On my way to Agra coming from Jaipur, I dropped by the small village of Abhaneri to visit century-old structures that are beyond amazing.
The Chand Baori is a water well that was constructed in a traditional step-well way. Amazingly extending 100 feet to the ground, the Indians used to get water below using the narrow steps on the side, consisting of around 3,500 steps and 13 storeys. It was built thousands of years ago, around 9th century, during the the Nikumbh dynasty by King Chanda.
In the absence of modern technology back then, you cannot imagine how the steps were built in such symmetrical manner. It looked like a maze from afar.
On one side, there’s a 3-storey pavilion with carved jharokhas (overhanging balconies), pillared galleries, and other sculptures. Since the bottom part of the well was cooler than the ground, the Chand Baori served as a resting area of the royalty.
Right next to the Chand Baori are the ruins of another ancient structure. This is a temple called the Harshat Mata Temple, built between the 7th and 8th century.
Unfortunately, it was badly damaged during the war and wasn’t repaired anymore.
But while it’s plainly rubble, the surrounding gives a relaxing view of lush green. You can simply sit for a while and enjoy the view.
There’s no entrance fee to the Chand Baori and Harshat Mata Temple.
Public transportation may be tricky since there’s no direct bus to get there. But the best way is that from Jaipur, ride a bus to Sikandra for INR 20 (USD 0.30) and then get a taxi to Abhaneri for around INR 250 (USD 4).
The Chand Baori is a water well that was constructed in a traditional step-well way. Amazingly extending 100 feet to the ground, the Indians used to get water below using the narrow steps on the side, consisting of around 3,500 steps and 13 storeys. It was built thousands of years ago, around 9th century, during the the Nikumbh dynasty by King Chanda.
In the absence of modern technology back then, you cannot imagine how the steps were built in such symmetrical manner. It looked like a maze from afar.
On one side, there’s a 3-storey pavilion with carved jharokhas (overhanging balconies), pillared galleries, and other sculptures. Since the bottom part of the well was cooler than the ground, the Chand Baori served as a resting area of the royalty.
Right next to the Chand Baori are the ruins of another ancient structure. This is a temple called the Harshat Mata Temple, built between the 7th and 8th century.
Unfortunately, it was badly damaged during the war and wasn’t repaired anymore.
But while it’s plainly rubble, the surrounding gives a relaxing view of lush green. You can simply sit for a while and enjoy the view.
There’s no entrance fee to the Chand Baori and Harshat Mata Temple.
How to get there
It’s located in the district of Dausa, Abhaneri village, Rajasthan. It’s around 95 km from Jaipur and on the way if cruising the Jaipur-Agra highway. If you’re on a Golden Triangle package tour, note that it isn’t usually part of the tour. You can request the driver or the tour organizer to drop by the village. An hour or less is enough to cover the area.Public transportation may be tricky since there’s no direct bus to get there. But the best way is that from Jaipur, ride a bus to Sikandra for INR 20 (USD 0.30) and then get a taxi to Abhaneri for around INR 250 (USD 4).
Shelly Viajera Travel
