The centuries’-old water systems of Bhuj got a major boost recently with their inclusion on the World Monuments Watch’s 2025 list. In an interview with Bénédicte de Montlaur, president-CEO of World Monuments Fund (WMF), she discusses why this will revitalise this historic network on canals and step wells in light of climate change and more
Bénédicte de Montlaur. Pic Courtesy/David Atlan
There's some good news for the residents of Bhuj. World Monuments Fund (WMF), a key independent organisation that helps safeguard the world’s most treasured places, has recently announced four new conservation and sustainability projects at four heritage sites in the 2025 World Monuments Watch. This list includes the historic water systems (step wells and canals) of Bhuj.
With support in the form of a three-year partnership with Accor, the global hospitality leader, the initiative will help revive these original water collection systems that have stood the test of time. To outline and gauge the long-term benefits of this nomination, Sunday mid-day reached out to Bénédicte de Montlaur, president and CEO of World Monuments Fund (WMF).
Excerpts from the interview.
SUNDAY MID-DAY: What were some of the key, defining factors that led to Bhuj’s water systems being included on 2025’s World Monuments Watch?
BÉNÉDICTE DE MONTLAUR: Bhuj’s historic water systems were included on the 2025 World Monuments Watch because they exemplify centuries of innovation in sustainable resource management — designed to support life in an arid landscape. The system’s partial disuse and the city’s growing reliance on external and bottled water supply have disconnected the community from this vital heritage. In an era of climate instability, Bhuj offers a powerful model for how traditional knowledge can help address urgent water security challenges.
Aerial view of Bhuj’s central artificial lake system, showing Chhatardi and Hamirsar Lakes. Pic Courtesy/World Monuments Fund
SMD: Why are historic water systems an important element to built heritage in today’s times?
BDM: Historic water systems are an integral part of built heritage because they merge engineering ingenuity with cultural meaning. They offer low-carbon, community-driven solutions to water management that are more relevant than ever in the face of climate change. In cities like Bhuj, these systems remind us that infrastructure can be sustainable, adaptive, and deeply rooted in place-based traditions.
SMD: Were there any eye-openers for the team at WMF while reviewing this nomination as a whole?
BDM: One major realisation was how deeply embedded water is in Bhuj’s identity — not just as a resource, but as a cultural touchstone celebrated in festivals and civic life. The scale and interconnectedness of the system — from underground qanats (ancient water system) to surface step wells — also surprised us. It became clear that this wasn’t just about conserving structures, but about restoring a city-wide system and the ecological and cultural knowledge that sustained it.
Hamirsar Lake, with a view towards Pragmahal, November 2023. Pic Courtesy/Jay Anjaria, Homes in the City
SMD: What will be the first step in conserving this historic water system? And what are some of the obvious challenges that you foresee?
BDM: Plans are currently being developed to better understand and address the condition of the Chouvis Kuva ni Aav, a historic system that once fed Hamirsar Lake through an underground network. Anticipated challenges include physical deterioration of the structures, pressures from urban expansion, and limited public awareness of the system’s cultural and environmental value.
SMD: India heavily relies on the monsoon for its water needs. What do you envision as the long-term benefits of this conservation project?
BDM: Reviving Bhuj’s traditional water systems can increase the city’s resilience to monsoon variability and climate-driven water stress. Over time, this project could become a national model — showing how historic infrastructure can complement modern systems to support urban water security. It also offers social benefits by re-engaging communities with heritage and creating new opportunities for education, stewardship, and sustainable tourism.
The Ramkund step well near Hamirsar Lake has stored water for Bhuj inhabitants for centuries. Pic Courtesy/World Monuments Fund
SMD: What role did Jigna Desai and Jayashree Bardhan of the Centre for Heritage Conservation play to put this water system in the spotlight?
BDM: Launched in 1996, the World Monuments Watch is a biennial initiative that brings international attention to heritage places facing urgent challenges, while catalysing collaborative action to ensure their long-term preservation. Sites are most often nominated by individuals and community-based organisations, making the Watch a powerful platform to elevate local voices and spotlight the deep connections communities maintain with their heritage. We are honoured that Professors Jigna Desai and Jayashree Bardhan of the Centre for Heritage Conservation at CEPT University in Ahmedabad had nominated Bhuj’s historic water systems for inclusion. Their leadership and vision were instrumental in bringing this remarkable site to global attention through the 2025 World Monuments Watch.
Rajon ki Baoli, one of the historic water systems in India that World Monuments Fund had recently completed. Pic Courtesy/World Monuments Fund
SMD: To improve water resource management, how can India better utilise the science and engineering of step wells for the rest of the country?
BDM: India’s traditional water systems — including their step wells, tanks, and aqueducts — offer time-tested models of environmental adaptation. Better integration starts with recognising these systems as living infrastructure, not just historic relics. With targeted investment, public awareness campaigns, and incentives for municipalities, these technologies can be revived to meet today’s needs. Doing so would not only address water scarcity but also preserve a vital part of India’s cultural and scientific heritage.
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