Rani ki vav an amazing piece of architecture new age news. Yet rani ki vav stunned me with its size and beautiful sculptures. Rani ki vav or queens stepwell is a unique step well located in the small town of gujarat called patan. This stepwell was built by a queen in the memory of her king. Surely the mother of all stepwells, covered by river silt for centuries and only revealed in the last 30 years. It is said that ahmedabads teen darwaja and the walls are inspired by patans teen darwaja. Exceptional example of a distinctive form of subterranean water architecture. Rani ki vav, patan patan, at one time was the leading city and the capital of the region. Rani ki vav the queens stepwell is a wonderful example of a royal step well near patan, gujarat, which was built between 10221063 ad. Situated in the town of patan in gujarat, this structure was built as a memorial. Rani ki vav is a beautifully constructed architectural gem.
Patan is also known for the famed patola saree that takes six months to weave. Rani ki vav architecture rani ki vav stepwell was recognised as world heritage site by unesco in 2014. The stepwell, a sacred memorial built entirely below ground level, is one of indias unique contributions to the architectural. There are like 800 statues of hindu mythology like the dashavatar the ten incarnations of lord. Furthermore, it was not decorated with just a few geometric designs but. Hence we can surely say that this world heritage site is nothing less than a stunning masterpiece. Ranikivav it reflects the rich solanki architecture. Rani ki vav, a stepwell in the little gujarat town of patan, features on the new rs100 note. Rani ki vav was recently named a world heritage site by the united nations educational, scientific and cultural. The rani ki vav is a highly ornate step well that is popular for its elaborate architecture. I had done some research before visiting rani ki vav. According to the history of patan, rani ki vav was built in the memory.
Rani ki vav has high spiritual and medicinal value. Rani ki vav is situated at a distance of around 123 kms from ahmedabad that can be covered at a road journey of around 3 to 4 hours. To aid in the conservation and restoration of rani ki vav, the asi looked to an initiative known as the scottish ten, a fiveyear partnership between historic scotland, the digital design studio at the. Soni shows us patola plates in rani ki vav step well lost with purpose. Early morning is the most ideal time to visit due to lesser presence of tourists and quiet environment. Dwelling on the banks of the river saraswati, this beauty was built in the marugurjara architectural style. Unesco recognized rani ki vav as a masterpiece of technological excellence in ground water management in the 11th century. Rani ki vav overview, patan, gujarat stepwell photos. Its construction is attributed to udayamati, daughter of khengara of saurashtra, queen of the 11thcentury chaulukya dynasty and spouse of bhima i. The style of the architecture and sculpture place rani ki vav squarely in the last years of the 11th century.
However, rani ki vav stands as an exceptional case, it was built in the loving memory of bhimdev i by his widowed queen udayamati around 1050 ad. Queens stepwell is a stepwell situated in the town of patan in gujarat state of india. Rani ki vav, in contrast, is exquisitely elaborate. Rani ki vav is the oldest and the grandest stepwell situated at patan, gujrat, rani ki vav is believed to have been built during 1022 to 1063 ad. Largely made of richly carved stone and fine bricks, the rani ki vav was built in the complex marugurjara style of architecture. Architectural trip to modhera, patan lothal tripoto. By the time the rani ki vav was built, stepwell construction was at its acme and this particular one, built in the marugurjara architectural style, is truly the rollsroyce of stepwells. Rani ki vav literally translates to the queens step well. Rani ki vav, on the banks of the saraswati river, was initially built as a memorial to a king in the 11th century ad. India is perhaps the only country in the world where one gets to see the unique stepwell architecture.
The stepwell, a sacred memorial built entirely below ground level, is one of indias unique contributions to the architectural heritage of the world, and unesco has recognized it as such in 2014. Ranikivav is an exceptional example of a distinctive form of subterranean water architecture of the indian subcontinent, the stepwell, which is located on the banks of the saraswati river in patan. Rani ki vav is an intricately constructed stepwell situated in the town of patan in gujarat, india. Rani ki vav was built as a memorial to an 11th century ad. One of them is sahastralinga tank and other one is rani ki vav.
