आमेर स्तेप्वेल्ल

Amer Stepwell - Panna Meena ka Kund - Panna Meena's Pond

Useful Information

photography — Amer Stepwell, Gujarat, India. Public Domain.

Location:	Near Kheri Gate, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302028. (26.9910485, 75.8511522)
Open:	All year daily 7-19. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Stepwell
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	W=25 m, L=25 m, VR=60 m, St=1,800.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Amer Stepwell, Near Kheri Gate, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302028, Tel: +91-141-282-2863.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

16th-century

stepwell constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh.

Description

पन्ना मीणा का कुंड (Panna Meena ka Kund, Panna Meena's Pond) is normally called आमेर स्तेप्वेल्ल (Amer Stepwell) by foreign tourists, the original name is too difficult. The most popular tourist site of Amer is the famous Amber Fort, the nearby stepwell is much less known. However, pictures of the stairs, some with models, are spreading on the internet for their Escher-like quality. So this lately has become an instagram celebrity, many people know the pictures but have no idea what it is and where it is.

This kund works as a cistern, collecting monsoon rainwater and preserving it for use during drier months. There is local lore that it fills during monsoon rains, up to the rim, but that's nonsense. It's probably a memory from old times, the well was used until the stepwells were deemed unhealthy by the British and closed. The locals used it not only as a water source, but also as a bathing pool and also for washing clothes. And the place was used for social meetings and by women to sit and chit-chat with each other. It was out of use for a long time and restored some time ago. Now the level still changes during the year, but as the water is not used any more, neither as drinking water nor for irrigation, the well is not filled as before. The level changes only due to evaporation.

As always, we have a page about stepwells, which explains all the details. However, this is a square-shaped stepwell, with adjoining stairs on all four sides, which is more or less the basic type. There are octagonal pavilions on each corner, which seem to have no purpose, except probably decorative. The stairs have eight stories, with small platforms on each level. In general, the lowest level is flooded by the water of the pool. On the northern wall is a room which was used for religious ceremonies before weddings or on popular festival dates. Located inside the historic, fortified part of the city, it's quite challenging to get there by car. We recommend taking a guided tour with a day trip operator, so its their problem, or walk to the site.