Rani ki Vav: A Stepwell in Gujarat with Unmatched Architectural Grandeur
Are you planning a trip to Gujarat
this holiday season? Then keep aside a day to explore this UNESCO World
Heritage Site which is counted among the Must-visit weekend getways from
Ahmedabad. We have curated every bit of information you should know about Rani ki
Vav, such as its history, architecture, timings, and other interesting and
lesser-known facts.
Rani ki Vav Information:
|
Location |
Patan |
|
Distance from Major Cities |
Gandhinagar (110 km); Ahmedabad (125 km);
Vadodara (235 km); Surat (390 km) |
|
Timings |
8:00 am to 6:00 pm; every day |
|
Entry Fee |
₹ 15 for Indians; ₹ 200 for foreigners |
|
Status |
UNESCO World Heritage Site |
|
Nearest Railway Station |
Mehsana Junction |
|
Nearest Airport |
Ahmedabad |
|
Commissioned by |
Rani Udayamati |
|
Year of Establishment |
1063 |
|
Architectural Style |
Maru-Gurjara style |
|
Dimensions |
64 meters (length) x 20 meters (width) x 27
meters (depth) |
|
Best Time to Visit |
Between October to March |
Rani ki Vav traces its origins back to the 11th century when the Chalukya
Dynasty was in power. The popular assumption is that the well was commissioned
in 1063 by Rani Udayamati for her husband Raja Bhimdev I. A collection of
semi-historical Sanskrit narratives named Prabandha Chintamani, compiled in the 14th century, has references to the
queen building this memorial for her beloved husband.
As years passed, the River Saraswati changed its course and this stepwell
was extensively damaged and silted by floods. Due to repetitive floods and
river deposits, this massive structure received little attention and was almost
buried under the sand. In the late 1980s, the Archaeological Survey of India
started excavations on the site, desilting and restoring the structure to its
present form.
Rani ki Vav Architecture
Constructed in the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, this east-facing
memorial is spread over 12 acres of land. Rani ki Vav is 64 meters long, 20
meters wide and 27 meters deep, and is designed like an inverted temple. That
is, the structure begins from the ground level with steps leading to the bottom
of the deep well below. In addition to steps, there are supplementary
staircases that can be used to reach the lower stories. The draw well is
situated in the extreme west of the structure. Needless to say, Rani ki Vav
shows mastery of complex techniques and a great display of details and proportion.
The well has seven stories, each featuring sculptures of spellbinding
artistic quality. You can see a combination of religious, mythological, and
secular imageries in the 500 plus main sculptures and several minor ones. There
are around 226 pillars in this stepwell that remain intact even after the
repetitive floods. The corridors, pavilions, and pillars are intricately carved
with the figures of Hindu deities, gods and apsaras or celestial dancers. The
carving of Sheshashayi Vishnu, where he is seen as reclining on a serpent with
thousand hoods, is one of the key attractions to check out.
Lesser Known Facts
about Rani ki Vav
- In the Indian Sanitation
Conference (INDOSAN) of 2016, Rani ki Vav was awarded the title “Cleanest
Iconic Place”.
- The new ₹100 note features
the structure on its rear side.
- Under the last step of the
well, there is a gate that opens to a 30-meter long tunnel which leads to
a town near Patan called Sidhpur. It is said that this tunnel was used as
a secret passage to escape during wars or invasions.
- There used to a lot of
medicinal plants in and around the well. It is believed that the water in
the well has medicinal properties and can cure diseases and ailments.
Attractions near Rani ki Vav
- Patan City Museum (450 m)
- Patan Patola Heritage (500
m)
- Karandiyaveer Temple (750
m)
- Sahastralinga Talav (850
m)
- Panchmukhi Hanuman (3.4
km)
- Khan Sarovar (3.8 km)
This marvelous memorial truly projects the quality
of workmanship that survived the test of time. So, when you visit Gujarat, take
a short trip to Rani ki Vav and pay tribute to two things – the undying love
Rani Udayamati had for her husband and the unmatched techniques used in the
construction of the well. And don’t leave Patan without buying the iconic
patola saree the town is famous for.
Address:
