The original system of the Toorji ka Jhalra was made of Persian wheel that was driven by a pair of bullocks. These bullocks used to circle the platform on the top and because of their effort, the water drew up to two different access levels and then to a separate tank. The Toorji ka Jhalra remained lost for a long time. Recently, it has been restored, drained, cleaned up and brought into limelight. For decades, it was submerged and full of debris. In the process of restoring the stepwell, the excavations had to go under two hundred feet where some hand carved treasures of Jodhpur were found. It also included some intricate carvings of lions, elephants, cow-shaped water spouts, and deities of the medieval era. The whole stepwell has been given an urban and a modern face now with the addition of cafes, restaurants, hotels, shops etc. It is a great way to commercialise and attract the tourists so that they have a reason to spend the time here. This all happened under a project called JDH.
The town planning of the Jodhpur city suggests that it should have around 40 stepwells but the city has exceeded this mark quite obviously. The stepwells in India are almost extinct now. The remaining or refurbished stepwells are mostly preserved for touristic purposes. Presently, barring a few, the existing stepwells / step-ponds do not serve the exact purposes for which those were built. But, it is a striking fact that Jodhpur still recreates some of these stepwells and uses it for the recreational & domestic purposes. The existence and the functioning of Jodhpur’s step wells can be a great example for the country that how people’s participation can take them to do bigger things. Also, Jodhpur has an uncommon problem i.e. availability of excess ground water. Because of it, the citizens of Jodhpur are reusing their traditional water structures. This unique way of the Jodhpur city of restoring water does well with the geographical and geological necessities of the city. The local people visit the place early in the morning to have a bath or to take a dip. The people interested in photography visit the place for some stunning pictures during the sunset time. One can also spot a lot of fishes around the tank and are fed by the locals. The existence of the fish suggests positive about water quality. The entry fee is nothing and remains open till the evening.