StepwellDiaries

Kale Hanuman Ji Baori (IN000364), Jaipur, Jaipur Rajasthan (GPS: 26.952289, 75.839231)
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2016 end of year I would have spent almost 2 months scanning every inch of google maps and blogs before I planned my visit to Jaipur for stepwell hunting... Kale Hanuman Temple stepwell was one of the find...
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Those days google maps was not as clear as it is today and this stepwell was not marked too. Hazy image showed a stepwell like structure so I noted the gps coordinates and printed the route.
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Its always humbling to see a beautiful stepwell when I go without any anticipation.
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Simple, beautiful well-kept stepwell on Amer Road. Probably because of its proximity to Man Sagar Lake stepwell it had lot of water and reflections looked beautiful.
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No board ( )
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These images are the copyright of Bhavita Saxena. The reproduction or unauthorized use of any image without the express written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited.
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Baori Baori (IN001242), Baori, Alwar, Rajasthan (GPS: 27.32167, 76.62583)
A very small village on Rajgarh-Alwar highway is named "Baori" may be because of the presence of a huge stepwell though completely neglected.
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I was aware of the GPS location but there was no road so stopped at highway and walked 500-600fts across uneven farm field with corps
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I excepted a small boundary wall around the stepwell but there was nothing. First sight was like OMG, its massive and so beautiful
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First Floor corridors still intact however steps are filled with dirt and vegetation hence no access to lower corridors.
Though I couldn’t go down much but looked like it must be having 4 or 5 stories.
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Two local ladies warned me not to go inside the stepwell because they believe the stepwell is possessed and people die there... I am still alive so seems ghost didn’t like me
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A farmer told me that he has seen the baoli completely submerged in water in year 1996 however the well don’t have water since 10/12 years.
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No board ( )
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These images are the copyright of Bhavita Saxena. The reproduction or unauthorized use of any image without the express written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited.
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Bhavitaa Saxena House Of ChiKoi Bhavita's Handful of Spring
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Indian Stepwells Discover India Incredible India Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR Silk Road Gallery .urbanism .waterrescon WforWfoundation

Baramotichi Vihir, Limb, Satara, Maharashtra (IN000002), Limb, Satara, Maharashtra (GPS: 17.772887, 74.007514)
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Baramotichi Vihir is said to be made in mid of 1600 century which makes it almost 400 years old
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It's an octagonal well with few floors which seems to be used as a resting place
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Many local kids said that they enjoy jumping and swimming here during summers.
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It is said to have many hidden rooms below, which were used to hide during war and possibility few may still have hidden treasure of yesteryear
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This place is maintained really well
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These images are the copyright of Bhavita Saxena. The reproduction or unauthorized use of any image without the express written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited.
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Bhavitaa Saxena House Of ChiKoi
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Indian Stepwells Discover India Incredible India Silk Road Gallery .urbanism .waterrescon WforWfoundation

Battisi Baoli, (IN000229), Pranpur, Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh (GPS : 24.723679, 78.157066)
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Pranpur is a very small village near Chanderi, known for hand-weaved sarees.
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While I was visiting Chanderi, I was told that there are few stepwells in this village so decided to pay a visit.
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Usually I carry printed map and all possible GPS coordinates to location stepwells however at the end local villagers only help locating the stepwells. I found seven stepwells however this was stunningly beautiful.
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Word "Battisi" (means 32) because it has 32 "takkar" (meeting points) of steps. Every level has 4 takkars hence it has 6 level in total
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Every upper layer have one step more than earlier (except the upper most)... 9, 8, 7, 6 were visible... 4, 3, 2 and last 1 step was inside water
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I still wonder how such precise calculation and construction was done 300 years back. I was in awe witnessing amazing precision and perfection
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These images are the copyright of Bhavita Saxena. The reproduction or unauthorized use of any image without the express written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited
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Bhavitaa Saxena House Of ChiKoi
Indian Stepwells Discover India Incredible India Water Positive Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, RD & GRi Silk Road Gallery .urbanism

Tejaji ki Baoli (IN001628), Village Antarda, Bundi, Rajasthan (GPS : 25.660863, 76.098072)
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While investigating the stepwells in Bundi, Kota, Lakheri, and Indergarh, I came across this one on Google Maps.
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Two local people were there when I arrived, told me the names of this and another one across the road. They told me the stepwell was quite old and being seen by three generation.
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The well get filled with water during rainy season, but starts to dry out as winter approaches.
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Stepwells are respected in Rajasthan whether they have water or not. No one owns them, thus they don’t get repaired and maintained.
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These images are the copyright of Bhavita Saxena. The reproduction or unauthorized use of any image without the express written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited.
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Bhavitaa Saxena House Of ChiKoi
Rajasthan Tourism Indian Stepwells Discover India Incredible India Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR

Kanukaji ki Baoli (IN001627), Village Antarda, Bundi, Rajasthan (GPS : 25.658620, 76.087194)
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While I was researching on Bundi, Kota, Lakheri and Indergarh stepwells for my travel, I scanned through google maps all around the drive route from Kota to Lakheri to Indergarh and came across lot of unrecorded stepwells.

