The ancient architecture of India never ceases to amaze us, and even its stepwells look straight out of a fairy tale. Chand Baori is one of the country’s best-hidden spots that’s recently becoming a popular tourist attraction after becoming a huge hit on Instagram.
Chand Baori is a four-sided well, which consists of 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories. It’s one of the largest and deepest stepwells in all of India, extending approximately 30 meters into the ground. Its unusual structure made it popular with film studios, and it appeared in such movies as The Dark Knight Rises and The Fall.
Chand Baori wasn’t built this way by coincidence. Its main purpose is to conserve as much water as possible because the state of Rajasthan is known for being extremely arid. The air is around 5-6 degrees cooler at the bottom of the well, and that’s why this spot served as a local gathering place when the heat was too strong to handle.
Part of the reason why Chand Baori still isn’t as popular as some less picture-perfect spots is the fact it’s not so easy to find. It’s located in the Indian state of Rajasthan, in the small village of Abhaneri, about 95 km from Jaipur, but there aren’t any direct buses. The entrance fee is free of charge, and it’s best visited between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., except on major holidays when it’s closed down.
