Chand Baori, Abhaneri

This guide to the ninth-century stepped well outside Jaipur opens with the legend of King Chanda, who is said to have summoned a djinn to build it overnight in exchange for his kingdom, and the curse the spirit left on anyone who dared descend its mirrored staircases. It also traces how villagers once followed the receding water level down through the driest months, gathering in the cool air far below the desert heat above. Follow the staircases with your eyes from the rim before you start down, since the pattern is easy to lose once you're inside.