Photo 1009/6(1611)

Genre: Architectural Photography

View of interior side walls of the Chaumukhi Stepwell at Chobari: 'The village of Chaubari is situated about 4 miles north-east of Anandapur. here there are several remains of interest—a large multilateral tank, two old kundas or wells, and a small shrine in the village. The tank is situated a short distance to the south of the village, upon the east side of which a flight of steps or a ghat, leads down to the water when there is any in it: it was dry at the time of our visit. In the centre of the tank is a mound or island. Between it and the steps, and facing the latter, is a small old shrine intended to stand in the water of the tank. It seems to have been a Vaishnava one, a broken image of Seshasayi lying within it, and Varaha occupying niches without ...The principal kunda is a four-sided well with a flight of steps leading down through each of its four sides. The well appears to have been roofed over and probably had a domical ceiling. Upon its four walls still stand the marginal pillars and beams with a sculptured parapet running round beneath the pillars. A conspicuous string course of sacred geese runs round beneath the parapet wall' (Progress Report of the Archaeological Survey of Western India, for the year ending 30th June 1899, p. 6).

The unusual design of this stepwell is noted by Morna Livingston: 'Three known wells used above-ground rather than in-ground pavilions. One is the enchanting Chaumukhi Stepwell built around A. D. 1000 at Chobari in Saurashtra. Now but a remnant of its former self, it was a unique cross-shaped well with four flights leading from the cardinal directions to meet the four edges of a square pool. It is the only know well that meets the criteria given in the shashtras of a 'four-entranced well.' A covered walkway—now missing—formed a railed and roofed balcony over the pool where pilgrims came to bathe. On all four sides benches with carved backrests allowed the users to lean back over the water ... The ruin of the Chaumukhi Stepwell was a loss to architectural history, as no other well appears to have had quite the same design of open pavilions. The unique structure above the pool is now known from the stones around the well, as well as a photograph taken before it collapsed [i.e this image]' (Morna Livingston, 'Steps to Water. The Ancient Stepwells of India, Princeton Architectural Press, New York, 2002, p. 55).