Travel - India

Dad at the step well

The next day, we visited the Chand Baori in a village not far away. Baori means stepwell, and Chand is the name of the King who started its construction.

A stepwell is a wide and deep hole leading to a pool of water. In effect, a pyramid has been cut out of the earth and lined with stone stairs. The oldest parts date from the 8th century, with work continuing for another thousand years.

When in use, it was an important gathering place for the local community and the surrounding walls featured stone carvings from Hindu myth. With modern plumbing and water treatment, stepwells became obsolete.