The essentials
In a land of seasonal monsoons, storing and distributing water was essential. Harappan Dholavira had large stone-cut reservoirs and channels. At Sringaverapura near Prayagraj, a large brick tank system of around the 1st century BCE drew water from the Ganga through a channel and settled silt in stages.
The Sudarshana lake at Girnar (Junagadh, Gujarat) is recorded in the Junagadh rock inscription of the Shaka ruler Rudradaman I (2nd century CE). It says the lake was built under Chandragupta Maurya by his governor Pushyagupta, provided with conduits under Ashoka, and repaired by Rudradaman after a storm breached it. It was repaired again under Skandagupta.
The Grand Anicut (Kallanai) across the Kaveri, traditionally attributed to the Chola king Karikala, diverted river water into channels for irrigation. In south India, village tanks (eri) and in Rajasthan, kunds and tankas stored rainwater; Himachal's kuhls are diversion channels; Nagaland's zabo system combines forest, water harvesting and farming. Stepwells (vav, baoli) such as Rani ki Vav (Patan) and Chand Baori (Abhaneri) gave access to groundwater. Medieval rulers built large tanks and lakes, such as Bhojtal at Bhopal, linked with Raja Bhoja, and the Hauz Khas reservoir in Delhi built by Alauddin Khalji. Underground channels (karez) supplied water to Bidar and Burhanpur.
Key points
- Sudarshana lake: Mauryan origin; Rudradaman's repair (Junagadh inscription).
- Grand Anicut: Karikala Chola, Kaveri.
- Kuhl – Himachal; zabo – Nagaland; kund/tanka – Rajasthan; eri – Tamil Nadu.
- Stepwells: Rani ki Vav, Chand Baori.
Exam tips
- Match each system with its region.
Common mistakes
- Saying Rudradaman built the Sudarshana lake; he repaired it.