Chand Baori at Abhaneri is the deepest and most geometrically spectacular stepwell in India — a 9th-century well with 3,500 narrow steps arranged in a perfect double-flight pattern down 13 storeys to the water at the bottom. The stepwell is 95 kilometres east of Jaipur on the road to Agra and makes a good stop on a Jaipur-to-Agra road trip or as a long day trip from Jaipur.
The architectural logic — the stepped geometry allowed villagers to reach the receding water table during Rajasthan's long dry seasons, while the depth kept the water cool even in the summer heat — has attracted filmmakers (the stepwell appeared in 'The Fall' and 'The Dark Knight Rises') and architects who consider it one of the finest pieces of pre-modern engineering. The neighbouring Harshat Mata Temple, contemporary with the stepwell, has excellent 9th-century carving.
Verified Facts
Chand Baori has 3,500 steps on 13 storeys
The stepwell dates to the 9th century
It appeared in 'The Fall' and 'The Dark Knight Rises'
Chand Baori is about 95 kilometres east of Jaipur
Get walking directions
Abhaneri, Dausa District, Rajasthan
