The Chand Baori well is located in the Indian village of Abhaneri, close to the great Indian desert on the border of Pakistan. These walls of stairs that seem to have no end mesmerize visitors to well such is the visual impact it is capable of causing. Built between the 8th and 9th centuries and considered one of the largest in the world. The well has 3,500 steps distributed in stairs so aligned that they appear to float. The place is one of the most admired tourist attractions in India and was, for centuries, the main source of water supply for the region.
The impressive architecture, more than a thousand years old, is a part of India’a historical heritage and attracts visitors from all over the world. The structure is not used as a well anymore. But it still attracts many people on very hot days as, at the bottom of the well, the air is 5-6 degrees celsius cooler than at the surface.
The Chand Baori well was constructed by King Chand Raja, from the Gujara Pratihara clan. The construction is a square 20 meters deep with sides measuring 35 meters. On three sides, it has 3500 steps cascading 13 stories deep into a massive tank at the bottom. The fourth side has pillared corridors at many levels, with two projected offsets to house two niches that serve as shrines.
How to get to Chand Baori
Even though it attracts visitors from all over the world, the Chand Baori well is not an easy landmark to visit, as it’s located in a remote location. Abhaneri is around 95 km from Jaipur and there is no direct bus lines. There are three options to go to the well:
- Hire a taxi or a tour company in Jaipur (the most expensive option);
- Go to Sikandra by bus and, from there, hire a car to take you to the well.
- Get a bus to Gular and walk to the well. But is around 18 km round trip, in a very hot region.
The diamond shaped steps:
The exterior construction around the well:
