Chand Baori, Abhaneri

We were testing our new car for a long drive and decided to go for Abhaneri which is about 200km from our home in Gurgaon. Google Maps suggested we go via Nuh towards Alwar. We followed. It was a mistake. It took us a good part of morning and afternoon to just figure out where we can get on track. Now with Delhi - Mumbai Expressway open, it takes less than three hours.

Chand Baori, Abhaneri

We reached Abhaneri somehow and went straight for the stepwells. The Chand Baori Complex is well maintained but also well restrained. The area where you can venture is extremely limited. The step well itself is a strict no no. The grand tiered structure against the step well is also off limits. That meant we were just allowed to circumnavigate the well.

Step well structure is barricaded @ Chand Baori

We did that in matter of minutes. The step well is the largest in the world and part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. There were some intricately carved stones kept at the periphery which we admired. We complained about restricted areas to the security staff and left.

Carved rocks at the periphery

There is an old temple adjacent to Baori complex. We went there next. It’s built on a large and high platform. What was surprising was that around the modest temple those intricately carved stones we had seen at Baori were just strewn around. They must have significant value.

Adjacent temple on high platform

Our return was as big an ordeal as our forward journey. This time we took the Tijara route where doe to some construction and traffic it took us more than three hours to just cross the city of Rewari. We reached home late at night promising ourselves we will not go in that direction again.