Jaipur,
Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bundi, etc etc. you would find in almost all the guidebooks on the state of Rajasthan. What you won’t find very easily is this small village called Abhaneri
which has something so unique and beautiful to offer.
Located here is Chanda Baodi which
is India’s one of the oldest and deepest step-wells. Built by a Rajput King
these step-wells were once used as for royal baths along with serving the
purpose of reservoirs. This step-well had separate royal bathrooms for males
and females with big verandahs to stand in sunlight. All this over looks
thousands of criss-cross steps which are steep and which make a pattern of
upside down Vs. These steps were used to descend till the level of water.
Adjacent to this step-well is the Harshat
Mata Hindu temple which was build way back in the eighth century. Devoted to
goddess Durga this temple was worshipped after the royal bathing.
You can still find remains if
stone carving throughout the walls of the step-well and the temple structure.
Excavation of this site began
under the Archaeological Survey if India in 1955 and it was open to public in
1960. This place where you would hardly find any vendors or souvenir shops has
now come in limelight and a part of many travel itineraries.
Abhaneri is located 90 Km away
from Jaipur on the Agra Road. It can easily be used as a stopover destination
between these two cities to give an altogether new look to the Golden Triangle Tour.
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