The concept of “Underground Urbanism” refers to the strategic development and utilization of subterranean spaces that provide creative solutions for contemporary urban issues related to limited spaces, environmental sustainability and urban resilience. The integration of underground spaces for the strategies devised for urban resilience is ensured to develop more particularly due to advancements in technology, increasing urbanization trends and urgency to adapt to the effects of climate change. Though this approach for underground urbanism is currently adapted for improving urban resilience and enhancing cities to adapt to future difficulties by preserving crucial infrastructure, mitigating environmental concerns, and assuring the continuity of essential services, the idea of utilizing these subterranean spaces was quite prevalent during ancient and medieval cities that can be observed in their urban planning strategies. In India, subterranean spaces have been an essential component in the evolution of human settlements through ancient to contemporary times in connection with defense, water harvesting, cultural reasons and providing services for communities. The traditional Indian underground urbanism is illustrated by subterranean structures, such as stepwells, Kunds and Baolis, which have contributed to water management, storage and resource efficiency. A visible and prominent example of underground urbanism can be found in Delhi’s stepwells, commonly known as Baolis, which were originally designed to capture and store rainwater that were used during the dry periods, effectively mitigating droughts. Apart from these, Baolis also helped in maintaining the urban temperature and were considered as an important element of cultural and social communal spaces that were eventually added to the vast historic fabric of Delhi. The paper will explore the complex and multifaceted role of this traditional and contemporary underground urbanism in India in strengthening urban resilience and will examine the historical significance of Delhi’s Baolis and their relevance in contemporary urban planning and design. The paper will also assess how the traditional structures, such as stepwells, Kunds and Baolis, can provide shelter during the time of disasters and help in building resilience towards anthropogenic agents by creating a sustainable environment for future development.

Keywords: Indian cities, stepwells, sustainability, traditional structures, underground urbanism,

urban resilience.

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1. Agrawal M, Zurita D, Paraskevopoulou D, Admiraal M, Cornaro M, Gupta P. Underground urbanism: Re-imagining the role of underground spaces for India’s urban future. National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India; 2022.
2. Reynolds E. Underground urbanism. 1st ed. New York: Routledge; 2019.
3. Agarwal M. Unveiling the depths: An exploration of underground urbanism with Mahak Agrawal. All Things Urban; 2024 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.allthingsurban.net/blog /Unveiling-the-Depths-An-Exploration%20of%20Underground-Urbanism-with-Mahak-Agrawal.
4. Duffaut P. Underground city-planning: A French born concept for sustainable cities of tomorrow. In: International Symposium on Utilization of Underground Space in Urban Areas; 2006.
5. Taylor-Foster J. New York’s Lowline launch campaign to develop the world’s first subterranean park. ArchDaily; 2015 Jun 30 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.archdaily.com /769403/new-yorks-lowline-launch-campaign-to-develop-the-worlds-first-subterranean-park.
6. Taking urban development underground: Future-ready solutions for ensuring urban sustainability. [place unknown]: WSP; [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.wsp.com.
7. Goel D. Use of underground space for the development of cities in India. In: Tunnelling Asia 2015 on underground space for development for better environment and safety: Issues and challenges; 2015.
8. Menon A. Delhi: A heritage city - 20 walks through history. Lopez A, Liddle S, editors. Delhi: INTACH Delhi Chapter; 2014.
9. Shankar S. The forgotten stepwells: Masterpieces from India’s past. Savaari; 2022 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.savaari.com/blog/stepwells-of-india/.
10. Baolis of Delhi: stairway to heaven. Enroute Indian History; 2023 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://enrouteindianhistory.com/baolis-of-delhi-stairway-to-heaven/
11. Arora N. Dive into history with Delhi’s baolis. Hindustan Times; 2022 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/dive-into-history-with-delhi-s-baolis-101657949620378.html.
12. Goswami T. Stories of stairwells: understanding the baolis in Delhi. Enroute Indian History; 2024 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://enrouteindianhistory.com/stories-of-stairwells-understanding-the-baolis-in-delhi/

