Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
Rani-ki-Vav, on the banks of the Saraswati River,
was initially built as a memorial to a king in the 11th century AD.
Stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and
storage systems on the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed
since the 3rd millennium BC. They evolved over time from what was
basically a pit in sandy soil towards elaborate multi-storey works of
art and architecture. Rani-ki-Vav was built at the height of craftsmens’
ability in stepwell construction and the Maru-Gurjara architectural
style, reflecting mastery of this complex technique and great beauty of
detail and proportions. Designed as an inverted temple highlighting the
sanctity of water, it is divided into seven levels of stairs with
sculptural panels of high artistic quality; more than 500 principle
sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious,
mythological and secular imagery, often referencing literary works. The
fourth level is the deepest and leads into a rectangular tank 9.5 m by
9.4 m, at a depth of 23 m. The well is located at the westernmost end of
the property and consists of a shaft 10 m in diameter and 30 m deep.