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that level, accounting for seasonal fluctuations in water level due to rainfall over the years. The air and light vents in the roofs at various floors and the landing level are in the form of large openings. From the first story level, three staircases lead to the bottom water level of the well, which is considered a unique feature. Built along a north-south axis, the entrance is from the south, and the three staircases are from the south, west, and east directions leading to the landing, which is on the northern side of the well. Four small rooms with
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367:, is intricately carved and is five stories deep. It was built in 1498. An inscription in Sanskrit establishes the history of the Adalaj stepwell found on a marble slab positioned in a recess on the first floor, from the eastern entry to the well. It is in the typical style of the Gujarat sultanate, built in 1499 in the reign of
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Before this project could be completed, his kingdom was attacked by
Mohammed Begda, the Muslim ruler of a neighboring kingdom. The Rana king was killed in battle, and Mohammed Begda occupied his territory. Rana Veer Singh's widow, a beautiful lady, known as Rani Roopba (or Roodabai), wanted to commit
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gods carved at various levels of the well. The dominant carvings on the upper floors are of elephants (3 inches (76 mm) in size, each of a different design). The walls are carved with women performing daily chores such as churning of buttermilk, adorning themselves, scenes of the performance of
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with horizontal beams and lintels. At the bottom of the well is a square stepped floor in the shape of a funnel extending to the lowest plane. This is chiseled into a circular well. Above the square floor, columns, beams, walls, and arched openings spiral around, a feature that continues to the top.
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She agreed to a marriage proposal on the condition that he would first complete the building of the stepwell. The Muslim king, who was deeply enamored of the queen's beauty, agreed to the proposal and built the well in record time. Once the well was completed, Begda reminded the queen of her promise
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As per legend, in the 15th century, Rana Veer Singh of the
Vaghela dynasty, a Hindu ruler, reigned over this territory known as Dandai Desh. His kingdom was a small one. It was subject to water shortage and was highly dependent on the rains. To alleviate the misery of his people, the Rana began the
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to collect rainwater during seasonal monsoons. While many such structures are utilitarian in construction, they sometimes include significant architectural embellishments, as in the Adalaj stepwell, which attracts many tourists. In the past, these stepwells were frequented by travelers and caravans
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Built-in sandstone in the
Solanki architectural style, the Adalaj stepwell is five stories deep. It is octagonal in a plan at the top, built on an intricately carved large number of pillars. Each floor is spacious enough to provide for people to congregate. It was dug deep to access groundwater at
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While early stepwells were made of stone, later step wells were made of mortar, stucco, rubble, and laminar stones. The well cylinder was the basic form used to deepen the wells. It is also inferred that the
Stepwells in Gujarat have survived so long because of the builder's knowledge of the soil
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One version, which is narrated in the 200 years old scriptures of the
Swaminarayan sect, suggests that before she died, Rani Roopba requested religious saints to take a bath in this stepwell so that the water in the stepwell gets purified by these saints, thereby delivering her from her sins.
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to marry him. Instead, the queen who had achieved her objective of completing the stepwell started by her husband decided to end her life. She circumambulated the stepwell with prayers and jumped into the well, ending the saga of building the well in tragedy.
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The temperature inside the well is about five degrees lower than the outside hot summer temperatures. This encouraged the women who came to fetch water to spend more time in the cool climes here. They stayed to worship the gods and goddesses and gossip.
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Then follows a glowing description of the well, after which the queen, or rather lady of the chief, is praised in a few verses; the expense is stated at 5,00,111 tankas or over five lakhs, and the whole ends with a repetition of the date as given above.
426:. Begda asked the Masons if they could make another similar well, and when they agreed, Begda sentenced them to death instead. Begda was so impressed by the architectural excellence of the stepwell that he did not want a replica to be built.
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well was considered dangerous. However, the well thickness from top to bottom remained generally uniform. By the 11th century, the stepwell planning and design acquired architectural excellence and the Hindu
Stepwells were standardized.
