Research Paper
Subterranean Aqueducts of Pune: Exploring the Role of 18th-century Water infrastructure in Shaping the City’s Growth and Urban Landscape
Authors: Manas Marathe
Year: 2026, Volume: 17, Page/Article: 163-187, DOI: https://doi.org/10.47509/AA.2026.v17i.10
Abstract
The Deccan Plateau region of India saw the construction of several subterranean aqueducts between the 15th and 18th centuries CE using Persian hydraulic technology, marking a significant milestone in the historical development of urban water infrastructure. While these aqueducts have been largely analysed from a technical perspective, their spatial, aesthetic, and cultural dimensions remain underexplored. In response to this gap, this paper explores the subterranean aqueduct network of Pune built in the 18th century by the Peshwa rulers as a spatial structure that emerged from and simultaneously shaped the urban landscape of the city. To begin with, it investigates the interaction between aqueducts and Pune's topography and their contribution to the city’s growth. Next, it examines the aqueducts as creators of quality urban spaces and identity. Lastly, it seeks to find out how urbanisation and changing values have affected aqueducts, resulting in their continued use or neglect. Employing a qualitative historical research methodology, relevant information have been gathered through archival research, documentary analysis, and field observations. Despite their deterioration, the historic aqueducts preserve hydro-geological knowledge that remains relevant to the design of contemporary water infrastructure. In conclusion, the paper recommends exploring the integration of historic aqueducts with modern networked water infrastructure to diversify water sources and enhance system resilience in the context of rising water demand and climate change. It also highlights the need to conserve the surviving aqueduct network due to its historical value, as it embodies context-specific water infrastructure design strategies and socio-cultural dimensions of water management.
Keywords: subterranean aqueducts, water infrastructure, historic, urban landscape, Peshwa, Pune, Deccan