Not all treasure is gold. In Hyderabad, a stepwell hidden beneath garbage became the city’s greatest heritage comeback.
🌟 Introduction
Imagine walking through the bustling lanes of Secunderabad and stumbling upon a flight of ancient stone steps, leading you into the earth’s belly. Centuries ago, this stepwell was the beating heart of a community. Then it was abandoned, buried under garbage taller than people, and almost erased from memory.
But destiny had other plans. The Bansilalpet Stepwell — once known as Naganna Kunta — rose again. Today, it stands not just as a structure of stone and water, but as a story of revival, resilience, and pride.
🌊 A Reservoir of Stories
This isn’t just a water tank; it’s a time machine carved in stone. Believed to have been built in the 17th century and later renamed in 1933 after philanthropist Seth Bansilal, the stepwell was designed with six descending levels, able to hold a staggering 22 lakh litres of water.
As Naganna Kunta, it was more than a water source. It was where villagers gathered, where life revolved around water, and where culture flowed as deeply as the well itself.
đź•°️ The Dark Years
But time can be cruel. With the arrival of pipelines, the well was no longer needed. In the 1980s, tragedy struck — accidents around the site made people fear it. Slowly, the grand stepwell was abandoned.
What once shimmered with water turned into a grave of waste. By the 2000s, it was nothing but a massive garbage dump, swallowed under 2,000 tonnes of debris. Many locals didn’t even know that Naganna Kunta — once their pride — slept beneath their feet.
🌱 The Phoenix Rises
Then came the miracle. In 2021, conservationists, architects, and the Telangana government decided to breathe life back into the ruins.
For two long years, workers dug, cleaned, and restored. Bit by bit, stone by stone, the well revealed itself like a treasure chest. On December 5, 2022, the forgotten stepwell was finally unveiled — not as a ruin, but as a living heritage site.
Now, the site sparkles with:
🌊 A Reservoir of Stories
This isn’t just a water tank; it’s a time machine carved in stone. Believed to have been built in the 17th century and later renamed in 1933 after philanthropist Seth Bansilal, the stepwell was designed with six descending levels, able to hold a staggering 22 lakh litres of water.
As Naganna Kunta, it was more than a water source. It was where villagers gathered, where life revolved around water, and where culture flowed as deeply as the well itself.
đź•°️ The Dark Years
But time can be cruel. With the arrival of pipelines, the well was no longer needed. In the 1980s, tragedy struck — accidents around the site made people fear it. Slowly, the grand stepwell was abandoned.
What once shimmered with water turned into a grave of waste. By the 2000s, it was nothing but a massive garbage dump, swallowed under 2,000 tonnes of debris. Many locals didn’t even know that Naganna Kunta — once their pride — slept beneath their feet.
🌱 The Phoenix Rises
Then came the miracle. In 2021, conservationists, architects, and the Telangana government decided to breathe life back into the ruins.
For two long years, workers dug, cleaned, and restored. Bit by bit, stone by stone, the well revealed itself like a treasure chest. On December 5, 2022, the forgotten stepwell was finally unveiled — not as a ruin, but as a living heritage site.
Now, the site sparkles with:
A heritage museum narrating its journey
An open-air amphitheatre for performances
A serene plaza and gardens for visitorsThe well itself, glowing under evening lights, mirrors the sky
🌍 From Local Gem to Global Stage
This rebirth didn’t just move the people of Hyderabad — it impressed the world. The Bansilalpet Stepwell restoration won the Sustainability Initiative of the Year award at the Big 5 Construction Impact Awards in Dubai, putting Hyderabad’s heritage conservation on the global map.
✨ Why You Must Visit
Visiting the stepwell isn’t about ticking off a tourist spot. It’s about feeling history breathe again. As you walk down the cool stone steps, you can almost hear echoes of women drawing water, children playing, monks meditating by the edge.
It’s a place where:
🌊 Water meets wisdom
🏛️ Architecture meets art
🌱 Past meets present
đź“Ť Visitor Info
Location: Bansilalpet, Secunderabad, Telangana
Timings: Tue–Sun, 10 AM–1 PM & 4 PM–8 PM (Closed Mondays)Entry Fee: ₹50 per person
Best Time to Visit: Sunset — when the golden light meets the water and history feels alive again.
đź’ Closing Thought
The Bansilalpet Stepwell, once Naganna Kunta, is proof that no story is ever lost forever. Sometimes, it just waits — hidden, buried, forgotten — until hands of care bring it back to life.
Next time you’re in Hyderabad, don’t just look at the stepwell. Listen to it. Because in those steps and stones lies the heartbeat of centuries.