Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
The little village of Patan in the Indian state of Gujarat, on the banks of the Saraswati River, is home to a one-of-a-kind water storage system known as the Rani-Ki-Vav (or “Queen’s Stepwell“). Rani ka Vav is the largest and most impressive stepwell in Gujarat, and a prime example of the Maru-Gujarat architectural style. Furthermore, Rani Ka Vav was a popular spot for folks to socialize as well as seek relief from the heat. This is a wonderful illustration of the transformation of a practical object into an aesthetic one. The 900-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site is featured on the new Indian 100 note.
Located on the banks of the Saraswati River, Rani-ki-Vav was first built as a memorial to a king in the eleventh century. Rani-ki-Vav, with its exquisite symmetry, proportion, and attention to detail, exemplifies the Maru-Gurjara architectural style and stepwell construction expertise of its time. Designed to highlight the sacredness of water, this inverted temple features over 500 major sculptures and over a thousand minor sculptures that combine religious, mythical, and secular themes, often making literary allusions.
Facts about Rani ki Vav
1. It’s referred to as the “queen stepwell”-
Rani Udayamati, a queen in her own right, had Rani-Ki-Vav constructed in the 11th century in honor of her late husband, Bhima I of the Solanki Dynasty. The stepwell became known as the queen’s stepwell because it represented the queen’s devotion.
Some claim that the queen of Udayamati thought up the plan so that she might help the poor by supplying them with water.
2. The design aesthetic of the stepwell’s structure-
In order to build the Rani-ki-vav, Maru-Gurjara architecture was utilised. The Rani-ki-stepped vav’s passageways and multi-story pavilions are essential components of the stepwell’s overall design. The stepwell starts out at ground level and gradually drops down via a number of levels to the deep well that is located below. The elaborate side walls of this stepwell are the structure’s most striking feature, as they feature detailed sculptures depicting religious, mythical, and cultural figures from the era to which the stepwell belongs. Thousands upon thousands of massive statues honor the Rani-ki-vav, a testament to the skill and ingenuity of ancient Indian craftspeople.
3. Development of the Rani Ki Vav-
Udayamati, Bhimdev’s widow, and their son Karandev built Rani-ki vav (roughly “Queen’s stepwell“) following Bhimdev’s death in 1063. Essentially an inverted temple with a reservoir of water at its base, the stepwell served both religious and practical purposes in ancient times.The intention behind this layout was to highlight the sacredness of water as a source of life. You can locate the 64-meter-long, 20-meter-wide, 27-meter-deep stepwell in the city’s eastern quadrant. Because of its exceptional significance to humanity as a whole, UNESCO in 2014 designated the Rani-ki Vav as a World Heritage Site.
4. It serves as a site for Hindu rituals-
India is a country whose religions are well-known. If you visit India, you will certainly encounter members of four major faiths. Most Indians adhere to Hinduism, however the other major religions in India are also present (Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism). Thus, on the third floor of Rani Ki Vav, you’ll find a terrace wall with ten statues of Vishnu in various guises. This demonstrates the significance of the stepwell as a sacred site for Hindus, transforming it into a temple of sorts beneath the ground.
5. Recognized as the “Most Spotless Iconic Location”-
Rani Ki Vav beat off 10 other iconic landmarks from across the nation to win the prize for being the most sanitary iconic location at the Indian Sanitation Conference (INDOCIN), 2016, held at Vigyan Bhavna in New Delhi. The ASI is responsible for the upkeep of the monument and the area around it. Clean water for drinking and modern restrooms are provided for visitors.
Before presenting the award to Rani Ki Vav, officials from the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation visited ten other heritage monuments across the country.
The Background of Rani ki Vav
It was the Chaulukya dynasty that commissioned the building of Rani ki Vav. Its location means it is right on the banks of the Saraswati. Merutunga, a Jain monk who wrote the Prabandha-Chintamani in 1304, says Udayamati, daughter of Naravaraha Khengara, built this exquisite stepwell at Shripattana (Patan), surpassing the Sahastralinga Tank’s magnificence.
According to the legend, the stepwell was commissioned in 1063 and completed twenty years later. Bhima I (1022-1064) probably started it for queen Udayamati, a widow at the time. Udayamati and Karna rebuilt it after he past away. Similar buildings to the Vimalavasahi temple on Mount Abu, also built in 1032, led the official to use that year. Architecturally, it resembles an upside-down temple with seven stories that celebrate the sacredness of water. About 800 finely carved statues on pillars, chiefly of Lord Vishnu, give Rani Ki Vav a second fame as a tourist destination.
The 1304 AD work “Prabandha Chintamani” by Merunga Suri has a reference to Udayamati’s construction of the monument. The Saraswati River, which was nearby until the 1980s, later buried the vav. In that time, researchers from the Archaeological Survey of India uncovered it together with its carvings. One of the most impressive historical relics from Patan, the ancient capital, is the Rani ki Vav stepwell.
In what year did Rani ki vav float?
Because of the geotectonic shifts that occurred in the 13th century that resulted in a huge flood and the loss of the Saraswati River, the stepwell eventually stopped serving its original purpose as a water well. First and foremost, it covered the property with multiple layers of dirt and left it buried for seven centuries. Silt carried by the flood that came from this historic event was largely responsible for the exceptional preservation of Rani-ki-Vav until its discovery a little less than 30 years ago.
How long did Rani ki Vav remain secret?
In point of fact, this Maru-Gurjar-style seven-story Vav is indicative of that style of architecture. When the Saraswati River dried up for 700 years, it was buried in Gad. The Archaeological Department of India made a recent discovery and subsequent cleaning of the site. At this time, there are also a significant number of people that come here to wander. Underneath this well-known stairway, legend has it, lies a little gate leading to a tunnel of 30 kilometers in length. By traveling to Patan’s Siddhpur, this tunnel opens. During wartime, the king and his family used this information tunnel to escape. Due to the presence of stones and muck, this tunnel is currently inaccessible.
We know the best routes
Routes to take to get to Rani ki Vav
By Car
Patan, which is in the state of Gujarat, is the location of Rani Ki Vav. The city of Ahmedabad, which is 127 kilometers distant, is a popular starting point for a day excursion to this destination. Between the two cities of Ahmedabad and Patan, there are a number of buses and cars that have been rented. From Ahmedabad, the following is a detailed road route that would take you to Rani ki Vav in Patan.
By Train
Rani ki Vav is the railhead that is the closest to Rani ki Vav, and it is located 55 kilometers away. From Mehsana, you can get to Patan by taking a bus, a taxi, or both. It takes approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete.
By Flight
At a distance of 123 kilometers, the airport in Ahmedabad is the one that is most convenient for travelers to use when visiting Rani ki Vav. From the airport, you can take a bus or a taxi to Rani ki Vav. Both options are available.
