{{Short description|Stepwell in Secunderabad, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Bansilalpet Stepwell | native_name = | native_language = | image = Bansilalpet stepwell 08.jpg |image_size = 240px | caption = Bansilalpet stepwell, post restoration, in 2023 | type = [[Stepwell]] | locmapin = India Hyderabad#India Telangana#India | coordinates = {{coord|17|25|50.2068|N|78|29|35.3515|E|type:landmark_region:IN_scale:100|display=inline}} | location = [[Secunderabad]], [[India]] | built = 17th-century | restored = December 5, 2022 | architect = | architecture = | governing_body = | owner = }}
'''Bansilalpet Stepwell''', also known as ''Nagannakunta'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2022/Dec/03/revived-bansilalpet-stepwell-in-secunderabad-to-open-on-dec-5-2524531.html|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|title=Revived Bansilalpet stepwell in Secunderabad to open on Dec 5|first=Bachan Jeet|last=Singh S|date=2022-12-03|access-date=2024-12-28}}</ref> is a 17th-century [[stepwell]] in Hyderabad, India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2021-09-14 |title=Bansilalpet stepwell on path of resurrection |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/bansilalpet-stepwell-on-path-of-resurrection/article36446172.ece |access-date=2023-08-15 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="Rangan">{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Rangan |title=Hyderabad’s Bansilalpet stepwell: Ravaged, reimagined, then revived |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/places/hyderabads-bansilalpet-stepwell-ravaged-reimagined-then-revived/cid/1922205 |access-date=28 October 2024 |agency=My Kolkata |publisher=The Telegraph |date=13 March 2023}}</ref> It was restored in 2022 by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and The Rainwater Project.
== History == The exact date when the well was built is not exactly known. It is assumed that the well was built around 17th century during the [[Asaf Jahi dynasty|Asif-Jahi]] period.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Utpal |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Future_is_Urban_Livability_Resilience_Re/T1S6EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Bansilalpet+Stepwell&pg=PA289&printsec=frontcover |title=Future is Urban: Livability, Resilience & Resource Conservation: Proceedings of the International Conference on FUTURE IS URBAN: Livability, Resilience and Resource Conservation (ICFU 2021), December 16–18, 2021 |last2=Parthasarathy |first2=R. |last3=Aparna |first3=Dr |date=2023-05-26 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-90625-7 |pages=289 |language=en}}</ref> The stepwell remained in use well into the 20th century,<ref name="Rangan"/> acting as one of the sources of water for the [[Gandhi Medical College|Gandhi Hospital]].<ref name=":1" /> The stepwell was earlier known as ''Naganah Kunta'' as per a map published in 1954. It also noted that there was a garden of [[tamarind]] and [[Borassus|palmyra trees]] surrounding the stepwell.<ref name="Rangan" /> In 1933, the area surrounding the well was developed into a residential area. The development of this project was funded by a local businessman, Seth Bansilal, after which Naganah Kunta was renamed as ''Bansilalpet Baori''.<ref name="Rangan"/> The stepwell fell into disuse in the 1980s after a few suicides at the well.<ref name=":0" />
=== Restoration === The well was restored in 2022 by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and The Rainwater Project, headed by [[Kalpana Ramesh]]. More than 2000 tons of debris was removed during the restoration process.<ref name="Rangan"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-06 |title=Hyderabad's Bansilalpet stepwell restoration wins UAE government award |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/hyderabads-bansilalpet-stepwell-restoration-wins-uae-government-award-8309555/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The restoration uncovered a six-stage stepwell that was {{Convert|50|ft|m}} below ground.<ref name="Rangan" /> The restored stepwell was inaugurated by K. T. Rama Rao on 5 December, 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-12-05 |title=Renovated Bansilalpet stepwell inaugurated amid fanfare |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/renovated-bansilalpet-stepwell-inaugurated-amid-fanfare/article66227895.ece |access-date=2023-08-15 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
== Facilities == A cafe, three galleries, and amphitheater are located within the premises. The galleries have information about the history of the stepwell and its restoration project.<ref name="Rangan" /> [[File:Bansilalpet Stepwell 73.jpg|thumb|Artefacts on display at the gallery]]
{{Commons category|Bansilalpet Stepwell}}
== References == {{Reflist}} [[Category:Stepwells in Hyderabad]] [[Category:Stepwells in India]] [[Category:Stepwells]]