Hyderabad, Nov. 30 -- Think Qutb Shahi tombs, and the first image that probably comes to one's mind are huge domes. Given that the massive tombs in the royal necropolis make for an imposing view of the city's skyline, it is not surprising. With the royal necropolis, where all of the Golconda dynasty's royalty is buried, being recently restored, the tombs complex has become one of the city's must see heritage sites, even for locals.

While many can't get enough of the dombs and intricate design motifs across the site, one of the most important structures there is not a tomb. The often-missed Idgah Baoli or stepwell, is in fact a massive monument built before most of the other things in the Qutb Shahi tombs. All of the six stepwells in the ...