Abhaneri Stepwell

Located at an approximate distance of 20 km from Jaipur, Abhaneri Stepwell is one of the most intricate pieces of architecture in Rajasthan, India. Also, known as Chand Baori, the Stepwell is one of the largest step-wells in the entirety of Rajasthan. When it was built, the well not only helped the villagers and the tradesmen to draw water in time of thirst but also conserved groundwater.

Stepwells are very common structures that you will see in Rajasthan because of the State’s arid climate and scarcity of water. Dedicated to Harshat Mata, the deity of Happiness and Joy, the Chand Baori or the Abhaneri Stepwell is not only one of the grand constructions of Rajasthan but also a beautiful one. The most stunning factor about these massive structures is that they have remained intact for more than 10 centuries.

History of Abhaneri Stepwell

The Chand Baori Stepwell, also known as the Abhaneri Step Well for its location in the village of Abhaneri in Rajasthan, was built over a thousand years ago. The stepwell is believed to have been constructed by King Chanda near the 9th Century AD. The King was a ruler from the Gujara Pratihara clan of the Pratihara Dynasty, who ruled at their peak between the 6th Century and 10th Century AD. King Chanda built this step well to eliminate the problem of water scarcity in his Kingdom.

The step well or the baori was once attached to the Harshat Mata temple, where there used to be a ritual to wash hands and feet at the well before visiting the temple. The temple was razed during the 10th century, but its remains still boast the architectural and sculptural styles of ancient India. Later when the Mughals arrived, they added some galleries and a compound wall around the well. Today, it houses the remains of exquisite carvings, which were either in the temple or in the various rooms of the baoli itself.

Architecture of Abhaneri Stepwell

The Geometry of Abhaneri Step Well is mesmerizing. That is why it is frequented by both Indian and foreign tourists. Today, the Abhaneri Stepwell has lost its usage as a water-supplying well, but its architecture will surely cast a magical spell on you.

The Step Well is deep with 3,500 steps going down to nearly 20 meters to the base and the initial depth (with the water bed at a depth of 64 meters). It has 13 floors in between and has been provided with double flights of steps on each of its ten landings on the three sides. The baori or the stepwell is also protected by a high raised wall.

The stairs of the stepwell encircle the water on the three sides while the fourth side boasts of a pavilion with three storeys with beautifully carved jharokhas, galleries supported on pillars, and two projecting balconies which have some beautifully carved out sculptures.