Stepwells are a very historic category of architecture that often combines both functional and amazing aesthetic properties.

A broad introduction to stepwells and stepped water architecture can be found in Wikipedia.

Most Stepwells are located in north and west India, whilst some stepwells have achieved broad visibility (such as the UNESCO World Heritage listed Rani ki Vav in Patan, Gujarat), many stepwells are sadly neglected and under threat of encroachment, damage or even complete collapse.

Stepwell Atlas aims to be a community-driven resource to accurate map and collate information on stepwells, and through this to raise their profile and visibility and safeguard their future.