News in Frames | The drying naulas of Uttarakhand
Naulas, traditional water temples in Uttarakhand, are facing a crisis as many are drying up or becoming polluted. These structures, vital for drinking water in the region, are suffering due to climate change, urbanization, and neglect. The decline of these water sources highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect them.
- ▪Naulas are historically significant water temples in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
- ▪Many naulas and natural springs are drying up due to environmental crises and neglect.
- ▪Climate change and urbanization are major factors contributing to the decline of these water sources.
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Naulas, or water temples, represent a remarkable union of nature and human ingenuity — places where one could drink clean water or even take a royal bath, as at the Ranidhara naula. These traditional stone-built water springs of the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand have long been an integral part of Himalayan life. They are not only historically significant but are also sites of water worship.In Kumaon culture, a naula is treated with the sanctity of a temple and these ancient stone-lined water structures serve as the primary lifeline for drinking water, especially where modern piped infrastructure faces geographical challenges.Today, however, many naulas and dharas, the natural springs where water emerges from the hillsides, are drying up, lying abandoned, or growing polluted — signs of a…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu — Top.
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