Adikmet Stepwell Restored, Opened To Public

Hyderabad: The restored Adikmet Stepwell, also known as Metla Bavi, at Osmania University (OU). was inaugurated on Saturday, marking the revival of an 18th-century water heritage structure that had fallen into neglect.

Tourism minister Jupally Krishna Rao inaugurated the stepwell on World Heritage Day in the presence of Vice Chancellor Kumar Molugaram, along with representatives from Dodla Dairy, which supported the restoration.

Once reduced to a dumping ground, the stepwell is now a clean and accessible public space through efforts by SAHE, the Telangana government and corporate support. Officials said the restoration marks an important step in preserving historic water structures in the city.

The event also saw the unveiling of the Baoli Art Sangam initiative, founded by Annapurna Madipadiga and Kalpana Ramesh, aimed at reimagining stepwells as spaces for art, community and cultural engagement. Organisers said the initiative will extend into a month-long festival in December across 13 historic sites in Telangana, focusing on history, architecture and local traditions.

Representatives from Dodla Dairy, including CEO Sunil Reddy and managing director D. Dodla Reddy, attended the event. Officials said the project is part an effort to restore neglected heritage structures and integrate them into public and cultural spaces.