Naulas or Baori are natural water bodies found in the Himalayan region and are constructed in a place where water is tapped from underground leakage or natural springs to meet the water requirements of local communities for household consumption.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Naula is a waterbody found on the Himalayan regions of Kumaon,[1] it is also known as Baori in Himachal Pradesh.[2] 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.[3] These are said to be originated more than 1000 years back[4] and the last one was said to be constructed around 75 years back.[5][when?]
Existence[edit | edit source]
Naulas or Baoris are basically found in Himalayan regions of India.[6][7] Naulas or Baoris are a major source of drinking water for people living in the hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.[8][9]
Architecture[edit | edit source]
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.[3] The number of steps in Naula are usually in odd numbers of 3,5,7 and likewise.[10] 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[11][12] 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.[13]
Challenges[edit | edit source]
Existence of Naulas have been facing challenges of due to ecological damages resulting from pollution, deforestation etc.[14][15]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Naula: A Tremendous example of architecture and religious belief (Special reference to Almora)". 31 October 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ↑ Bhardwaj, Swati. "Sacred waters: Baoris of Himachal and the call for restoration". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Reviving Naulas, The Ancient Water Temples Of The Kumaon Himalayas". IndiaTimes. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ↑ "Almora's 1000-yr-old water reservoir gets monument national tag". The Pioneer. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ↑ "NAULA - The Traditional Water Harvesting System of Uttarakhand". Uttarakhand Stories - Connect to Uttarakhand with eUttarakhand and Share Stories. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ↑ "Indian Villages Revive Ancient Water Practices". YES! Magazine. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ↑ "Women Revive Traditional Water Sources in Uttarakhand". The Tennessee Tribune. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ↑ "NAULAS : The ancient water temples of the Himalayas" (in Nepali). Jana Aastha. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ Bhardwaj, Swati. "Sacred waters: Baoris of Himachal and the call for restoration". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ↑ "The Last Builder of Naulas in Chatola, Nainital". India Water Portal. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ↑ "Over 500-year-old water reservoir in Uttarakhand's Almora gets national monument tag". The Times of India. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ↑ "Naula – Traditional Water Harvesting System of Uttarakhand". uttarakhandexplorer.in. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ↑ Lopes, Flavia (1 August 2022). "Uttarakhand Natural Spring Revival Unites Women". indiaspend.com. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ↑ "#Explained 'Naula': Ancient Way to Conserve Water". Ground Report. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ↑ "Naula: The Ancient Way Of Collecting Water In Uttarakhand". wandersky.in. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2024.