_{Historic stepwells across Karnataka, such as the hexagon shaped Chittapura Dandoti Kalyani in Kalaburagi district, continue to serve as critical drinking water sources and ecological buffers when maintained by local communities. (Image: FES)}

_{Multi-tiered landings, arched niches, and precision stone masonry—a testament to how deeply water harvesting was integrated into the spatial planning of the past. (Image: FES)}

_{Centuries of geometry and stone, carved directly into the earth to hold what matters most. Stepwells like this kalyani aren't just historical storage—they were community lifeblood, engineering marvels, and sacred spaces rolled into one. (Image: FES)}

_{Stepping into layers of history. Shadow, stone, and arched chambers silent with the memory of water. (Image: FES)}

_{Kalyani at Bhoganandishwara temple, Nandi hills, Bengaluru (Image: FES)}