Chand Baori is a stunning example of a stepwell in Rajasthan, India containing 3,500 steps in its 13 stories. It’s one of the oldest stepwells in Rajasthan and was built during the 8th-9th century AD. Stepwells have largely been replaced by wells and pumps today, but they served both practical and societal needs. The stepwell was used to store and harvest water that could be used during the dry season. As the water is used and recedes, the stairs allowed you to access the lower water levels. The importance of water cannot be overstated, and as such, stepwells played an important role in religious and ceremonial events. Stepwells employed wells, canals, tanks, and dams to direct and store the water, along with pulleys to draw water as it recedes toward the bottom of the stepwell. This short video captures some of the beauty and complexity of the structure – Daniel Findley, DTC Engineering Economics Instructor
