A centuries-old stepwell in Karnataka's Belagavi district has been given a new lease of life after remaining hidden beneath garbage, rubble and silt for nearly three decades. The restored structure, believed to be around 300 years old, is now drawing visitors for its striking design that resembles a Shiva Lingam when viewed from above, a video shared by news agency PTI showed.
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The historic well, located in Kanchveer Nagar of Mutga village, was brought back from obscurity through a community-led restoration effort led by the Belagavi-based Pyaas Foundation, with support from NSS volunteers, local residents and social worker Nitin Khot, as per a TOI report.
Historic Shiva Lingam-shaped stepwell unearthed in Belagavi
The stepwell is believed to date back to the Adil Shahi dynasty, which ruled parts of the Deccan between the 15th and 17th centuries. Historians also suggest it may belong to the early Maratha period.
After years of being buried under layers of sewage water, plastic waste, debris and accumulated silt, the structure has now been restored to its former glory. The well features 53 stone steps leading down to the water source and reaches a depth of nearly 80 feet.
