Kalyanis of Karnataka
Across Karnataka and beyond, thousands of Kalyanis, also called stepwells or temple tanks, stand as enduring symbols of water stewardship. Often designed with remarkable architectural ingenuity, Kalyanis maximise water storage while creating spaces for ritual, daily use, and social gathering, embodying the idea of a true water commons. They reflect a culture that valued water not only as a resource, but as a shared inheritance to be respected, maintained, and equitably accessed.
Today, this legacy stands at a critical juncture. While some Kalyanis continue to function and serve their communities, many face degradation in terms of silting, encroachment, groundwater depletion, and neglect. Once perennial tanks are drying, aquifers are under stress, and the impacts are visible in declining water security, agriculture, and livelihoods. These are not isolated challenges; they signal a broader ecological imbalance that demands urgent, collective action.