I found many unrecorded stepwells while browsing Google Maps for the drive route from Kota to Lakheri to Indergarh for my trip.
All of the stepwells in Antarda village were breathtakingly gorgeous, even though I don't generally expect unknown stepwells to be that way.
As I descended the stairs, I noticed that the stepwell resembled a scaled-down replica of Raniji ki baori of Bundi. It wasn't in use, but it was relatively clean.
Admiring the beauty, I clicked few photos and continued my way to Lakheri, Indergarh.
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These images are the copyright of Bhavita Saxena. The reproduction or unauthorized use of any image without the express written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited.
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Antarda Stepwell (IN001630), Village Antarda, Bundi, Rajasthan (GPS : 25.662158, 76.100210)
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Antarda stepwell, has an unforgettable story, with loads of learnings… while I was researching on my route to a very small place Lakheri, 80Kms from Kota, I came across a stepwell looking structure on google maps and marked the gps codes to explore…
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I had printed routes with approximate landmarks I could find on Google Maps because I had learned from my previous trips that mobile networks can ditch any time.
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The exciting part begins now. I was in the vicinity of this stepwell, but I couldn't see anything because of an opaque fence. The cab driver attempted to see by standing atop the car's bonnet, but he was also unable to see anything.
We continued to drive forward in search for a way into the farm, when we saw a tiny rainwater drain. Although it was shielded by prickly shrubs, it could still enter the property. I slipped down five feet while holding my camera. I had no idea which direction to go, left or right so started walking right and I found it at last.
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Dry, broken, covered with plants, but breathtakingly beautiful. The farm was kept up properly, but no one was around to find out anything about the stepwell. After clicking as much as I could, I decided to walk back.
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Now I was presented with another challenge, as how to ascend the five-foot slope. I proceeded a few meters along the fence and was fortunate to come across few stones that helped me climb back.
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Phew... Back in the taxi, I put some Vaseline on thorny bites and added few very important points into my caution list.
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These images are the copyright of Bhavita Saxena. The reproduction or unauthorized use of any image without the express written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited.
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Lokpal Sagar Stepwell (IN001500) , Panna, Madhya Pradesh (GPS : 24.725521, 80.201861)
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Panna has something to offer to all. Panna city is famous for its active Diamond Mines, National Park Tiger Reserve temples, old fort & buildings etc.
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I got to know about this baoli through a local connect in Khajurao who gave me approx location. Thanks to a local Taxi driver I could ask, navigate and then walk through the farms to locate this magnificent baoli (locally known as Behar).
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A big baoli in the middle of the farms was full of water (even though rains were not good that year). Steps to reach a level below shows the possibility of two floors. It also seems to have two more entry points which were filled with water so couldn’t see the steps (or slopes which usually were made for cattle, horse etc to go down and have access to water)
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Only one farmer was there but he didn't understand what I was looking for. He also was not having anu idea on how many floors this baoli has. Visiting again during summer month may reveal the true structure of this place.
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These images are the copyright of Bhavita Saxena. The reproduction or unauthorized use of any image without the express written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited.
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Kherapati Peer Baba ki Baoli (IN000553), Maheshwar, MadhyaPradesh (GPS : 22.172556, 75.584750)
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I went via the lovely little town of Maheshwar on my way from Indore to Omkareshwar. It is well-known for the handwoven Maheshwari sarees, Ahilyabai Holkar Fort, Narmada River and stunning ghats (see the Padman movie).
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I asked my taxi driver whether there were any stepwells in our route though I had no intention of entering the town. He told me he knew one for sure and might know another, which surprised me. When I asked if possible I would like to visit, he gladly agreed.
It took me about a kilometer to walk through narrow lanes to get to this stepwell. People's faces were full of curiosity seeing a tall, overweight woman with a camera asking for a stepwell. I am accustomed to these inquisitive stares whenever I go stepwell searching.
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A local masjid is in charge of a modest deep baoli and handles the renovations. I was thrilled to see a tidy and lovely baoli.
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These images are the copyright of Bhavita Saxena. The reproduction or unauthorized use of any image without the express written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited.
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Rajgarh Kund (IN000610), Alwar, Rajasthan (GPS : 27.234549°, 76.622563°)
Rajgarh, a small town in Alwar District has two beautiful water monuments. A huge stepwell and a water kund
This Kund's beauty lies in its symmetry, a perfect square with steps going down from all sides and four parkotas diagonally coming forward from corners makes it look amazing...
This is placed in the middle of congested alleys hence easier to reach on foot rather than on any vehicles...
Relatively in good condition however water well in the middle is dried up and filled... few trees can be seen growing too...
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These images are the copyright of Bhavita Saxena. The reproduction or unauthorized use of any image without the express written consent of the copyright owner is strictly prohibited.
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