Rani ki Vav is a stepwell situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat state of India.

It is located on the
banks of Saraswati river. Popular tradition attributes its construction to Udayamati, the queen of
11th-century Solanki king Bhima I, daughter of Chudasama King Khengara of Junagadh.[1] [2]
Stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on the Indian
subcontinent, and have been constructed since the third millennium BC. Rani ki Vav was built in the
complex Maru-Gurjara architectural style with an inverted temple and seven levels of stairs and
holds more than 500 principal sculptures.[3]
It was added to the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites on 22 June 2014.[4][5]

Contents

 1History
 2Architecture
o 2.1Ornate side walls
 3Depiction
 4See Also
 5Notes
 6Bibliography
 7External links

History[edit]

Inside Rani ki vav.

Rani ki vav, or Ran-ki vav (Queen’s stepwell) was constructed during the rule of the Chaulukya
dynasty. Prabandha-Chintamani, composed by the Jain monk Merutunga in 1304, mentions:
"Udayamati, the daughter of Naravaraha Khangara, built this novel stepwell at Shripattana (Patan)
surpassing the glory of the Sahastralinga Tank". According to it, the stepwell was commissioned in
1063 and was completed after 20 years. It is generally assumed that it was built in the memory
of Bhima I (r. c. 1022–1064) by his queen Udayamati and probably completed by Udayamati
and Karna after his death but the view, whether she was a widow when she commissioned it, is
disputed.[2][6] Commissariat puts the date of construction to 1032 based on the architecture similar
to Vimalavasahi temple on Mount Abu built in the same year.[7]
The stepwell was later completely flooded by the nearby Saraswati river and silted over. In 1940s,
the excavations carried out under the Baroda State revealed the stepwell. In 1986, the major
excavation and restoration was carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India. An image of
Udayamati was also recovered during the excavation. The restoration was carried out from 1981 to
1987.[8][7]
It was added to the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites on 22 June 2014.[4][5]
Rani ki Vav was named India's "Cleanest Iconic Place" at the 2016 Indian Sanitation Conference.[9]

Architecture[edit]
Rani ki vav is considered as the finest and one of the largest example of the stepwell architecture in
Gujarat.[7] The architecture and sculptures is similar to the Vimalavasahi temple on Mount
Abu and Sun temple at Modhera.[7]
The seven-storeyed stepwell consists columnades and walls which lead down to deep circular well.
It is classified as a Nanda-type stepwell. The entrance is located on the east and the well is on the
west. It measures approximately 65 m long, 20 m wide and 28 m deep.[7]
A stepped corridor is compartmented at regular intervals with pillared multistory pavilions.[citation
needed]
The pillars, columns, brackets and beams are ornamented with carvings and scroll work. The
niches in the side walls are ornamented with extremely beautiful and delicate figures.[7]
It became silted up and much of it is not visible now, except for some rows of sculptured panels in
the circular part of the well. Among its ruins, one pillar still stands which is an excellent example of
this period of design. A part only of the west well is extant from which it appears that the wall had
been built of brick and faced with stone. From this wall project vertical brackets in pairs, which
supported the different galleries of the well shaft proper. The bracketing is arranged in tiers and is
richly carved. The minute and exquisite carving of this vav is one of the finest specimens of its kind.
There is also a small gate below the last step of the step well, with a 30-kilometre tunnel, currently
blocked by stones and mud, which leads to the town of Sidhpur near Patan. It was used as an
escape gateway for the king, who built the step well in the times of defeat.

Ornate side walls[edit]

Vishnu sculpture inside Rani ki Vav

Carved pillars inside Rani ki Vav

Most of the sculptures are in devotion to Vishnu, in the forms of Dus-

Avatars Kalki, Rama, Krishna, Narsinh, Vaman, Varahi and others representing their return to the
world. Nagkanya, Yogini beautiful women – Apsara showcasing 16 different styles of make-up to
look more attractive called Solah-shringar.[citation needed]
The vavs of Gujarat are not merely sites for collecting water and socializing, but also hold great
spiritual significance. Originally, the vavs of Gujarat were constructed quite simply, but became more
intricate over the years, perhaps to make explicit the ancient concept of the sanctity of water with the
addition of carved stone deities. Thus visitors enter Rani Ki Vav as if it is an inverted temple, where
one steps down various levels to the water.[citation needed]
The steps begin at ground level, leading you down through the cool air through several pillared
pavilions to reach the deep well below. There are more than 800 elaborate sculptures among seven
galleries. The central theme is the Dasavataras, or ten incarnations of Vishnu, including Buddha.
The avatars are accompanied by sadhus, Brahmins, and apsaras (celestial dancers), painting their
lips and adorning themselves. At water level you come to a carving of Sheshashayi-Vishnu, in which
Vishnu reclines on the thousand-hooded serpent Shesha, where it is said he rests in the infinity
between ages.[citation needed]

Depiction[edit]
Since July 2018, the new ₹100 note in the Mahatma Gandhi New Series, features Rani ki Vav on the
rear side.[10]

See Also[edit]
 Stepwell
 History of stepwells in Gujarat
 Subak (irrigation)
 Temple tank