World's Oldest and Deepest Stepwell

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chand_Baori

Org
http://www.chandbaori.org/

Tube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Chand+Baori 

Slides
http://www.slideshare.net/search/slideshow?searchfrom=header&q=Chand+Baori

Top 10
http://www.triphobo.com/blog/stepwells-in-india

Wells
http://www.atlasobscura.com/categories/wells

Trip
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Tourism-g2322083-Abhaneri_Rajasthan-Vacations.html

Story

In 1499 the area then known as Dandai Desh was brutally sacked and the ruler killed, leaving behind a beautiful young queen. The conquering king, a neighboring Muslim ruler named Mohammed Begda, fell in love with the bereaved queen, who demanded he complete the stepwell her husband had started if he wanted her hand in marriage. He agreed, and set to work building the most beautiful well, five stories deep, adding intricate carvings of 

1. leaves, 
2. flowers, 
3. fish, and 
4. animals 

in a blend of 

1. Islamic architecture and 
2. Hindu symbolism.

When the well was complete except for the crowning dome, Begda presented his work, and asked the queen to honor her promise. She inspected his work, walked around the beautiful well, said a prayer, and threw herself into the depths.

Nearby are the graves of six masons who worked on the construction. Legend holds that when the stone carvers were asked by ther proud patron whether they might be able to build another well so beautiful, their answer of "yes" sealed their fate.

A new appreciation for these wells come both from renewed cultural and architectural pride, but also in realizing that the ancient system of holding water still makes a lot of sense.