Chand Baori Stepwell in India

Chand Baori in Abhaneri village near Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan,, India, is one of the most overlooked landmarks in the country. It is one of the oldest stepwell in Rajasthan, and is considered to be among the biggest in the world. Chand Baori looks like anything but a well. This incredible square structure is 13 stories deep, and lined along the walls on three sides are double flight of steps. 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry descends to the bottom of the well 20 meters deep to a murky green puddle of water. Built during the 8th and 9th century by King Chanda of Nikumbha Dynasty, provided the surrounding areas with a dependable water source for centuries before modern water delivery systems were introduced. As the green water at the base attests, the well is no longer in use, but it makes for an interesting stop-over to an architecturally impressive structure that is over 1000 years old. There’s also a temple adjoining the well for visitors to explore.

Chand-Baori-Stepwell-Rajasthan

Stepwells, also called bawdi or baori, are unique to India. These wells have steps built into the sides that can be descended to reach the water at the bottom. Stepwells are generally larger than common wells and are often of architectural significance, just like Chand Baori.

Stepwell

The well’s sheer endlessly appearing geometric complexity made of stairs and steps ensured that Rajput people had access to water at any time of the year, and from all sides. The reasons behind building such an elaborate step well is not fully clear. Some believe it was used as a water harvesting site. Rajasthan is a dry place, and hence, every ounce of water is precious. The large mouth of the well functioned as a rain catching funnel that contributed to the water seeping in from the porous rock at the bottom. In addition to conserving water, Chand baori also became a community gathering place for the Abhaneri locals. The townsfolk used to sit around the step well and cool off during the summer days. At the bottom the well the air is always about 5-6 degrees cooler than at the top.

Close-Chand-Baori

The steps surround the well on three sides while the fourth side has a set of pavilions built one atop another. The side that has the pavilions have niches with beautiful sculptures including religious carvings. There is even a royal residence with rooms for the King and the Queen and a stage for the performing arts.

Steps of Chand Baori

Chand Baori was featured in the movie The Fall and also made a small appearance in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises.

Water inside well

The well is now a treasure managed by the Archeological Survey of India.

chand-baori-wall-figures

chand-baori-cleaners

chand-baori-stepwell

Vivid-colors-of-Chand-Baori

Here people live with no doors & locks - Shani Shingnapur

In the modern times where, together with the technology advances, crimes too become more sophisticated and the concerns for more and more security measures gains priority, is it possible to imagine a place where people live in harmony in no-door-no-locks-houses ? It may seem unbelievable but as a matter of fact, true! There is indeed a tiny hamlet where houses and other buildings like shops have no doors, and that place is in the country of countless legends and myths – India.

Way to Shani-Shingnapur

That peculiar place is ‘Shani Shingnapur’, a village located in Maharashtra state about 350 kilometers away from the state capital Mumbai and 60 kilometers from the popular pilgrim place Shirdi.

Shani-Shingnapur Village

In this tiny village consisting of some 400+ families, people’s life literally revolves around the celebrated village temple – Temple of Lord Shani, one of the most sacred abode of Shani (Hindu God of planet Saturn) in the whole country. Before throwing light to this strange village life, it is essential to get some awareness about Lord Shani or Saturn.

Shani-Shingnapur Temple

According to Hindu mythology, the influence period of planet Saturn (‘Shani-Dasa’ in local) is overall a troublesome part in one’s life, generally giving a torrid time. This can vary in length – from 2 years to 20 years – with further variant periods like ‘Kandaka Shani’ (two and half years), ‘Ezhara-Shani’ (seven and half years), etc. To survive this ordeal, appeasing Lord Shani is a must. For that, visiting sacred Shani temples and offering prayers is a common practice. Among the herds of people who seek Lord Shani’s abode, Temple at Shani Shingnapur village holds high significance.

Idol of Lord Shani at Shani-Shingnapur

This is not like a traditional architectural-marvel Indian shrine; but simple to the core – with no roof and doors! An open shrine where a five feet high black stone (which represents Lord Shani) is placed on an uncovered platform. Here very peculiar system of worship is followed… Devotees should take bath first and wear saffron colored cloths. Only men are allowed to go near the idol, women can pray only from a distance. The worship is offered by pouring oil (gingerly oil is supposed to be the favorite offering) over the idol.

Worship at Shani-shinapur temple

Unlike the typical temples, here there is no time limit for worship – it can be done round-the-clock! Village legends state, Lord Shani doesn’t like to be covered and no need for doors either. So a normal temple is not built.

