Abhaneri Chand Baori: India’s most photographed stepwell
Abhaneri is a small village in Dausa district of Rajasthan, which is famous for its world's deepest stepwell known as Chand Baori.
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Chand Baori (stepwell) at Abhaneri near Jaipur in Rajasthan
Jaipur: Chand Baori at Abhaneri gives tourists a mesmerizing experience as this oldest living stepwell of India boasts of over 3,500 narrow steps with a 13 stories structure. The architecture, sculptures, temples, and legends of the place will definitely teleport you to a time hundreds of years ago when the royals ruled the state.
Abhaneri is a small village in Dausa district of Rajasthan, which is famous for Chand Baori stepwell.
Chand Baori is located 95 km away from Jaipur on Jaipur-Agra Expressway. Let’s explore some little-known facts about this famous tourist destination of Rajasthan.
Highlights of Abhaneri stepwell
Chand Baori (Stepwell) has nearly 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories which are arranged in perfect triangular symmetry. Your brain might go a little dizzy while looking down in the stepwell.
The stepwell at Abhaneri is popular as the most photogenic stepwells of the world.
A famous temple known as Harshat Mata Mandir is located about 100 meters to the west of Chand Baori with a dome roof. It is believed that Harshat Mata is the goddess of happiness and Joy.
There are board games engraved on the floor which indicates that this was not just a place for worship and water collecting in earlier times, but also it was a community space for locals to spend time in summers.
History of Chand Baori
It is believed that the stepwell was built under the rule of King Chanda in the 9th century but the upper stories and the entrance of the step wells were completed in the 18th century under Mughal era.
It is named after the King who built it. The city was then called Abha Nagari.
The stepwell was built to conserve rainwater in this dry region of the state. The waters remain cooler due to the stepwells depth.
Earlier, villagers and locals used to come here to socialize in summers. Pavilions were also built at one side of the Baori for royal members.
Chand Baori has been used as a filming location for a number of films such as Bhoomi, The Fall, BhoolBhulaiyaa, and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Tourist Experience
You will experience the best architectural beauty from ancient times at this famous tourist spot in Rajasthan.
A temple built in 10 the century – Harshat Mata- is also very popular among the tourists for its architecture. Though some of its parts have been ruined with time, it is still a must visit place in Rajasthan.
The stairs encircle the stepwell from three sides while the fourth side boasts of a pavilion consisting of carved Jharokahs, sculptures, galleries and corridors. It was built in ancient times for royal members to relax near the Baori.
As listed by Archaeological Survey of India, the fourth northern side consists of a multistoried corridor supported on pillars and two projecting niche-shrines which have beautiful images of Mahishamardini and Ganesa. There is also a very small room known as Andheri Ujala. The board is enclosed by a high wall having a gateway to the north. The enclosure is provided with verandah on all four sides.
Abhaneri Festival by state tourism department
The festival is held every year by the state tourism department on October 11 and October 12 in Dausa.
The two-day Abhaneri festival gained immense popularity among domestic as well as international tourists over the past few years. The festival includes various Rajasthani and local folk performances like Kachhi Ghori, Kalbeliya, Ghoomar, and Bhawan.
Several programmers at Chand Baori stepwell are conducted during the festival.
