ABSTRACT
Green table-topped plateau lands, sharply defined scarp edges stratified in shades of brown, fantastic conical hills amidst lighter green sown valleys and here and there, embedded like jewels in the basaltic folds of the surrounding highlands, emerald green pools of water. The role of water in the making of a historic landscape is explored from different perspectives: as an essential resource present in nature, as an instrument for the application of evolving technologies of conservation and as a ritual element, embodying sacredness through its power to heal and cleanse. Since all the rivers are monsoon-fed, rainfall penetrating the porous trap and creating substantial groundwater reserves is the main source of water and a lifeline for agriculture in the region. In the post-monsoon period, water can be found at a depth of 0–5 metres but in the pre-monsoon dry season, groundwater levels can fall to 25 metres below ground level.
