Rani ji ki baori: Bundi’s 325-year-old stepwell that stores water even today

Bundi, the quaint town in the Hadoti region of Rajasthan, is no stranger to droughts. People have always depended on rivers, wells, lakes and stepwells for water. To ensure water supply to residents around the year, the royals built over 50 stepwells or baoris in Bundi in the bygone ages. 

Among them, Rani ji ki Baori stands out for being one of the largest and most intricate stepwells for water conservation. It has a series of steps that lead down to the water source, allowing people to access water during dry seasons.

Nearly 325 years after it was constructed, Raniji ki Baori is a storehouse of water even today. It was built in 1699 by Rani Nathavati Ji Solanki with the aim of alleviating the water scarcity in Bundi during a time of famine. 

The stepwell also features a pillared hall (pavilion) with beautifully carved pillars and arches. It was used as a resting place for visitors and a venue for cultural and social events of the community. The pavilion is adorned with frescoes depicting scenes from Hindu mythology and Rajput history.

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The baori’s legend and architecture

Rani Nathavati Ji Solanki, the queen of King Rao Raja Anirudh Singh, oversaw the construction of this architectural marvel, which was named in her honour. 

Legend has it that the king’s first queen was unable to conceive, and when Rani Nathavati bore a son, she made the ultimate sacrifice by giving the child to the first queen for upbringing. To cope with her loss, Rani Nathavati devoted herself to public welfare, creating this iconic stepwell and others.

This three-story structure features an ornately decorated gateway known as ‘toran’. The high-arched entrance is adorned with murals, sculptures of deities, and carved stone brackets. 

Its elaborate mural-adorned walls showcase Bundi’s traditional art and reflect the grandeur of Rajasthan.

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Each of the three levels has a temple. Visitors enter through a narrow doorway marked by intricately carved pillars, where lifelike stone elephants guard the corners. These elephants with trunks turned inward appear to be drinking water from the stepwell. 

Raniji ki Baori embodies the opulence of Hindu Rajput architecture and is devoid of any Islamic influence. The walls of the stepwell feature temple-like designs, with carvings of Hindu gods such as Lord Vishnu’s avatars -- Varaha, Matsya, and Narsingh -- alongside Ganesha, Saraswati, and Gajendra Moksh. Unfortunately, some of these intricate artworks were damaged during invasions by Turkish forces.

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The inscriptions at the baori’s entrance detail the lineage of the Hada rulers of Bundi. The structure is under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Strict measures ensure the preservation of this historical treasure. Raniji ki Baori remains a testament to Rajasthan’s rich history and architectural prowess, drawing visitors to admire its timeless beauty and intricate design.

Also Read: Five stepwells that supplied water to Delhi for centuries

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