Chand Baori

Chand Baori, often called the Abhaneri Stepwell, is in Abhaneri village in Dausa district, within easy reach of Jaipur. It was built in the 9th century and is attributed to a local ruler called Chand Raja. It ranks among the largest and deepest stepwells anywhere, and was made to store water through the long dry months, when communities depended on it for drinking water.

The square well narrows tier by tier like an upside-down pyramid, its sides lined with about 3,500 narrow steps laid out in exact symmetry. The air at the bottom is markedly cooler than at ground level, so the well was also a place to escape the heat and a meeting point for social and religious gatherings. Carvings on the walls show scenes from Hindu mythology, and the stepwell has appeared in several films.