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Rani Ki Vav
In the dry areas of Northern and Western India, stepwells were an integral l
part of the landscape. These wells were called ‘vav’ in Gujarati. Rani ki Vav is a
unique stepwell situated in the ancient capital, Patan, in Northern Gujarat. It t
literally means ‘Queen’s Stepwell’.
INVERTED
DESCRIPTION TEMPLE
We know of many monuments built by kings in the Rani ki Vav has
fond memory of their queens. But Rani Ki Vav was built been designed
by the widowed queen, Udayamati, in the memory of as an inverted
her deceased husband, King Bhimadeva I of the Solanki temple. This is
Dynasty. It is a sacred memorial built completely under meant to imply the
ground level. sanctity of water. It
Bidisha Mukherjee, X A, Scholar’s Home Sr. Sec. School, Dehradun; is built in Maru-Gurjara architectural style.
Samriddhi Agarwal, VII A; Sunbeam Suncity School & Hostel, Varanasi
Dhawani Samani, VI B, Bhavan’s Shri A.K. Doshi
Vidyalaya, Jamnagar
SIZE
The complex is 210 feet long, 65 feet wide,
and 92 feet deep.
LEVELS
It is a single-
component divided
into seven levels of PILLARED PAVILIONS WELL
stairs. These are placed at
regular intervals creating This is found at the rear
compartments. end of the complex.
DASAVATARA WORLD
DELIGHTS! WATER HERITAGE! ACTIVITY: WATER
Rani ki Vav was made a WONDER
The central level of Rani Ki
UNESCO World Heritage Most baolis follow a north-south
Vav is based on ‘Dasavatara’ Site in 2013. UNESCO
theme, which refers to the ten alignment. There is a fascinating
described it as an reason behind this. This kind of an
incarnations of Vishnu. When you “exceptional example of
approach the water level, there is alignment keeps the rays of the sun
technological development in mind to ensure that the water stays
a sculpture of Vishnu resting on implemen ting traditional
thousand snake heads. cool.
water resource Can you fi nd other such facts about
Hansika Panchal, VIII, Jaswant Modern Sr. techniques in India”.
Sec. School, Dehradun the construction of ancient baolis?
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