Rani ki Vav, Patan |
|
The Rani ki Vav, a step well in Patan is
an excellent example of
subterranean architecture in Gujarat and has steps that
lead down to the water level This Vav is
situated about 134 km
north-west of Ahmedabad, and
about 57 km from Mehsana. The Rani ki Vav was built by
Rani Udayamti of the Solanki
dynasty, probably as a
memorial for her husband
Bhimdeva I (1022 - 1063 AD). This Vav
represents the finest of the Indian sculptures and
architecture and forms the
link between a kunda and the
classical step-well. In
addition to the straight
staircase, it also has
lateral staircases, along
with very broad, stepped
corridors.
|
|
|
The entrance of this Vav is situated in
the east and the well in the
west.
The exquisitely carved side
walls, pillars, steps and
platforms lead to the
elaborately carved water
well. Although, this Vav is in
a bad condition, but still
the entrance, the side walls
of the stepped corridor,
some of the mandapas and the
back wall of the well are
still in a perfect
condition. Five lateral,
staggered staircases
attached to the side walls
connect various storeys.
Every surface of the well
and levels are adorned with fine
sculptures of Hindu deities, religious
motifs and geometrical patterns. |
|
The lower most
level has 37 niches with
rudimentary images of Ganesha in the centre
and images of the Sheshashayi Vishnu
on the upper level.
On the upper levels, the
impressive images of Laxmi-Narayana,
Uma-Mahesh, Brahma-Brahmani,
Kubera and Ganesha, with
their respective consorts are also sculpted. On the lower
levels, there are images of
Vishnu’s incarnations and 24
forms but the Kufma and the
Matsya avatars do not find a
place in this Vav. No other Vav in India is so
profusely adorned as the
Rani ki Vav. |
|
|
|
|
|
|