Chand Baori

Chand Baori is one of India's many stepwells, ancient structures used to harvest rainwater for dryer months. Today, it's protected by the government's Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and although it's no longer in use, water does still collect at the bottom during the monsoon. Most people visit Chand Baori en route between the Taj Majal and Jaipur or as part of a sightseeing tour from Jaipur.

• Chand Baori is a must-visit for anyone interested in architecture or sustainability, as well as for photographers wanting to take some memorable shots.

• Visitors can look into the well from the top, but descending into it is prohibited.

• Chand Baori is wheelchair accessible, though wheelchair users might need a little assistance from their guide or a companion in some areas.

Chand Baori is situated just off Highway 21, the road that connects Jaipur and Agra. Many people visit as a stopover between the two cities or as a day trip from Jaipur, a 2-hour drive away. The easiest way to visit is by hiring a taxi or coming as part of a tour.

The best time to visit Chand Baori is between October and March, when the weather is at its most pleasant. May and June can be unbearably hot. While Chand Baori doesn't generally get too crowded, you may end up having the place to yourself if you visit first thing in the morning.

Next to the well stands Harshat Mata Temple, dedicated to a local goddess of joy and happiness. The temple is believed to likely have been constructed a little while after Chand Baroi under the auspices of a local king, though there's some debate about who built it and when. The temple was also likely ruined and rebuilt multiple times over the centuries. While it's now managed by the ASI, it's still used as a place of worship.