Rani Ki Vav - A Tremendous Example of Indian Architecture

We got curious seeing the very first-time Rani-ki-Vav on a 100 Rupee Indian currency note, although it is famous in Gujarat. This is located in the Patan City of Gujrat, on the bank of the Saraswati River. In the medieval era, Kings of the Rajasthan and Gujrat used to build water reserves in their particular regions for vital access to drinking water by collecting rainwater in such ways. They were both large and small depending on who built them. Mostly they were a necessity at that time. However, sometimes they were built to represent their power and interest in Art as well. The structures were made underground to restore rainwater as much as possible, therefore they are like big ponds.

Thousands of small and big sizes Vav were built to serve the purpose in different regions of Rajasthan and Gujrath mainly. Some of them are Adalaj Vav, Ahmedabad, Gebanshah’s Vav, Champaner, Helical Stepwell, Champaner, Adi-Kadi Vav, Junagadh, Navghan Kuvo, Junagadh.  

   

Rani-ki-Vav is one of them. It was a hidden gem before the 1980s excavation.  It was built in the 11th century BC and was named Rani-ki-Vav (Stepwell of Queen's). In the present time, this stepwell is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its astounding architecture.

History

Going through the sources we find out  "The Vav" was constructed in the 11th century AD, in memory of the late Chaulukya king Bhima I, by his beloved wife Udayamati. Over time of period, this stepwell got disappeared in dense forest, covered by shrubs and dust only the upper part of the pillars were visible back then when a British Archaeologist found it in 1940. Later it was restored by Archaeologist Narayan Vyas in the 1980s.

Mr Vyas shared the memory with a leading newspaper and Said, "I spent seven years of my life restoring the 1000-year-old structure having 1500 magnificent sculptures of nymphs and deities." He used to work barefoot because the stepwell was full of Hindu Gods.

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Architecture

Rani ki Vav is a tremendous example of a stepwell, In India, from the medieval era. 

The structure is made with thousands of carved structures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Similar to Sun Temple, Modhera is also in Gujarat and Mound Abu is in Sirohi, Rajasthan.

It is a seven-levelled stair, which goes down to the deep well. It is around 213 ft long and 65 ft and 92 ft deep. The fourth level is the deepest and goes down to the rectangular well. There are 212 pillars in total, the pillars are the base of the stepwell but the very remarkable part is the sculptures carved on them. The stepwell is full of posts, columns, brackets and beams and nothing is left without carving.

The sculptures were driven from Indian Mythologies, like the Kalki incarnation, Goddess Durga killing Mahishasura, Parashurama incarnation and so on. Also, several Hindu deities like Brahma, Shiva, Devi, Ganesha, Kubera, Surya and Indra are featured on the walls and pillars of the stepwell. Approximately, 500 big sculptures and many smalls are in there.

So, if you take your next trip to Gujarat, don't forget to view this tremendous part of History.