390:"It is dedicated at this time – when the sun is in the north, the month is Magha, the bright half (Shukla Paksha), the 5th day, the day of the week, Wednesday, the lunar mansion – Uttara, Karana-Bava, the yoga – Siddhi."
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Stepwells like the one in Adalaj were once integral to the semi-arid regions of
Gujarat, as they provided water for drinking, washing, and bathing. These wells were also venues for colorful festivals and sacred rituals.
386:) to whose race belonged King Mokala, chief of the country of Dandahi. From him was born Karna, . Mahipa , and Virsinh and Naisha were the sons of Mahipa. Virsinh's queen, whose name is Rooda, has constructed this well.
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Ahmedabad is well connected by road, rail, and air links with the rest of the country. The international airport at
Ahmedabad, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport, has flights operating to several countries.
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has wells, which may be the predecessor of the step well; as many as 700 wells have been discovered in just one section of the city, leading scholars to believe that cylindrical
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windows decorated with minutely carved brackets are provided at the landing level, at the four corners. The structural system is typically Indian with traditional
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However, the top part of the well is a vertical space open to the sky. The four corners of the square are strengthened with stone beams, set at 45 degrees angle.
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suicide and join her husband in the afterlife. However, Begada prevented her from giving up her own life and proposed marriage with the dowager.
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A tribute paid to the rich underground structures, which are intricately decorated with sculptures, is that they are said to resemble palaces.
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India's first rock-cut stepwells are dated from 200–400 AD. Subsequently, the wells at Dhank (550–625) and construction of stepped ponds at
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The cultural and architectural depiction in the deep wells at various levels are a tribute to the history of step wells, built by Hindus.
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1099:
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329:, filling of water was achieved from a large well located in one of the rooms in front of the open courtyard of the building–complex.
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901:"Channeling Nature: Hydraulics, Traditional Knowledge Systems, And Water Resource Management in India – A Historical Perspective"
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or nine planets. These depictions are said to attract villagers for worship during marriage and other ritualistic ceremonies.
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Another is linked to the tombs found near the well. The graves of six masons who built the well are seen near the
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city and is situated 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of
Ahmedabad city. It is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from
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Livingston, Morna (2002). Steps to water: the ancient stepwells of India, p211, Princeton
Architecture Press,
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word, which means "forearm" of size varying from 12–24 inches (300–610 mm)), A size of eight
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The motifs of flowers and graphics of architecture blend very well with the symbols of Hindu and
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Stepwells, also called stepped ponds, built between the 5th and 19th centuries, are common in
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The well size recommended, based on considerations of stability, was of four to thirteen
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is one of the most popular. Stepwells are also found in more arid regions of the
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321:. Between third and second millennium BC, at the "Great Bath", at the site of
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An interesting depiction carved from a single block of stone is of the
715:"Stepwells – Cosmology of Subterranean Architecture as seen in Adalaj"
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dancers and musicians, and the King overlooking all these activities.
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Photographs of Architecture and Scenery in Gujarat and Rajputana
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241:. It was built in 1498 in the memory of Rana Veer Singh of the
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The Adalaj stepwell is a popular tourist attraction of the
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conditions and the earthquake proneness of the region.
681:"Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent: A Glossary"
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Adalaj Vav – A beautiful stepwell with a tragic tale
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The Sanskrit inscription in the stepwell describes:
1115:"Adalaj Ni Vav – Information about Adalaj Stepwell"
363:The Adalaj stepwell or 'Vav', as it is called in
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538:is the railway station closest to the stepwell.
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275:(also spelt, 'bawdi', 'bawri' and 'bavadi').
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722:Journal of Architecture and Building Science
499:(symbolic pot of the water of life) and the
1160:Monuments of National Importance in Gujarat
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503:(a tree of life). Also seen is a fresco of
407:construction of a large and deep stepwell.
1145:Buildings and structures completed in 1499
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378:"Samvat 1555 (1498 AD), month of Magha.
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1015:Sultanate Ahmadabad and its Monuments
988:"Step-wells of Gujarat and Rajasthan"
903:. Infinity foundation. Archived from
830:"Adlaj Vav - An Architectural Marvel"
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1150:Buildings and structures in Gujarat
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454:The step well is five stories deep.
