Abhaneri Step Wells Day Tour with Lunch

Abhaneri Step Wells Day Tour with Lunch

Abhaneri is known for its 'Baori' or step well which was invented by the natives to harvest rain water. The Baori was used as a cool place of retreat and as a water source/reservoir during parched times of the year. Chand Baori remains one of India's deepest and largest stepwells. The Baori consists of three flight of stairs descending into the earth with a subterranean palace on one side. The flight of stairs and the palace are all arranged in a square pattern with the well lying at the very bottom. The flight of steps are thirteen storeys deep. The palace at the bottom of the Baori was a place for the royals to stay during hot summers days. There is a large courtyard all around the Baori from where great views of the Baori can be had. All around the courtyard there are covered areas housing intricately carved sandstone artifacts/idols dating as far back as 10th century.

Itinerary
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Stop At: Chand Baori (Step well), Jaipur-Agra Road, Abhaneri 303313 India

Chand Baori is the oldest surviving step well in Rajasthan and probably India. It was built by the King named Chanda or Chandra of the Nikhumbha dynasty. The time of the stepwell is 8-9th CE making it 1200-1300 years old. Yes, it is older than Taj Mahal, Khajuraho Temples, and Chola Temples but younger than Ajanta and Ellora Caves.

It is named after the King who built it. The city was then called Abha Nagri.

Baori is a general name for step well – other names being – Bawdi, Vav, and Pushkarni. Anyway, let me show you the step-well as I saw it in the second decade of 21st CE.

In all, there are 35,000 steps on 13 levels at the step-well. The Baori gets narrow as it goes down.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Harshat Mata Temple, Opposite the Chand Baori, Abhaneri India

The Chand Baori is not the only attraction in Abhaneri.

Adjoining the baori is the architecturally splendid and sculpturally beautiful Harshat Mata temple which was built between the 7th-8th centuries, but was destroyed and damaged by Mahmud Ghazni.

Many of its pillars, columns, statues now lie scattered in the temple courtyard and in the corridors of the structure. The temple was dedicated to Harshat Mata, believed to be the goddess of happiness and joy, who spread her glow and brightness (abha) around the town.

That is why the small village was called the Abhanagri (city of brightness), which over the centuries has become Abhaneri.

chand baori

Harshat Mata Temple

The Chand Baori is not the only attraction in Abhaneri.

Adjoining the baori is the architecturally splendid and sculpturally beautiful Harshat Mata temple which was built between the 7th-8th centuries, but was destroyed and damaged by Mahmud Ghazni.

Many of its pillars, columns, statues now lie scattered in the temple courtyard and in the corridors of the structure. The temple was dedicated to Harshat Mata, believed to be the goddess of happiness and joy, who spread her glow and brightness (abha) around the town.

That is why the small village was called the Abhanagri (city of brightness), which over the centuries has become Abhaneri.

The scene from the temple courtyard is picturesque with green fields, narrow village roads, tiny houses and the sun playing hide and seek on the landscape.

Duration: 30 minutes