Bara
Moti chi vihir (well of Bara Moti) is a step well at Limb Village near Satara
in Maharashtra. As per the details on the board mounted at the well, this was
built by Sou. Virubhai Bhosale in 1646 and meant for the water source for the
nearby Mango Plantation. This is around 100 feet deep and 50 feet in diameter. The
overall design of the well is octagonal in shape and it looks like an inverted
shivling.
This
is not like those famed huge step wells but small and beautiful. Almost flat on
the ground, the real beauty will start when you go downstairs of the well. The
downward flight of 20 steps would take you to the lookout gallery. From here
you can have the view of the well and feel the shape of inverted shivling. Two
small gates on each side of this gallery took you to the upper main gallery
that is painted with sharp colors and beautifully carved. It was used by the
local king to sit here and enjoy the cool breeze from well in the summers. The
Balconies at this gallery are beautifully carved and provided good photography
options. From this gallery, you can directly reach out of well by using a
flight of 10 steps.
How
to Reach –There are almost no sign boards at the village. You have to ask
locals for the directions. If you are coming from Pune, cross the Mahabaleshwar
exit on Satara Road and on the way to Satara you will see a big Management
college on your right with name Gourishankar Institute of Management. After
this institute, you will see a board at your left to Limb Village. Don’t take
this, it’s a mud road but instead take the proper tar road just 500 Meter ahead
of this and ask locals to reach the well. We took a separate route as we
clubbed the trip to this well with our Nandgiri visit. While returning from Nandgiri,
we took a shortcut from Badthalmata village. This village is 2 KMs from Vaduth
village on the way to Satara from Vaduth. From Badthalmata bus stand, take a
right to Limb Village and drive straight till 4 KMs and keep asking the locals
for the direction. After visiting the well, you can directly reach the
Satara-Pune Highway through Limb Village.
