Stepwells are wells or deep ponds in which the water is reached by descending a set of steps. Stepwells were at one time quite common in north-west India (Rajasthan and Gujarat) and adjoining areas of Pakistan, where water is scarce. Although the main purpose of these stepwells was easy access to water, some of the wells also had multilevel rooms, usually going right up to the bottom of the well, to provide relief to the rich and royals from daytime heat, and these rooms and the associated buildings were provided with significant architectural decorations.
One of the most intricate, deepest and largest stepwells in India, called Chand Baori (or Baoli/Baodi, meaning stepwell), is located in the village of Abhaneri near Bandikui, Rajasthan.
Unfortunately, many tourists who visit Jaipur and Agra are unaware of it or do not visit this intricate stepwell, although it is just 95 km from Jaipur and about 8 km off the main Jaipur-Agra Highway. Even in India, not many are aware of this architectural marvel.
Built in 10th century the well is 30 meters deep, has 13 landings and 3,500 steps. The unusual
and intricate pattern of steps allows simultaneous easy access to large number of persons to the water.
Abhaneri Stepwell was the locale of the 2005 Indian movie "Paheli" (meaning Puzzle) and also for the 2006 English movie "The Fall". This image from the movie "The Fall" shows a remarkable view of the steps.
Image from Google Maps' Photos is by Aravind S
Image from Wikimedia Commons is by Doron
Image from Flickr is by Dixie Lawrence
Image from Google Maps' Photos is by Nikhil Yadav
View location in Google Maps
More info at Wikipedia
Edit Note July 01.2020
Dead links/defunct photos removed and new photos added.
Great info on the Well. More like a Reservoir or Summer escape place.
ReplyDeleteYou are a great resource for such unique destinations. I will gladly take my clients there when I bring them to India next year.
Shafiq Hasan
Pinnacle Luxury Tours
WOW...i was Delhi for so many years and was not aware of this, else would have gone there.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Blog...CuriousJM :)
Really good info!!!thanks
ReplyDeletethank you so much for exploring new venture....
ReplyDeleteThank you Sapana for your comments. My apologies for belated reply. I had missed reading your comments. Lately I have not been very active in this blog but I assure you and my other readers I will be posting more stories here.
ReplyDeleteThanks once again.