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 deepening environmental crisis across the State. Declining groundwater recharge has caused these springs to weaken, and many of these groundwater aquifers, tucked away inside village lanes or forest patches, have been neglected. Frequent forest fires compound the problem, destroying vegetation and drying out the soil.
Climate change has further disrupted rainfall patterns, bringing irregular rains, reduced snowfall, and rapid surface run-off rather than steady absorption into the ground. Among the major drivers of this decline are road construction, urbanisation, and rising tourism, all of which have damaged natural water channels and recharge zones. Many villagers also speak of acute water shortages, particularly in summer, forcing them to climb to higher ground in search of water.
Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Quenching their thirst: Schoolchildren collect water from an outlet at the Ranidhara naula in Almora district in Uttarakhand.
Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Intricate work: A naula, designed with masonry walls to filter and collect water from the earth, in Mangrao village of Nainital.
Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Stark stones: The stone storage structure in a naula lies dry in Mangrao village. Steps to protect the springs are the need of the hour.
Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Royal lineage: A storage structure at the Ranidhara naula in Almora. Constructed by the Chand dynasty rulers, the naula was once used by women from the royal families.
Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Quirky design: A person collects dhara water from the mouth of a sculpture in Nainital district.
Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Storied stream: Water from a dhara flows through a pipe against the backdrop of decorative tiles with religious motifs in Lohali village, Nainital.
Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Slippery slope: Redevelopment on mountainsides, slope instability and rapid climate change are threatening the course of natural water flow.
Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Abandoned tanks: Plastic bottles and other waste materials inside a storage unit, which collects water from a dhara in Nainital.
Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Calm surface: The Nainital Lake, which gets water from the dhoros and surface run-off from the surrounding mountains.
Photo: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
Lonely valley: A naula built along the hill slopes in Mangrao village of Nainital. Once revered as a water temple, the structure now stands as a reminder of human connection with nature.