Adalaj Stepwell, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Jul 24, 2025

Not everything majestic stands above ground—some wonders lie beneath. Just a short drive from Gandhinagar in Gujarat, the Adalaj Stepwell is one such marvel, steeped in centuries-old stories that make it one of India"s most enchanting stepwells. Built in 1498, this five-storey-deep stepwell is more than just a rainwater reservoir. According to legend, in the 15th century, Rana Veer Singh of the Vaghela dynasty began constructing a stepwell to relieve his drought-stricken kingdom. Before its completion, he was killed by Mohammed Begda, a neighbouring ruler, who seized control of the region. The Rana"s widow, Rani Roopba, agreed to marry Begda if he completed the stepwell—only to take her own life once it was finished.

© krishh/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A day for cousins of every stripe
On the trail of the Indian eagle-owl
Jul 24, 2024Flock of Swaledale sheep in North Yorkshire, England
Jul 24, 2026National Cousins Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

A 50-year balancing act
Mar 11, 2024Sleeping koala
Apr 16, 2026Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Feb 3, 2024Grand Canal with Santa Maria della Salute Basilica, Venice, Italy
Aug 10, 2025World Lion Day
Apr 8, 2024Burrowing owl chicks
Dec 20, 2025Christmas star lanterns, Germany
Trunks packed for road
Jul 3, 2026Fireflies glowing above a stream, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Jun 3, 2025World Bicycle Day
Apr 2, 2025Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah, United States
Jan 2, 2024Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
Feb 28, 2025Tibetan New Year
Season of light in the City of Light
Tomb of the Golden Pharaoh
An endless stretch of sky
Apr 17, 2025Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
Sep 17, 2025A young bull moose
Jan 13, 2026Hen Galan
Dec 31, 2024New Years Eve in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Huddled and hunting
Why are blackbirds tied to winter?
Aug 30, 2026International Whale Shark Day
Canoeing in solitude
Feb 1, 2026Colourful house in Olinda, Brazil
Jul 21, 2026Santa Catalina Arch, Antigua, Guatemala
Gravity-defying wonders of the world
Feb 4, 2024Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
Sept 21, 2026Sea otter, Monterey Bay, California, United States
King of the jungle? Nope