Much can be learnt from India's rich systems of harvesting and distributing rainwater and groundwater through a variety of architecture, some of which are engineering and aesthetic marvels. The essays here, written by specialists from around the world, adopt an interdisciplinary approach to the subject, bringing together older research and new findings. They look at the structural and aesthetic figurations of waterscapes and reveal how these fit within a larger cultural and spiritual worldview. The monuments discussed span a host of regions and are viewed from various perspectives: How were their artistic and ornamental characteristics related to the prevailing local practices of a particular region. What were the hydro-technical skills that went into these creations. What was their connection to their surrounding rural or urban topography. How did they become ritual sites and markers of social segregation or integration? In present times, when climate change and water conservation are among the most pressing issues, this book is particularly relevant in drawing attention to historical models that could provide valuable insight and inspiration for future solutions.