At the edge of the Thar desert, the area sees torrential seasonal monsoons, and then watches the water disappear almost immediately.With summers routinely over 100 degrees, and silty soil that would not hold water in ponds, a practical solution was needed It is estimated that over 3,000 stepwells were built in the two northern states. Chand Baori is among the largest, if not the largest, of the stepwells. It is also perhaps the most visually spectacular.