An ancient architectural structure - the Chand Baori step well was built between the 9th and 11th centuries in the small Indian town of Abhaneri, 95 kilometers from Jaipur, Rajasthan. It is one of the deepest and largest stepped wells in the world, built only in India. The name translated from Hindi means "King Chand's step well", as the well was built by King Chand of the Nikumba dynasty in order to provide the surrounding areas with a reliable source of water.
The well is 30 meters deep, 10 of which are filled with water, built in the form of an inverted truncated pyramid. This well depth is due to the level of groundwater occurrence. The main calculation of the builders was that the great depth and sloping walls will not allow the water to heat up and evaporate quickly, keeping its drinking qualities for a long time. It is also provided that no traces of fluctuations in the water level in the well remain on the walls.
But the water is not drinkable - according to bacteriologists, it poses a threat to health and is capable of “killing a person in 2-3 days,” as it is a source of infections and parasites. The reservoir of drinking water was a font for thousands of pilgrims washing their feet and hands before entering the temple of the goddess of happiness and joy - Harshat Mate, which is located near the well.
Temple of the goddess Harshat Mate
It is possible to enter the temple and offer your prayers only after washing. The source was polluted to such an extent that already in the 19th century an order was issued prohibiting drinking its water due to the constant epidemics that broke out in this region.
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Currently, Chand Baori is valued mainly as a unique and beautiful architectural structure, as well as a sacred place where ritual rituals are performed. In addition, on hot days, locals come to the well to sit on the steps, sheltering from the heat, since the temperature in the lower part of the well is 5-6 degrees lower than in the upper one. Like many stepped wells, Chand Baori is filled with rainwater during the monsoon and is able to retain a significant portion of the water for several months, which is very important in the arid climate of Western India.
The descent to the water consists of 13 stone terraces with a total of 3500 steps, which are located in perfect symmetry on the southern, eastern and western sides of Chand Baori. All steps are without fencing, so it is not safe to navigate them. But this fact does not in any way affect the pilgrimage that thousands of people make every year. Both old and small go down to cool waters to wash their hands and feet in them and then enter the temple purified to pray.
On the north side there are rooms that are used for religious rituals. Here, two specially designed niches carefully keep the images of the goddess Durga and the god Ganesha.
The geometrically complex system of stairs and steps ensured that the Rajputs had access to water from all directions at any time of the year. There are much more steps than are needed for the functioning of the well, apparently, they are primarily of architectural importance.
If you believe the ancient legend, then Chand Baori is not at all the creation of human hands, as if it was built by demons in just one day.