月攘一鸡翻译雅思10 Test1 Stepwell

2021年1月26日发(作者：出席会议)
A millennium ago, stepwells were fundamental to life
in the driest parts of India. Richard Cox travelled to
north-western India
to document
these spectacular
monuments from a bygone era.


During the sixth and seventh centuries, the
inhabitants of the modern-day states of Gujarat and
Rajasthan in north-western India developed a
method of gaining access to clean, fresh groundwater
during the dry season for drinking, bathing, watering
animals and irrigation. However, the significance of
this invention-the stepwell-
goes beyond
its
utilitarian application.

(The function during the dry season)



Unique to
this region, stepwells are often
architecturally complex
and
vary widely in
size and
shape. During their heyday, they
were places of

gathering, of leisure and relaxation and of worship
for villagers of
all but the lowest classes
. Most
stepwells are found dotted round the desert areas of
Gujarat (where they are called vav) and Rajasthan
(where they are called baori), while a few also survive
in
Delhi
. Some were located in or near villages as
public spaces for the community others
were
positioned beside
roads as resting places for
travellers.

(The function of Stepwell for diff people, where are they)

As their name suggests
, stepwells
comprise
a series of
stone steps
descending from
ground level to the
water source (normally an underground aquifer) as it
recedes following the rains. When the water level was
high, the user needed only to descend a few steps to
reach it when it was low, several levels would have
to be negotiated.

(Structure of Stepwells)

Some wells are vast, open craters with hundreds of
steps paving each sloping side,
often in tiers
.
Others
are more elaborate,
with long stepped passages
leading to the water via several storeys.
Built from
stone and supported by pillars
, they also included
pavilions that
sheltered
visitors from the relentless
heat.
But perhaps the most impressive features
are
the intricate decorative sculptures that embellish
manystepwells, showing activities from fighting and
dancing to everyday acts such as women combing
their hair or churning butter.

(Description of different kind of stepwells)

Down the centuries, thousands of wells were
constructed throughout north-western India, but the
majority have now
fallen into disuse
many are
derelict and dry
as groundwater has been diverted

for industrial use and the wells no longer reach the
water table. Their
condition hasn't been helped
by
recent dry spells southern Rajasthan suffered an
eight-year drought between 1996 and 2004.

(The reason for being derelict)

However
, some important sites in Gujarat have
recently undergone major restoration, and the state
government announced in June last year that it
plans
to restore
the stepwells throughout the state.

(Opposite Fact introduction of sites restoration)

In Patan, the state's ancient capital, the stepwell of
Rani Ki Vav (Queen's Stepwell) is
perhaps the Finest
current example
. It was built by Queen Udayamati
during the late 11th century,
but became silted up
following
a Flood during the 13th century. But the
Archaeological Survey of India
began restoring it
in
the 1960s, and today
it is in pristine condition
. At 65
metres long, 20 metres wide and 27 metres deep, Rani
Ki Vav features 500 sculptures carved into niches
throughout the monument. Incredibly in January
2001, this ancient structure survived an earthquake
that measured 7. 6 on the Richter scale.

(Restoration Example of Rani Ki Vav and its decription)

Another example
is the Surya Kund in Modhera,
northern Gujarat, next to the Sun Temple, built by
King Bhima I in 1026 to honour the sun god Surya.
It
actually resembles
a tank (kund means reservoir or
pond)
rather than
a well, but
displays the hallmarks

ofstepwell architecture,
including
four sides of steps
that descend to the bottom in a stunning geometrical
formation.
The terraces house
108 small, intricately
carved shrines between the sets of steps.


(Restoration Example of Surya Kund and its decription: includes comparison)

Rajasthan also has a wealth of wells. The ancient city
ofBundi, 200 kilometres south of Jaipu
is renowned
for
its architecture, including its stepwells. One of the
larger examples is Ramji Ki Baori, which was built by
the queen of the region, Nathavatji, in 1699. At 46
metres deep, 20 metres wide and 40 metres long the
intricately carved monument is one of 21 baons
commissioned
in the Bundi area by Nathavatji.

(Example of Ramji Ki Baori and its decription)

In the old ruined town of Abhaneri, about 95
kilometres east of Jaipu is Chand Baori, one of
India's oldest and deepest wells aesthetically it's
perhaps one of the most dramatic. Built in around 850
AD next to the temple of Harshat Mata, the baori
comprises hundreds of
zigzagging steps that run
along three of its sides, steeply descending 11 storeys,
resulting in
a
striking
pattern when seen from afar.
On the fourth side,
verandas
(balcony) which are supported by
ornate
pillars overlook the steps.


(Example of Chand Baoriand its decription)

Still in public use is
Neemrana Ki Baori, located
just
off
the Jaipur-Delhi highway. Constructed in around
1700, it is nine storeys deep, with the last two being
underwater. At ground level, there are 86
colonnaded

openings from where the visitor descends 170 steps to
the deepest water source.


(Example of Neemrana Ki Baoriand its decription)

Today, following years of neglect, many of these
monuments to
medieval engineering
have been saved
by the Archaeological Survey of India, which has
recognised the importance of preserving them as part
of the country's rich history. Tourists
flock to
wells in
far- flung
corners of north-western India to gaze in