Unique well Rani ki vav
Unique well Rani ki vav

Video: Unique well Rani ki vav

Video: Unique well Rani ki vav
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Rani Ki Vav is an 11th century stepped well located in the Indian city of Patan on the banks of the Saraswati River. It is believed that the well was built by Udayamati, the widowed Queen of Bhimdev I (1022 - 1063 AD) in memory of the king.

Bhimdev was the son of Mularaja, the founder of the Solanka dynasty in Patan. The well was later flooded by the neighboring Sarasvati River and lost until the late 1980s, when it was discovered and excavated by archaeologists. During excavations, magnificent carvings and statues of the well were found intact.

Unique well Rani Ki Vav
Unique well Rani Ki Vav

The name "Rani-ki-wav" is translated as "The well of the steps of the queen." Under its last step, which descends to the water, they discovered a 30-meter secret passage leading to the city of Sidhpur. Most likely, it was built in case of war, to evacuate the rulers of Patan. In June 2014, Rani-ki-wav was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

A step well is a distinctive form of underground water resource and water storage systems in the Indian subcontinent. Such structures have been built since the 3rd millennium BC, evolving over time from a simple pit in sandy soil to elaborate multi-story works of art and architecture. Rani-ki-Vav was built at a time when the skill of building wells was perfected. The architectural style of Maru-Guryar reflects the grace of this complex technique and the beauty of detail and proportion. Rani-Ki-Vav is the king of the stepped wells of India. Chand Baori in Rajasthan is another exceptional example of this technology.

Unique well Rani Ki Vav
Unique well Rani Ki Vav

The well, built in the stepped maru-gurjara style, is shaped like an inverted cone. Its staircase is decorated with 500 large and about 1000 small sculptures. The water tank is located at a depth of 23 meters.

Designed as an inverted temple, the well highlights the inviolability of the water. It is divided into seven flights of stairs with sculptural groups of high artistic level. There are over 500 large sculptures and over a thousand small sculptures that combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often citing literary works. The fourth level is the deepest and leads into a rectangular tank measuring 9.5 by 9.4 meters, with a depth of 23 meters. The well is located at the lowest level and consists of a shaft 10 meters in diameter and 30 meters deep. The building itself measures 64 by 20 meters.

Unique well Rani Ki Vav
Unique well Rani Ki Vav

At the lowest step is the entrance to a 30 km long tunnel leading to the city of Sidhpur near Patan. The tunnel was built especially for the king, who could use it in case of defeat during the war. Currently, the passage is blocked by stones and mud.

In the 13th century, geotectonic changes led to a major flood and the disappearance of the Saraswati River, after which the well ceased to perform its direct functions. For almost seven centuries, the well was hidden under a thick layer of dust and silt, which allowed this miracle of architecture to be preserved in perfect condition to this day. The well was rediscovered less than 30 years ago.

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