Best Stepwells in India?

I have recently become very interested in some of the Indian stepwells I have seen in films and really would love to visit one of these amazing places.

However, I have two questions:

1. Any recommendations on which stepwell is a must see and the best time of the year to go there? (we are planning a long trip to india and could easily squeeze it into our trip)

2. From some of the online videos I have seen it seems that most of the popular wells have some kind of metal railing at the top. Does that mean public/ tourists are not allowed to step down into the well? I would really like to know about one where you can actually go to the bottom... THAT WOULD BE SOOO AMAZING!!!

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I hope these links helps:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepwell
http://smoont.com/the-deepest-step-well-in-the-world/
http://indianjourneys.wordpress.com/...ls-of-gujarat/

Also, remember seeing a feature on Stepwells in the National Geographic magazine a few months ago.

There are many Stepwells in Rajasthan as well as Gujarat. In Rajsthan they are called Bawdi or Bawli and in Gujarat they are called Vav.

Without doubt the best stepwel would be Abhaneri Stepwell in Rajasthan. Great Geometrical pattern of steps. Rajasthan has some other stepwells too like Rani ki Bawdi in Bundi, a small stepwell in Neemrana.

Adlaj Vav is a big Vav near Ahmedabad. One Dada Hari Vav is in the city of Ahmedabad itself. On Baroda-Champaner road there is a stepwell with circular steps.

Another famous Vav in Gujarat is Rani ki Vav, Patan, it is heavily decorated. Junagadh also has a very ancient Vav, it's devoid of any decorations, but it sort of pre historic kind of thing as it has been hewn into the rock.

And last but not the least Delhi also has it's share of Stepwells, the most prominent being Agrasen ki Bawli at Connaught Place and Mehrauli has Gandhak ki Bawli. One Bawli no longer exists but it's name has been immortalized in history, as the area now houses the famous spices and dry fruit whole sale market of Delhi. No prizes for guessing the name.... Khari Bawli (Hard Water Stepwell).

delhiwala's advice is very, very good.

There are a couple of other interesting options we've bumbled across.

The town of Bundi in Rajasthan is pitted with stepwells. The most important, I think, are Raniji-ki-Baori (which delhiwala mentioned, a broad run of stairs straight down to the water, though you'll be stopped several feet short of the pool itself) and Dhabai Kund (which is rectangular, with concentric descending levels, plus a nice pavilion in the middle of one long side). There are many many others scattered through town, waiting to be discovered. Most are gloriously neglected, with a considerable layer of trash on the water, the steps spattered with pigeon guano and bat droppings - a splendid romantic adventure. The town of Bundi has other charms, too, and is an excellent place for a few days' peace and quiet in the middle of a busy trip.

Junagadh in Gujarat is another town worth a visit, partly for the Mahabat Maqbara (Google it) and for the fort, where there are two stepwells. The more famous is Adi Chadi Vav, another enormous staircase down to water (and you can get all the way there). Less known but perhaps more interesting is Naghan Kuva, an 11th Century excavation through rock down-down-down to water, regarded as a prototype of stepwells. Compared to the ornate and developed extravagances of, say, Rani-ki-Vav, really does look positively prehistoric.

Finally, if you're in the mood to splurge, you can stay in the Royal Oasis at Wankaner (pronounce it Vankaner – if you pronounce it the other way, schoolboys snigger). This heritage hotel was built as the guesthouse for the Maharajah Pratap Singh, whose descendant, HH Digvijay Sinh, still occupies nearby Ranjitvilas Palace. On the grounds of the hotel is the last stepwell built in India, the only one in the 20th Century. You can easily get to the water here. In fact my wife paraded downstairs boldly and accidentally right into a foot of very clear water!

If you click on the blue arrows in the quotes below, you'll get to see photos of this last stepwell, and there's one photo of it at the bottom of this post.

In addition to the above, see also this article from Archaeology magazine Gujarat Stepwells and click on the slideshow for Islamic Stepwells of Gujarat in the left column.

distaff

Apart from all these great stepwells there is also the ruined one build during the Indus civilization in Dholavira. It is part of a Wikipedia article

Abhaneri (off Jaipur but technically in dausa district) is where they shot Paheli (Rani Mukherji danced on those very steps) - so if it's the stuff seen in movies that you'd like to see, Abhaneri is a must visit. Sadly, there's little else around and sometimes the water is covered in ugly duckweed. You can go all the way down though. Combine it with a visit to Bhangarh (the supposedly haunted city) - no stepwell there though.

Arora, just to say thank you for starting this thread, I'm a total stepwell fan.
We've used Google maps to find step wells in areas where we aren't sure of exact location e.g. in Mehrauli (Delhi - nb there is more than one here) and Bundi.

The above captures the best, but in case it fits with other travels: we've also come across one in each of Neemrana, Lucknow and Hampi.

i know one near Satara in village Limb. near to Pune - Banglore highway. maximum 2 hours from Pune.

Don't forget the baolis of Haryana & Punjab.

Many of these were constructed purely for utilitarian purposes & hence, unlike the more elaborately carved stepwells of Gujarat, served no religious purpose at all.

Still they are all fascinating in their own right & as many are fast deteriorating - should be explored more sooner than later.

I've attached a useful location map for the more intrepid traveler - it appeared as a part of a September 1999 article in Marg Magazine entitled "Baolis of Punjab and Haryana" by Subash Paribar Pages 59-74. An excellent read if you can find a back copy.