Step Well

March 30, 2018

This morning as we left the village camp, we stopped in Abhaneri village to visit the Chand Baori. It is an architectural wonder known as a step well. It is a hidden gem that unless you knew where it was you would never see it from the street and think it was anything of importance. Outside the entrance is an old mosque that was destroyed but has had some of the stones restacked and is still used today.

You enter through the archway. The structure is built of marble and stone.

The first sight of it takes your breath as it is amazing.

Built between 800 and 900 A.D., it resembles an inverted pyramid. There are 3,500 narrow steps leading down 64 feet to a large pool of water. The water is about another 40 feet deep. It was used to conserve and store water during the dry season. 

Dedicated to Hashat Mata, the Goddess of Joy and Happiness, it also has a three level pavilion with resting rooms for the Royal family. 

Oxen were taken down to 2 different levels to turn a wheel that brought the water up for use. 

I had no idea anything like existed in the world.

Intricately carved stones used to decorate part of the upper level but were partially removed by the British. Some have been returned and are on display.

 

Back on the road for our 5 hour bus ride to Agra we saw this herd of camels being moved alongside the road.

 

One more post about the farming and wheat harvest. They stack the wheat in a large pile and wait for the thrashing machine to come.

The chaff is collected and used for cattle feed. 

We stopped the bus and took pictures of the women cutting the wheat.

A pile waiting for the thrasher.

To transport the chaff they drape these huge bags over the trucks and fill them. It is quite a site seeing them going down the road.

I’m breaking my posts up into specific topics as there are some special things coming.