India Travels 14 The Step Well

So, we are driving down the highway and Vikrum asks if we want to see a big well. We look at each other and figure "why not, we might as well see everything possible. As we are driving down backroads we come across this building This is a school. It was about 3:00 PM and the students are all outside having their lessons

We drove into a small hamlet and Vikrum stops beside this building. We are thinking that is a big building to house a well. This is simply the entrance to the well compound. Once inside we pay a minimal fee and an older Indian gentleman motions us forward down a narrow passageway which opens to this...

This is an Indian Step Well. This well was constructed during the 8th and 9th centuries. There are 8 upper levels above the line of fencing. Three sides of the well look exactly like the side you see with people across the way. The 4th side is completely different because it was for the royals.

This shows the levels and steps better. No one is permitted below the lower fencing.

5 levels of steps below the fencing before you reach the water. The water was stagnant and green with algae as we are way past the Spring monsoons.

Part of the carved stonework on the lower portion of the 4th side - the Marahaja side. Carvings were throughout the complex. All numbered and carefully positioned out of the way of tourists.

Scott and Vikrum 5 levels down into the well.

The side of the step well reseved for the maharaja. The far left side was the private bath for the females and the closer right side was for the maharaja. These rooms were quite large and the center open court area was filled with small grottos for statues. All three areas were highly carved, but you could tell that many pieces were missing. The carving you saw above is one of the two from the lower left of the photo.

View out the window opening of the maharaja's private bathing area. The lower left shows a carving of an elephant.

Some of the many carved artifacts we saw at this humble step well. Aside from the age, it was obviously this was Hindu influence on the carvings. Figures of animals and people are front and center in the Hindi religion. Islam does not permit any animals figures - plants are acceptable.