Did you know that Chand Baori in Abhaneri village of Rajasthan is one of India's oldest, most prolific stepwell in building traditions which is about 64 ft (20m) deep making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India?
Chand Baori stepwell in Abhaneri village in Rajasthan, hailed as a masterpiece of Rajasthani art and architecture, has hundreds of steps on three of its sides, and on its fourth side, a pavilion with arches, balconies, and pillars, some of which have intricate carvings.
The 64 feet (20 m) deep four-sided step well, below ground level, is a unique water management system called, a sub-terranian water supply. It was reportedly built by a local ruler of Nikumbh dynasty called Raja Chanda between the 8th and 9th centuries AD; this dynasty was from the Gujara Pratihara clan, who claim to be the descendant of Lord Ram's younger brother Laxman. Hence, the stepwell was named after the King Chand Raja. Refurbished over the centuries, the lower pool , shrines, open rooms near the water , and stairs dated from the 8th century but the upper stories were rebuilt as a palace around the eighteeenth century by the Mughals who also added a four sided arcade with pointed arches, keeping the pool at the geometric centre. As a result, Abhineri stepwell exhibits two classical periods of water harvesting, in a single setting. It is also said that the upper palace building was added to the site, which is viewed from the tabulated arches used by the Chauhan rulers and the cusped arches used by the Mughals. The Mughals also added art galleries and a retaining wall around the well. Access to these rooms is now blocked for tourists.
Chand Baori is located close to another historic temple called the Harshat Mata Temple of the same or later vintage. It has multilevel intersecting steps built into the sides of walls which provided access to subterranean water. It is an object of aesthetic beauty which was a meeting place for the local community including the royal family and provided shelter from the heat of the day to people (at the bottom of the well, the air remains 5-6°C cooler than at the surface) visiting the adjacent Harshad Mata Temple.
Chand Baori, meaning "moon or silver well" is one of the world's deepest step well with 13 storeys and 3500 maze like steps, which become narrower as they descend down below ground level. Built in an extraordinary geometric presisons and awe inspiring symmetry, the stepwell has maginifcinet stone sculptures and freizes carved on the buildings of its various halls and columns. One side of the well has a haveli pavilion which was once the resting room for the royals.
In the present 21st century, the Chand Baori is proposed to be revitalized by harvesting and reusing seasonal precipitation through sustainable solutions. By utilizing both traditional and contemporary methods, the local population and their livestock would once again have access to water from the stepwell. In this redevelopemnt option, integration of the existing architecture, landscape, water and atmosphere, contributing to water catchament are envisaged.
The historical structure is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The Chand Baori, in Abhaneri, is about 95 km away from Jaipur city the capital of Rajasthan.
Narasipur Char
