Detail of the steps of Chand Baori stepwell in the village of Abhaneri, Rajasthan, India


Chand Baori is a deep four-sided well with a large temple on the back face of the building.[2] The basic architectural aspects of a monumental well consist of a long corridor of steps leading to five or six story below the ground level which can be seen at the site.[3] Chand Baori consists of 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories. It extends approximately 30 m (100 ft) into the ground, making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India. The state of Rajasthan is extremely arid, and the design and final structure of Chand Baori was intended to conserve as much water as possible. Ancient Indian scriptures made references to construction of wells, canals, tanks and dams and their efficient operation and maintenance.[2] This site combined many of these operations to allow for easy access to local water. At the bottom of the well, the air remains 5-6 degrees cooler than at the surface, and Chand Baori was used as a community gathering place for locals during periods of intense heat. One side of the well has a haveli pavilion and resting room for the royals.


Size: 6016px × 4016px
Location: Abhaneri, Rajasthan, India
Photo credit: © Roberto Cornacchia / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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