Keralam's Ancient Temple Ponds That Solved Water Problems We Are Still Trying to Fix

A breeze rustles through the banyan trees. Dragonflies skim the water’s surface. Temple bells echo through the humid air. For generations, this was a familiar scene around Keralam’s ambalakulams, or temple ponds. Long before “natural pools” became a feature of luxury resorts and wellness retreats, these ponds quietly performed an essential role. They stored rainwater during heavy monsoons, replenished groundwater during dry months, cooled surrounding areas during peak summers, and supported fish, birds, insects, and aquatic plants. They were not built as climate solutions. Yet that is exact...