Initially built as a memorial in the 11th century ce, the stepwell was constructed as a religious as well as functional structure and designed as. It was also declared a unesco world heritage site in 2014. The carvings on the pillars that form an intricate part of the design, in addition to the architectural magnificence of it being a stepwell, is a great example of craftsmanship and the local traditions, beliefs, and culture. This stepwell is an ageold model of how ground water was preserved and utilized in those days.
It has also been declared as the world heritage site by unesco. In the 1980s the excavation and restoration of the rani ki vav were completed, but by then the longexposed columns on the first tier had been hauled off to build the nearby 18thcentury bahadur singh ki vav now completely surrounded by homes. The well is some 65 metres long and well over seven storeys down. Located on the banks of river saraswati, it is not only a distinctive form of water resource and storage system but also represents a unique craftsmanship. This fact is also confirmed by the jaina pontiff merutu. The carvings on the pillars that form an intricate part of the design, in addition to the architectural magnificence of it being a stepwell, is a. Two famous architectural monuments have gain the status of national monuments. An estimated 3000 stepwells have been built in india, though today only a handful exist today. Ranikivav the queens stepwell at patan, gujarat is the most developed and ornate example of this type of indian architecture. India is filled with monuments dedicated by a lot of kings in the fond memory of their queens. 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. We are talking about rani ki vav, an amazing piece of architecture and heritage that has been recently recognized as a world heritage site by unesco, on 22 june 2014.
It is designed like an inverted temple with many sculptures of gods and. It features seven levels of stairs within an inverted temple, and holds more than 500 principal sculptures. Lakes include historically and archaeologically important sahastralinga tank, anand sarovar gungadi talav and khan sarovar. In additional to this, rani ki vav is a work of indian subterranean architecture. Rani ki vav is situated in the town of patan, about 77 miles from the capital, ahmedabad, a threehour journey. Stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on. Ranikivav is an exceptional example of a distinctive form of subterranean water architecture of the indian subcontinent, the stepwell, which is located on the banks of the saraswati. Dushyant patel via rani ki vav, on the banks of the saraswati river, was. Republic day 2020 tableaux feature rafale jet, rani ki vav. There are many trains and buses from ahmedabad to patan. A visual guide to the rani ki vav the heritage lab. Jun 25, 2019 a photo of the giant rani ki vav stepwell at patan in gujarat.
A marvelous sight to look at, ranikivav is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful heritage sites in northern india. The step well, rani ki vav is an ode to architecture, a poetry in stone, a piece of ornamental beauty where sculptures speak to you from every panel and wall. Rani ki vav in gujarat is a unique well that combines all this and more. Rani ki vav overview, patan, gujarat stepwell photos in. Ranikivav, a heritage site in gujarat play muqaabla.
Stepwells are wells or ponds in which the water may be reached by. Gujarats tableau showcased rani ki vav jal mandir, an ancient architectural style located in the city of patan. As the stepwell was designed as an inverted temple, it was meant to. Complete information about rani ki vav patan gujarat. Rani ki vav is a magnificent stepwell structured with the excellent sculpture and architecture illustrated with hindu mythological stories. Rani ki vav the queens stepwell top view patan in gujarat, india photographer. The ornate and beautifullycarved stepwell of ranikivav. Everything you need to know about rani ki vav, the. The rani ki vav or queens stepwell is situated in patan, which was the medieval capital of the solanki empire, located 125 km north of ahmedabad. Gujarats architectural wonder rani ki vav was the centrepiece of the states tableau with artistes dancing and showcasing the folk culture of the state. Rani ki vav started wowing the indian tourists, after being prominently displayed on the new. Silted over, it was rediscovered in 1940s and restored in 1980s by the. Step wells include rani ki vav and trikam barot ni vav. A queen showed her love for her deceased husband by.
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