Toorji Ka Jhalra

Toorji Ka Jhalra is a stepwell in the old city of Jodhpur, thought to date from the 1740s, when Maharaja Abhay Singh ruled Marwar. Jhalra is the Rajasthani term for a stepwell, and this one was made to give the desert city a dependable water supply. Like other stepwells it was also a place where residents and travellers gathered and rested out of the heat.

Flights of steps descend its sides in a strict symmetrical pattern, and the walls carry carvings of gods, goddesses and mythical creatures. The play of light and shade on the stone makes it a favourite with photographers, and it is often included on heritage walks through the old city. The lanes around it are lined with shops selling handicrafts, textiles, jewellery and local food.