Chand Baori
Chand Baori meaning ‘moon’ or ‘silver well.’ It is one of the astonishing architectures in Rajasthan. It is a stepwell, i.e., a water management system in the village of Abhaneri, which is nearer to Jaipur city. This magnificent architecture was built in the 8th century AD by king Raja Chanda of Nikumbha dynasty.Architecture of Chand Baori:
As Rajasthan is a dry state and suffered from lack of water in the summer, Chand Baori has designed with the high intention of water conservation. Chand Baori is located near the ‘Harshat Mata temple,’ i.e., ‘Goddess of joy and happiness.’ It is built on pillars that show an ancient civil architecture of India. Also, there are different signs of Hindu gods carved on the wall of the temple with an idol of the goddess.
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Chand Baori has a total of 3,500 narrow steps built in the perfect geometrical symmetry. These steps descend 20m (66 ft.) long to the bottom of well. It is 64 feet deep and has developed in a single sitting. Along with the precise geometrical symmetry, it shows a fantastic play of light and shadow that enhances the beauty of architecture.
Chand Baori has a rectangular courtyard structure. As we come downstairs, structure narrows towards the water pond. All three sides of the pond are constructed with stairs, while the fourth side has a beautiful pavilion. There are galleries that stand on pillars captivate the structural beauty. The centralized constraint of the stepwell is a water pool. This pool has a rectangular shape, and all the steps were built around it. Villagers in the Abhaneri used to draw water from this pond.
Pleasant Temperature of Chand Baori:
Another astonishing feature of this architecture is its temperature. The temperature at the bottom of the stepwell varies between 5-7 degrees Celsius even in the summer. The structure of the lower pool, shrines, stairs and open room near water were designed in the 8th century by the king Raja Chanda. But there is a palace-like structure in upper stories constructed by the Mughals in the 18th century.Mughals have extended Chand Baori’s structure by building four-sided arcades and keeping the water pond in the center. It has a flat terrace of about 200 feet above the arcade. In the monsoon, several peacocks roost on the terrace, which witnesses the wild creature of the stepwell region.
Visit Time & Entry Fee
Every place offers glorious picturesque in a specific period. Ensure to visit that place within its peak time and enjoy the loveliness of nature.
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Location |
Chand Baori, Abhaneri Village, Dausa district, Rajasthan |
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Visiting Time |
8:30 am to 6.00 pm (all days of the week) |
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Best time to visit |
October to March |
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Entry Fee |
For the foreign tourist - Rs 200;
For Children up to 14 years - No frees
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How to Reach Chand Baori?
• By road
Roadways are the easiest and convenient way to reach Chand Baori as it is only 59 miles away from Jaipur. Taxis are readily available from Jaipur to reach Abhaneri village, which is almost 57.5 miles. You can reach in 1 hour 22 min, and it costs around INR 1,000 to INR 1,300. Once you reach Abhaneri, by taking a walk of 2-3 min (228 meters), you will arrive at Chand Baori.
• By Train:
You can get trains from Jaipur to reach Bandikui; then, you have to travel for Abhaneri by taking a taxi. There are frequent trains every hour. Take train from Jaipur to Bandikui, which is around 56 miles, takes 1 hour 10 min, and costs INR 95 to INR 110. Then from Bandikui, you need to take a taxi to reach Abhaneri. The distance is around 6 miles, takes 10- 15 mins, and costs INR 100 to INR 150. After reaching Abhaneri, you can reach Chand Baori by taking a walk of 2-3 min.
These are the transport ways to reach Chand Baori, ABhaneri. Reaching Abhaneri is more accessible and affordable.
• Visiting Tips:
As Chand Baori is a national heritage place, it is restricted for tourists to go downstairs in the well. But during the annual day of Abhaneri, which is just before 30 days of Diwali, stepwell is open for public access.
By knowing about Chand Baori, you must feel how precious the Indian architecture is! Thousands of foreign tourists visit every year to explore this wonder. Reading about his place may surprise you, but visiting will give you goose bumps for sure. So, hurry up! And pack your backs to visit the Chand Baori. Because Rajasthan is waiting for you and requesting ‘padharo mhare desh.’