DnyanjyotiEducationNagpur at 13:35, 21 January 2026

2026-01-21T13:35:08Z

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{{Short description|Natural water bodies found in the Himalayan region}}
{{Orphan|date=May 2024}}
'''Naulas''' or '''Baori''' are [[Nature|natural]] [[Body of water|water bodies]] found in the [[Himalayas|Himalayan region]] and are constructed in a place where water is tapped from underground leakage or natural [[Spring (hydrology)|springs]] to meet the water requirements of [[Local community|local communities]] for household consumption.

== Etymology ==

Naula is a waterbody found on the Himalayan regions of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]],<ref name="na8">{{cite news |title=Naula: A Tremendous example of architecture and religious belief (Special reference to Almora) |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343537187 |access-date=29 March 2024 |date=31 October 2019}}</ref> it is also known as Baori in [[Himachal Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bhardwaj |first=Swati |title=Sacred waters: Baoris of Himachal and the call for restoration |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/stories-undiscovered/sacred-waters-baoris-of-himachal-and-the-call-for-restoration/ |access-date=2026-01-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> These are built on the surroundings of a ''dhara (''a natural spring) which appears depending on the water flows in lower levels of surface, by digging a pit and to store the water and protecting it by construction of stone walls around it.<ref name="na1">{{cite news |title=Reviving Naulas, The Ancient Water Temples Of The Kumaon Himalayas |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/reviving-naulas-the-ancient-water-temples-of-the-kumaon-himalayas-351063.html |access-date=28 March 2024 |publisher=IndiaTimes |date=18 August 2018 |language=en-IN}}</ref> These are said to be originated more than 1000 years back<ref name="na5">{{cite news |title=Almora's 1000-yr-old water reservoir gets monument national tag |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/pioneer-exclusive/almora---s-1000-yr-old-water-reservoir-gets-monument-national-tag-almora---s-1000-yr-old-water-reservoir-gets-monument-national-tag.html |access-date=28 March 2024 |publisher=The Pioneer |date=3 February 2023 |language=en}}</ref> and the last one was said to be constructed around 75 years back.<ref name="na3">{{cite news |title=NAULA - The Traditional Water Harvesting System of Uttarakhand |url=https://www.euttarakhand.com/naula-the-traditional-water-harvesting-system-of-uttarakhand |access-date=28 March 2024 |publisher=Uttarakhand Stories - Connect to Uttarakhand with eUttarakhand and Share Stories |date=6 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref>{{when|date=April 2024}}

== Existence ==

Naulas or Baoris are basically found in Himalayan regions of India.<ref name="na4">{{cite news |title=Indian Villages Revive Ancient Water Practices |url=https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2023/05/18/water-temples-himalayas |access-date=28 March 2024 |publisher=YES! Magazine |date=18 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="na7">{{cite news |title=Women Revive Traditional Water Sources in Uttarakhand |url=https://tntribune.com/women-revive-traditional-water-sources-in-uttarakhand/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |publisher=The Tennessee Tribune |date=7 November 2020}}</ref> Naulas or Baoris are a major source of drinking water for people living in the hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.<ref name="na13">{{cite news |title=NAULAS : The ancient water temples of the Himalayas |url=https://www.janaaastha.com/story/142877 |access-date=29 March 2024 |publisher=Jana Aastha |language=Nepali}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bhardwaj |first=Swati |title=Sacred waters: Baoris of Himachal and the call for restoration |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/stories-undiscovered/sacred-waters-baoris-of-himachal-and-the-call-for-restoration/ |access-date=2026-01-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Architecture ==

Naulas or Baoris have the roof and walls built with local stones but the surface is covered with small stone pieces or left natural for water filtration.<ref name="na1" /> The number of steps in Naula are usually in odd numbers of 3,5,7 and likewise.<ref name="na9">{{cite news |title=The Last Builder of Naulas in Chatola, Nainital |url=https://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/last-builder-naulas-chatola-nainital |access-date=29 March 2024 |publisher=India Water Portal |date=3 January 2016}}</ref> Four sides roof of a Naula is designed to look like a temple and many of them have representations and designs of different deities in the form of gods and goddesses<ref name="na2">{{cite news |title=Over 500-year-old water reservoir in Uttarakhand's Almora gets national monument tag |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/over-500-year-old-water-reservoir-in-uttarakhands-almora-gets-national-monument-tag/articleshow/97751176.cms |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=9 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="na10">{{cite news |title=Naula – Traditional Water Harvesting System of Uttarakhand |url=https://www.uttarakhandexplorer.in/naula-traditional-water-harvesting/ |access-date=29 March 2024 |publisher=uttarakhandexplorer.in |date=3 November 2023}}</ref> or lights to guide the thirsty passer-by. Households not having a temple at home visit Naula to offer their prayers and light an oil lamp and submit their offerings.<ref name="na6">{{cite news |last1=Lopes |first1=Flavia |title=Uttarakhand Natural Spring Revival Unites Women |url=https://www.indiaspend.com/climate-change/natural-spring-revival-unites-women-but-caste-still-decides-its-use-in-uttarakhand-828654 |access-date=28 March 2024 |publisher=indiaspend.com |date=1 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

== Challenges ==

Existence of Naulas have been facing challenges of due to ecological damages resulting from pollution, deforestation etc.<ref name="na11">{{cite news |title=#Explained 'Naula': Ancient Way to Conserve Water |url=https://groundreport.in/explained-naula-ancient-way-to-conserve-water/ |access-date=29 March 2024 |publisher=Ground Report |date=24 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="na12">{{cite news |title=Naula: The Ancient Way Of Collecting Water In Uttarakhand |url=https://wandersky.in/naula-ancient-way-of-collecting-water-in-uttarakhand/ |access-date=29 March 2024 |publisher=wandersky.in |date=3 October 2023}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Lake]]s
* [[List of Water Heritage Sites in India]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Bodies of water of India]]
[[Category:Geography of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Geography of Himachal Pradesh]]

Naulas - Revision history

DnyanjyotiEducationNagpur at 13:35, 21 January 2026