Rani ki Vav is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is step-well with intricate works at Patan in Gujarat state, India.
Rani-ki-vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
Rani-ki-Vav means the Queen’s Stepwell. Rani in the Hindi Language, means Queen and Vav means well. Step-well is on the banks of River Saraswati. The Queen built it in memory of King Bhima (r. c. 1022-1064), the Solanki dynasty ruler. The step-well is constructed in the Maru-Gurjara style of architecture and is different from other water storage or water resource conservation systems. There are seven levels of steps leading to the wells. There is an inverted temple inside the Step-well. There are more than 800 sculptures among the seven galleries inside the well.
The construction of the step-well is believed to have been started by widowed queen Udayamati. The step-well flooded over time and was excavated and restored by the Archaeological Survey of India in the ’80s. The well is not in its original condition. You can see some ruined structures along with some other parts which are still in pristine condition.
The well is 64 meters in length, 20 meters in width, and 27 meters deep. There is a small gate with an underground tunnel connecting the well to the town of Sidhpur, at 30 30-kilometer distance. The tunnel is currently blocked with silt, mud, and stones. The tunnel seems to be the escape route for the kings, during the worst times of facing defeat.
The Step-wells hold considerable spiritual significance. Lord Vishnu is depicted in different forms (Lord Vishnu Avatars) as a sculpture on the step wall. When you reach the water level at the bottom, you can see Lord Vishnu carving in a reclined posture on a Shesha, a thousand-hooded serpent. This posture means that Lord Vishnu is resting in the infinity between ages. The other avatars of Lord Vishnu can be seen at the upper levels.
In earlier days, these types of wells were also used as a place for socializing rather than just collecting water or as a place of religious importance.
Rani ki Vav bagged the title Cleanest Iconic Place in October 2016 at the Indian Sanitation Conference, held in New Delhi.
Param Vir Chakra and Rani ki Vav
The Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration, has the wording “Rani ki Vav” written. The late Savitri Khanolkar designed this decoration. She was the wife of an Indian Army officer, Late Vikram Khanolkar of the Sikh Regiment.
How Do I Go to Rani-ki-Vav?
Patan town where Rani-ki-Vav is situated is at a distance of around 110 kilometers from Ahmedabad, the Textile capital of India, and also the capital of the state of Gujarat.
There is a railway station and bus station at Patan, and it is well connected by roads to other parts of the state. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad is the nearest airport to the Queen’s Stepwell.
