A stepwell situated in the town of Patan in the state of Gujarat, Rani ki vav, literally the Queen’s well, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located on the banks of Saraswati river, its construction is attributed to Udayamati, queen of the 11th-century Chaulukya dynasty and spouse of Bhima I. Silted over, it was rediscovered in the 1940s and restored in the 1980s by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Rani-ki-Vav impresses not only with its architectural structure and technological achievements in water sourcing and structural stability, but also in particular with its sculptural decoration, of true artistic mastery. The figurative motifs and sculptures, and the proportion of filled and empty spaces, provide the stepwell’s interior with its unique aesthetic character. The setting enhances these attributes in the way in which the well descends suddenly from a plain plateau, which strengthens the perception of this space.
Picture Credit : Google