Just 200 km from Delhi is one of the world’s oldest stepwells.
The Chand Baori is one of the most spectacular baolis I have seen.
An amazing perfection of 3500 steps built on 13 levels.
Featured in many movies: Indian and Hollywood
Said to be the pyramids upside down they were built in 9-10 c by Raja Chanda of Chauhan dynasty.
On the main wall there were palaces built for the royalty. However subsequent repairs have been done without keeping in mind the prevalent architectural style.
So we have arches alongside trabeate doors
Abhaneri a corruption of Abha Nagri or city of brightness.
The renovation must have resulted in displacing of many sculptures which are kept in the side gallery
It was used for rain water harvesting in a dry state as well as for socialising. The temperature at the bottom is 5-6 degrees cooler. But railings prevent anyone going down now
Stepwells were deep wells with a broad mouth for easy collection of water and steps led down to them.
Baori/ baoli/Bain and bawdi are different names for them.
They used to be very popular in India and are an ancient water harvesting system.
In 1864, the famous French world traveler Louis Rousselet described a stepwells as “[a] vast sheet of water, covered with lotuses in flower, amid which thousands of aquatic birds are sporting.”
It was used for bathing, washing and just having fun.
Next to it is a Harshat Mata Temple which is up in the next blog.
Do Visit . It’s amazing .
I’m glad I got the chance on a visit to Alwar to go there.
Easy driving distance from Delhi, Alwar or Jaipur.
For Harshat Mata you can read