Houses in Shani-Shingnapur

Adhering to the strong belief over the prowess of Shani God, devotes who come to this temple from faraway places go for worship without locking their cars / vehicles. Their belongings are kept unguarded.

In Shani Shingnapur village, people live in houses with no doors for generations! Here one can find only curtains (that is also rare) in the place of doors. The only temporary guard is barriers – that too to keep off stray animals. Here villagers get to their daily routines without bothering about their house’s security or fear of thieves. For them, everything is dedicated to the Lord Shani. The belief is, whoever steals anything from this place will incur the wrath of Shani God and will have to pay for his/her sins very dearly. When Shani Shingnapur natives go outside their village, they don’t ask their neighbors to keep vigil on their house & belongings. There is no Police station in this village too. They have no role here!

A house in Shani-Shingnapur Village

Furnitures like cupboards were strange to the village folk for quite a long time. Nowadays few cupboards started appearing in some houses, but they too are without locks! Recently a Bank started functioning in Shani Shingnapur. Staying true to this village custom, this Bank too has no doors or locks. However the bank authorities don’t keep the cash here at night (that is taken to their nearby branch after working hours).

Hut in Shani-Shingnapur

This fairy-tale-like village has its own share of controversies as well. Few months back a theft has been reported, which the majority folk swore as the very first one in the village’s history. But villagers faith remained unshaken – no official complaint was made and police investigation was not sought. All folks, in unison, believe the thief will be bought to book by the sheer power of Lord Shani – sooner or later. On the contrary, some critics question this, stating that several thefts were made during the last one year but the blind faith of villagers hushed up those issues. And, moreover this sort of staunch belief is not genuine but sort of a brand building for the village, as the peoples lives are largely dependent from the fortunes of the Temple. Though the situation goes like this, the number of devotees to Shani Shingnapur temple is always on the rise.

Market in Shani-Shingnapur

Whether this is a blind belief or a brand building process, or, will Lord Shani’s punishment will ultimately befall on the thieves who committed the so-called first crime … only time can tell. So far interesting legends thrive on !

Leh’s Magnetic Hill

At an altitude of 14,000 feet, there is a place in Leh which gives new meaning to the phrase “magnetic attraction.” In this famous spot you will find the usual laws of gravity are defied by a strange phenomenon.

Magnetic Hill Leh

Switch off your vehicle and you will find it moving up the hill at the speed of 20 km per hour. Many tourists are drawn to (pardon the pun) this destination to observe this rare and natural occurrence. The magnetic pull here is so strong that even small aircrafts get adversely affected by it, if they closer than the distance specified.

Ladakh Landscape

To reach the spot, it is ideal to drive along the Leh – Kargil Baltic National Highway.

Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir , the northernmost state of the Republic of India.

How to Cross Roads in India

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For all the greenhorns out there in the vast blue yonder, this is the secret which may save your life. Not!.

The chicken crossed the road to get to the other side, but can you?

No amount of reading or even practising in your own country will prepare you for first real test and proof that there is indeed a God who will not let a sparrow fall (unless it’s mean’t to roasted and eaten). Notice the large number of fellow countrymen who turn spiritual upon returning from India. You think that was because of the effect of all the Swamis, Yogis et al. Nahhh, think again. They’re spiritual exactly because God showed them how easy he could have made them a pancake in an Indian road.

So here then are the observations, rules and methods of crossing the road.

“No amount of reading or even practising in your own country will prepare you for first real test.”

You will see a zebra crossing, ignore that. You might see a traffic light which may or may not work (power cut, sorry) AND you might see a traffic cop who may or may not be on the job. You may also see dividers, cat eyes and their ilk.

• Rule 1: Do not under any circumstance go stand under the lights, wait for it to turn green and then use the striped markings to guide you to cross the road. Did you see anyone else do it? No, right? So, why did you? I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO IT, DIDN’T I? That marks you as a newbie tourist fit to be mobbed by all the hawkers of useless wares.

On busy roads, you will see a cluster of people inching into the traffic like marathon runners before the starting gun. Join them. It does not matter which side of the road you want to cross, a higher intelligence decides that.

• Rule 2: In a group, you’re harder to get run over, so join them EVEN if you don’t want to cross a road.

Occassionally you might be dumbstruck to see a man, his wife with a kid in her arms in the middle of a 2/3 lane busy road, trying to cross. Watch them carefully, see how they cross. watch them lean into, walk a few steps up the road, then across, then up again till they reach the divider.

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