317:were invented by the people of the
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861:"Adlaj Vav Step Well (built 1499)"
14:
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1121:. 11 January 2018. Archived from
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1039:. Bourne and Shepherd. p. 17
759:. Gujarat Tourism. Archived from
550:Women bringing water in the 1870s
299:as stopovers along trade routes.
1155:Tourist attractions in Ahmedabad
713:Shuichi Takezawa (August 2002).
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863:. Asian Historical Architecture
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350:was considered ideal, and a 13
957:"Stepping into A Rich History"
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790:"Ancient Step-wells of India"
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589:Upper storey of the stepwell.
222:located in the small town of
1033:"The Rudra Mala at Siddhpur"
881:Livingston p.xxiii and p.211
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438:Adalaj Stepwell first floor
261:, the stepwell is called a
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36:to comply with Knowledge's
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1109:Adalaj Stepwell and around
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16:Stepwell in Gujarat, India
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382:"Salutation to Vinayaka (
319:Indus Valley civilization
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1031:Burgess; Murray (1874).
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49:may contain suggestions.
34:may need to be rewritten
639:Mata Bhavani's Stepwell
197:Design and construction
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306:(850–950) took place.
192:Five storied deep well
1097:A Pictorial narration
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327:Harappan civilization
152:23.16691°N 72.58024°E
1140:Stepwells in Gujarat
1102:11 July 2009 at the
757:"The Adlaj Stepwell"
649:Jethabhai's Stepwell
462:Looking up the well.
168:Construction started
907:on 3 September 2010
634:Dada Harir Stepwell
613:Ceiling on the well
518:Tourist information
292:Indian subcontinent
269:, it is known as a
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97:Architectural style
92:General information
943:Livingston p.54-55
934:Livingston p.52-53
925:Livingston p.51-52
644:Amritavarshini Vav
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157:23.16691; 72.58024
1074:978-1-56898-324-0
994:on 26 August 2009
763:on 3 January 2010
315:brick lined wells
294:, extending into
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184:Technical details
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38:quality standards
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1125:on 4 April 2019.
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1123:the original
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1055:Bibliography
1041:. Retrieved
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996:. Retrieved
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501:Kalp Vriksha
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311:Mohenjo-daro
309:The city of
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230:city in the
215:
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202:Architect(s)
179:16th century
111:Town or city
105:architecture
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43:You can help
33:
1119:Ashaval.com
998:17 November
967:18 November
911:19 November
867:17 November
840:17 November
795:18 November
767:17 November
732:18 November
691:19 November
659:Rani ki Vav
536:Gandhinagar
528:Gandhinagar
524:Gandhinagar
497:Ami Khumbor
342:('hasta' a
323:Mohenjodaro
267:North India
228:Gandhinagar
226:, close to
155: /
130:Coordinates
115:Gandhinagar
1134:Categories
728:(1492): 24
665:References
143:72°34′49″E
140:23°10′01″N
1017:. Primus.
654:Ahmedabad
505:navagraha
430:Structure
253:While in
176:Completed
47:talk page
1100:Archived
685:Stepwell
628:See also
473:trabeate
365:Gujarati
344:Sanskrit
296:Pakistan
255:Gujarati
249:Stepwell
220:stepwell
82:Interior
1043:23 July
384:Ganesha
359:History
325:of the
304:Bhinmal
239:Gujarat
121:Country
1072:
1064:
402:Legend
288:Adalaj
232:Indian
224:Adalaj
45:. The
718:(PDF)
469:oriel
352:hasta
348:hasta
339:hasta
272:baoli
235:state
218:is a
205:Local
124:India
101:Hindu
1070:ISBN
1062:ISBN
1045:2016
1000:2009
969:2009
913:2009
869:2009
842:2009
797:2009
769:2009
734:2009
693:2009
481:Jain
257:and
189:Size
171:1499
103:and
726:117
424:Vav
263:vav
245:.
237:of
214:or
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57:)
53:(
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
