Rani ki Vav

Rani-ki-Vav, on the banks of the Saraswati River, was initially built as a memorial to a king in the 11th century AD. Stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed since the 3rd millennium BC. They evolved over time from what was basically a pit in sandy soil towards elaborate multi-storey works of art and architecture. Rani-ki-Vav was built at the height of craftsmens’ ability in stepwell construction and the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, reflecting mastery of this complex technique and great beauty of detail and proportions. Designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water, it is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels of high artistic quality; more than 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often referencing literary works. The fourth level is the deepest and leads into a rectangular tank 9.5 m by 9.4 m, at a depth of 23 m. The well is located at the westernmost end of the property and consists of a shaft 10 m in diameter and 30 m deep.

Rani Ki Vav history
Known for its unique architectural style, this giant queen’s vav is located in Patan city of Gujarat. Once the capital of Gujarat during the medieval period, Patan today stands as a testimony to the bygone era. Patan was a Garhwali town built during the 8th century by Vanraj Chavda, the king of the Chavda kingdom of Chalukya Rajputs. This grand stepwell was built by Udayamati, wife of Bhimdev, the ruler of the Solanki dynasty, in the 10th-11th century in memory of her late husband. This 7-story stepwell was constructed between 1022 and 1063.

Bhimdev, the ruler and founder of the Solanki dynasty, ruled Vadnagar Gujarat from 1021 to 1063 AD. This historic heritage queen, located about 140 kilometers from Ahmedabad, is considered to be a symbol of love for the queen. It is believed that this unique stepwell was constructed to properly manage the water, as the area received very little rainfall, while according to some folklore, Rani Udayamati aimed to earn merit by providing water to the needy people. Also, the herbs growing on the sides of this monument were used to treat viral fevers, which were fatal diseases at the time. Situated on the banks of river Saraswati, this huge step-step stepwell was buried in the mud and mud debris for almost 700 years due to the flooding in this river, after which the Archaeological Survey of India in this 80s Excavated the place. After a lot of digging, this stepwell came in front of the whole world.

Architecture of Rani Ki Vav
The architectural grandeur and remarkable design of this Vav have often been placed next to the sun temple at Modhera and the Vimala Vashi temple in Mount Abu. It has been classified under the Nanda style of design and consists of several varying levels. The 4th level present here is the deepest one and also consists of a massive rectangular tank. Over all the structure is divided into seven levels along with sets of stairs that lead down to the circular well. Every feature of the Vav including the pillars, brackets, columns etc are finely carved out and elaborately ornamented.

Speaking about sculptures, there are over 500 of them and more than 1000 small sculptures within the stepwell which hold religious, mythological and importance of some literary work. The Vishnu sculptures outnumber every other one here and if one can see over all, the ornamentation is done the way that it represents the whole universe through images of animals, fishes, plants, trees, birds etc. not just this the sculptures here also showcase everyday women going about with their daily activities which gives us a lot of insight about how everyday lifestyle used to go on during that era.

How to Reach:
By Air : The nearest airport from Patan is Ahmedabad, situated at a distance of 125 km from the city. A number of flights fly to and from here, connecting the city with the various parts of Gujarat as well as the country.
By Train : Patan lies on the Western Railway network of the Indian railways. The city is well connected with the rest of the country via a number of trains. There are many express and local trains that operate daily and are perfect for traveling from Ahmedabad to Patan.
By Road : Patan is linked to the rest of the country through a good road network. There is even a good network of National and State Highways connecting the city. The State Transport Corporation runs buses link Patan to all the major cities and towns of Gujarat and other states of the country.