Step Wells of Bundi !!!

City of Step Wells !!!
Step wells are the charismatic works of architecture are becoming as upcoming tourist spots. These stepwells that have been maintained wholeheartedly by the people of the city, with designs of leaves, flower, birds and other scintillating ornaments on the walls, are sure to transport you into the realm bygone. So come prepared to get fascinated. There are numerous wells in Bundi and each has its own unique design and architectural excellence. Bundi could be called the city of arts or kala-dham since everything in Bundi has charm to attract the viewer. It is the birth-place of many eminent scholars, painters and poets. Bundi is better known as Small Varanasi (Mini-Kashi) because of its traditional atmosphere, its arts, its culture and rich religious background. Besides, the very number of its step wells and their dream like beauty are sufficient to name it as the city of wells or step wells. Every step well is an architectural wonder in itself. No other step well in Bundi are alike except the Nagar Sagar. No doubt, nature has bestowed its charms on Bundi and green hills have provided it a green cover but the rulers of Bundi have made it more beautiful by constructing at every step either a beautiful lake, tank or a step-well. This was done probably, because they thought that Bundi must reflect its charms in the waters or it should mirror its charms on the waves of Naval Sagar Lake, with the added charm of lotus flowers.

In olden times, there were no taps and the only source of drinking water were the tanks, lakes and step-wells or wells. In those days, women with pots or pitchers on their heads used to walk kilometers to fetch water, these well were the ideal meeting place and hangout zones for the villagers. The step wells were full of life and were places vibrating with beauty and charm. That was the time when women folk were nicely dressed up in their colorful attires adorned with silver blockades and the men folk with their colorful turbans use to hang around the step well to have a glance of their beloved.



Showcase of Art and Architecture !!!
Panghats or wells and step-wells expressing the very attitude to aesthetics of Indian life, are examples of what art and architecture meant for the simple folk. The step wells of Bundi have decorative designs and symbolize the refined taste of the people of the time. Every step well has maintained the religious tradition of having Lord Ganesha on one side and Saraswati on the other. The step wells of Bundi reflect in their waters the philosophical and aesthetic attitude of the Indian society in general and of the people of Bundi in particular. One comes across ornamental doors and fine sculptures of a substantial height on both sides on the walls. These sculptures include ten Avatars and Navgrahs besides the Goddess of learning Saraswati and Lord Ganesha. Providing water to a thirsty-person, was a pious duty and it was considered to be a religious act in those days. Symbolically this has been represented in sculptures in the Rani-Ji-ki-Baoris, where a woman is shown pouring water from the pitcher to a thirsty-person. The step wells is richly ornamented which leads to an atmosphere of beauty and serenity. It has big Chhatris over the doors.

The Gallery of Old and Famous Step Wells !!!
One of the finest step wells in Bundi, is the Rani-ji-ki Baori, situated in the heart of the city. The credit goes to the love and devotion of Nathawatji, the queen of Rao Raja Anirudh Singh of Bundi for getting such beautiful step-wells constructed. She nearly constructed 20 step-wells as a whole. This beautiful Rani-ji-ki- Baori was built in the year 1699 with 40 feet in width and 200 feet in depth. Another most fabulous source of water for people in Bundi is Bawadi, just 200 steps from Ran-Ji-Ki-Baori takes you down to the water source. In the middle of the Bawadi there are decorated doors which have mehrabs of 30 feet height. The water is crystal clear and the atmosphere is clean. Gulla-ki-Bawadi or Gulab-Bawadi is also famous for its crystal clear water. It used to attract a large number of women in the olden days. It is unique in its charm and design for it has a hairpin curve in its design. Beside this one can visit Nagar-Sagar, located outside the Chogan Gate to the old city. It consists of two big bawadies or a pair of Bawadies with the same architectural design. These are also in the centre of the city and have a square design. Over four hundred step-wells are there in the two bawadies. Even the Nawal Sagar is one of the famous artificial lake, visible from the Taragarh Fort. This beautiful artificial lake mirrors the beauty of the forts and the city, when it is full with water. In the lake, a dazzling step well was built during the reign of Rao Raja Umaid Singh in the year 1820. Do visit the old and famous step wells of Bundi, which are of immense popularity and worth visiting.