Journey to the 'Moon Well'- Chand Baori - Mystical Marvel Of Abhan...

ABHA-NAGARI

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The place once known as Abha-Nagri meaning ‘city of brightness’ over the years has been mispronounced and now is known by the name Abhaneri. It is situated 95 km from Jaipur, on the Jaipur-Agra road.
This place is different. It's not the magnificent Himalayas from Himachal, neither the lush green forests of Kerela, this place is mysterious and extraordinary in terms of architecture and art.

Abhaneri is approx 2 hours from my parental home in Jaipur. I have lived all my life in Jaipur but have only seen Abhaneri for the first time, some few years back. and I loved the vibes here, it takes me back to a different era altogether. Since then I have visited several times and made one such stop a few days back. It's like my happy place.

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It may be a quick stop for tourists traveling from Jaipur to Agra to visit Taj Mahal, but for me, this is a perfect destination to spend an entire day.
There are two attractions here, one is the Chand Baori and 2nd an ancient temple of Harshat Mata

Chand Baori (literally translated as ‘Moon Well’) – mysterious and isolated

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A panoramic view of the Chand Baori, Abhaneri

Chand Baori is regarded as one of the deepest and largest step wells in India. The well has intricate carvings and structures built around it, one of the four sides of the stepwell has a pavilion with jharokhas and balconies meant for the royal family to sit in.

Chand Baori consists of 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories and extends to almost 100 ft in depth making it one of the deepest and largest step wells in India.
It was a natural solution for the hot summers of Rajasthan. And a perfect example of collecting rainwater- a perfect water management.

The zig-zag pattern of the stepwell is remarkable in design, the play of light and shadow on the stepwell makes this place extraordinary and a visual treat making it a perfect spot to shoot for movies.

The epic prison scene from the movie ‘The Dark Knight rises’ where Bruce Wayne/Batman makes a leap of faith to escape from the bottom of the pit has been filmed at Abhaneri step well and enhanced with graphics.
Check it out here:

Harshat Mata Temple

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The temple is located just a few meters away from Chand-Baori. Harshat Mata Temple is dedicated to goddess Harshat Mata. Harshat Mata is considered to be the goddess of joy and happiness. Harsh meaning joy. According to myth, the goddess is always cheerful, she imparts her joy and happiness to the whole village and the reason for the prosperity of the village. The temple is now in ruins but its beautiful intricate craftsmanship is still visible.