Toorji Ka Jhalra, Jodhpur

Toorji Ka Jhalra, Jodhpur Built in 1740, the Toorji Ka Jhalra, commonly referred to as the Step Fountain of Jodhpur, is an intricate design of a step fountain and one of the few surviving structures depicting the traditional water management of Jodhpur. 

This architectural marvel was built by the Maharaja's queen consort Abhaya Singh, a sign of the region's age-old tradition where royal women were responsible for overseeing the public waterworks. The design and structure help the viewer to recreate the lifestyle of the earlier generations who used it in its heyday, when it served as a local water point.

This 250-year-old structure was built from the famous pink sandstone of Jodhpur. It is more than 200 feet deep and was once decorated with intricate carvings of dancing elephants, mediaeval lions, cow gargoyles and niches depicting various deities. There were two levels of access and a separate tank to hold the water from the wheel system driven by the oxen. The impressive design attracts many tourists and is seen by locals and visitors as a place to enjoy harmless water games to keep the heat away.

Toorji Ka Jhalra, like many other step fountains, was designed to accommodate the fluctuating water table. The structure is designed to provide access to groundwater throughout the year. The architecture includes a series of diverging and converging steps leading to the water table. The entire well is made of red sandstone and is over 200 feet deep. It has two access levels of water and a separate tank at the bottom. The step well originally had a Persian wheel powered by oxen that ran in circles over the platform at the top to draw water.