This Monsoon, Visit Hampi’s Ancient Step Tanks That Show How India Mastered Rainwater Harvesting

It was my third day in Hampi, and the skies had finally cracked open. Water splattered on the ancient stones as we continued walking around the Royal Enclosure, turning the dust into the familiar scent of petrichor. This part of Hampi brings you closer to the regal life of the Vijayanagara Empire and its royal family. But for me, it wasn’t the towering stonework or the remnants of once-grand palaces that stood out. It was a sunken tank—geometric, symmetrical, and now quietly filling as the rain poured.

This was one of Hampi’s many pushkarinis—water tanks built close to temples across the city. Much like the baolis of Rajasthan and vavs of Gujarat, pushkarinis are part of India’s rich water harvesting heritage.

Pushkarini: The Forgotten Water Architecture Of Hampi

Hampi might today be synonymous with the gorgeous Vithhala and Virupaksha temples. But this once-glorious capital of the Vijayanagara Empire was also an incredible example of an empire that withstood all the elements in a landscape that was almost equally unforgiving. Surrounded by boulders and forests, it thrived, thanks in part to its ingenious water systems.

The abandoned city once had multiple temples, attached to which were pushkarinis or stepped tanks that were functional, sacred, and brilliantly designed to collect, filter, and preserve water in a climate where every drop mattered. Pushkarinis, like the ones I saw near the Virupaksha and Krishna Temples, were used for ritual purification before prayers. These tanks were part of the spiritual ecosystem, connecting the act of water conservation with reverence.

Structurally, these water tanks resemble the stepwells of Rajasthan. Designed as perfectly symmetrical squares or rectangles, they often featured multiple tiers of steps leading down to the water. Some were even surrounded by pillared corridors. Interestingly, despite being fed by the Tungabhadra River, the city’s lifeline, the water in the pushkarinis was believed to carry the sanctity of the Ganges, making it deeply revered.

And these water tanks were often connected by an underwater duct that channeled water throughout the city. The most iconic example is the Stepped Tank inside the Royal Enclosure. Built from precisely cut chlorite schist blocks, its perfect symmetry and tiered steps reveal a near-obsessive attention to form and function. It was once connected to an aqueduct that brought in rainwater from surrounding catchments, proving that these were not isolated wells, they were part of a sophisticated network. Some tanks, like the one near the Queen’s Bath, are more elaborate with surrounding pavilions and arches, while others in smaller shrines are simpler in construction.

During monsoons, this tank would fill gradually, offering cool, clean water for the royalty and temple rituals. Today, it is a photographer’s delight and people often queue up, with the local guides acting as cameramen, to get the best angles.

While many of the Pushkarinis in Hampi are only relics today, they are a reminder of how our ancestors had figured out the value of water through slow, steady, sacred harvesting. If you're planning a trip to Hampi, go in mid-to-late monsoon. The landscape looks beautiful, the rocks in the distance glisten with water and most importantly, the tanks come alive.