She said ancient builders designed them to support agriculture and ecosystems.
Part of a Larger Cultural Initiative
The project is part of Baoli Art Sangam. The initiative connects water conservation with culture, history, and art across India.