13. Durmisevic S. The future of the underground space. Cities. 1999;16(4):233–45.

The concept of “Underground Urbanism” refers to the strategic development and utilization of subterranean spaces that provide creative solutions for contemporary urban issues related to limited spaces, environmental sustainability and urban resilience. The integration of underground spaces for the strategies devised for urban resilience is ensured to develop more particularly due to advancements in technology, increasing urbanization trends and urgency to adapt to the effects of climate change. Though this approach for underground urbanism is currently adapted for improving urban resilience and enhancing cities to adapt to future difficulties by preserving crucial infrastructure, mitigating environmental concerns, and assuring the continuity of essential services, the idea of utilizing these subterranean spaces was quite prevalent during ancient and medieval cities that can be observed in their urban planning strategies. In India, subterranean spaces have been an essential component in the evolution of human settlements through ancient to contemporary times in connection with defense, water harvesting, cultural reasons and providing services for communities. The traditional Indian underground urbanism is illustrated by subterranean structures, such as stepwells, Kunds and Baolis, which have contributed to water management, storage and resource efficiency. A visible and prominent example of underground urbanism can be found in Delhi’s stepwells, commonly known as Baolis, which were originally designed to capture and store rainwater that were used during the dry periods, effectively mitigating droughts. Apart from these, Baolis also helped in maintaining the urban temperature and were considered as an important element of cultural and social communal spaces that were eventually added to the vast historic fabric of Delhi. The paper will explore the complex and multifaceted role of this traditional and contemporary underground urbanism in India in strengthening urban resilience and will examine the historical significance of Delhi’s Baolis and their relevance in contemporary urban planning and design. The paper will also assess how the traditional structures, such as stepwells, Kunds and Baolis, can provide shelter during the time of disasters and help in building resilience towards anthropogenic agents by creating a sustainable environment for future development.

Keywords: Indian cities, stepwells, sustainability, traditional structures, underground urbanism,

urban resilience.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Agrawal M, Zurita D, Paraskevopoulou D, Admiraal M, Cornaro M, Gupta P. Underground urbanism: Re-imagining the role of underground spaces for India’s urban future. National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India; 2022.
2. Reynolds E. Underground urbanism. 1st ed. New York: Routledge; 2019.
3. Agarwal M. Unveiling the depths: An exploration of underground urbanism with Mahak Agrawal. All Things Urban; 2024 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.allthingsurban.net/blog /Unveiling-the-Depths-An-Exploration%20of%20Underground-Urbanism-with-Mahak-Agrawal.
4. Duffaut P. Underground city-planning: A French born concept for sustainable cities of tomorrow. In: International Symposium on Utilization of Underground Space in Urban Areas; 2006.
5. Taylor-Foster J. New York’s Lowline launch campaign to develop the world’s first subterranean park. ArchDaily; 2015 Jun 30 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.archdaily.com /769403/new-yorks-lowline-launch-campaign-to-develop-the-worlds-first-subterranean-park.
6. Taking urban development underground: Future-ready solutions for ensuring urban sustainability. [place unknown]: WSP; [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.wsp.com.
7. Goel D. Use of underground space for the development of cities in India. In: Tunnelling Asia 2015 on underground space for development for better environment and safety: Issues and challenges; 2015.
8. Menon A. Delhi: A heritage city - 20 walks through history. Lopez A, Liddle S, editors. Delhi: INTACH Delhi Chapter; 2014.
9. Shankar S. The forgotten stepwells: Masterpieces from India’s past. Savaari; 2022 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.savaari.com/blog/stepwells-of-india/.
10. Baolis of Delhi: stairway to heaven. Enroute Indian History; 2023 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://enrouteindianhistory.com/baolis-of-delhi-stairway-to-heaven/
11. Arora N. Dive into history with Delhi’s baolis. Hindustan Times; 2022 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/dive-into-history-with-delhi-s-baolis-101657949620378.html.
12. Goswami T. Stories of stairwells: understanding the baolis in Delhi. Enroute Indian History; 2024 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. Available from: https://enrouteindianhistory.com/stories-of-stairwells-understanding-the-baolis-in-delhi/

13. Durmisevic S. The future of the underground space. Cities. 1999;16(4):233–45.