Famous for its masterpiece architectural features, “Syunrakot ka Naula”, a 1000-year-old water reservoir at Syunrakot village in Uttarakhand’s Almora has been declared as a monument of national importance.
This is for the first time that such an aquifer that is primarily used for drinking purposes has been brought by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) under its ambit.
A senior official from the ASI said naulas are part of the surface-water harvesting method typical to the hilly areas and they are small wells or ponds in which water is collected by making a stone wall across a stream.
Intricately designed pillars and carved steps around the water pond makes the Syunrakot ka Naula one of the most beautiful naulas dotting the region.
This most unique and elaborate water storage system with a roof and a porous floor which houses an aquifer was constructed in the 14th century during the Katyuri kingdom.
The locals had been demanding its conservation with experts asserting that the structure and design of naulas is the evidence of great ancient scientific knowledge of the ethnic people of Himalaya.
Structurally naula has a roof sloping on all four sides like a temple, and not on two sides like a house.
This was considered a sacred site as on the top of the roof, a round stone is always placed which is considered to be the idol of lord Vishnu, according to reports.
Naula consists of a tank that is closed on three sides and covered. The fourth side, which is open, has steps that lead down to the tank. There is a pillared verandah around them with engravings.
As the construction of naulas was considered prestigious, these structures can be found in ancient towns, in and outside villages and on important roads. Some naulas are emblazoned with intricate architectural designs. At times they are massive in size with a raised platform for both bathing and washing.
For example the interior of the naulas was always designed like a series of layered steps which were built to narrow and deepen the naula which helped in minimising the water loss due to evaporation.
“Such traditional naulas are now dying due to lack of forest and tree cover, irregular and unpredicted rainfall pattern, loss of traditional knowledge, modernisation and uncontrolled development. These naulas become the target of popular attention only when modern water pipelines stop working.
“Among the important reasons behind the negligence of these important naulas is modernisation, which has caused a loss of traditional knowledge systems among rural communities along with a lack of maintenance due to out-migration of villagers to nearby towns and cities for better job opportunities,” said Suman Joshi Suman Joshi, research scholar from Kumaun University, Nainital, in her article published in Researchgate.
