Rani ki Vav Patan World Heritage ( The Queen's Stepwell )
Rani ki Vav Patan World Heritage ( The Queen's Step well )
Rani ki Vav Patan World Heritage ( The Queen's Step well ) At Patan District North Gujarat.
RANI KI VAV
THIS
MAGNIFICENT STEPWELL IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED BY UDAYAMATI, THE QUEEN
OF BHIMDEVA-I (AD 1022-1063) IN THE LASTQUARTER OF 11TH CENTURY AD.
BHIMDEVA-I WAS SON OF MULARAJA, THE FOUNDER OF THE SOLANKI DYNASTY OF
ANAHILWADA PATAN.
THE VAV
MEASURING ABOUT 64 METERS LONG, 20 METRES WIDE AND 27METRES DEEP IS LAID OUT IN
THE EAST-WEST DIRECTION WITH WELL PROPER IN THE WEST. THIS WELL HAS A PILLARED
MULTI-STOREYED PAVILLION, A DRAWN WELL AND A LARGE TANK FOR COLLECTING SURPLUS
WATER. IT MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE LARGEST AND THE MOST SUMPTUOUS STRUCTURE OF
ITS KIND.
THE ARCHITECTURAL BRILLIANCE AND ELEGANCE OF THE VAV, IS REPRESENTED
IN ITS PRISTINE GLORY IN THE ORNAMENTAL WORK. THE BEAUTIFULLY PROPORTIONED
SCULPTURES OF GRACEFULLY CARVED MAHISASURAMARDINI, PARVATI AND OTHER SAIVA
SCULPTURES, VISHNU IN DIFFERENT FORMS, BHAIRAVA, GANESHA, SURYA, KUBERA,LAKSHMINARAYANA,
ASHTADIKPALAS AND OTHER FORMS ADORN THE WALLS. THE FEMALE FIGURES HAVE BEEN
DEPICTED IN VARIOUS POSES OF APSARAS, NAGAKANYAS, YOGINIS, ETC.
AFTER INDEPENDENCE, RANI KI VAV, CAME INTO THE CUSTODY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SURVEY OF INDIA AND WAS DECLARED AS PROTECTED MONUMENT OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
THIS STEPWELL WAS BURIED FOR CENTURIES AND SUFFERED DAMAGE IN PAST
DUE TO NEGLIGENCE AND FLOOD IN THE RIVER SARASWATI. TILL 1960'S, NOBODY KNEW
THAT THERE EXISTED THE MOST ORNATE AND
HIGHLY
SCULPTURED VAV. AT THIS TIME, THE VAV WAS COMPLETELY FILLED UP EXCEPT THE TOP.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA STARTED EXCAVATIONS HERE IN 1958.
THE PAINSTAKING EFFORTS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA EXPOSED THE HIDDEN
TREASURES OF SCULPTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL WEALTH IN ITS ORIGINAL DIMENSION AND
SPLENDOUR THROUGH CAREFUL EXCAVATION, DESILTING AND REMOVAL OF DEBRIS THE LOOSE
SCULPTURES, ARCHITECTURAL MEMBERS AND STONES FALLEN IN THE VAV WERE LIFTED AND
SET RIGHT IN THEIR POSITION.
BEFITTING ITS NAME, THE RANI KI VAV, IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE THE QUEEN
AMONG THE STEP WELLS OF INDIA.
Archaeological Survey of India
Ref: Rani ki Vav Patan, Shila lekh.
Rani ki Vav Patan World Heritage ( The Queen's Step well )
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Oleh
Dr. Mihir
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