New 100 rupee note has Gujarat connection.
Rani – ki – vav, Patan, Ahmadabad, Gujarat
Befitting its name, the Rani -ki – vav is now considered the queen among the stepwells because the new design used on the reverse side of 100 rupees INR note depicts the cultural heritage.
Visiting Rani- ki – Vav one steps into history itself. One basks in the wondrous architecture. We breathed in a bit of the past .
This stepwell with elaborate craftsmanship and construction built underground to provide access to a permanent source of water.
In the past, this stepwell provided most of the water for the city during the long dry seasons.
The ceilings have openings that allow indirect sunlight to filter in leaving the structure at least 5 degrees cooler than it is outside.
Our visit to this place was during summer season .
Step into history ….
The historic city of patan was the capital of Gujarat for over 600 years between the 8th century and 14 th century. Under the reign of Bhimdeva, his son karnadeva and grandson Siddhartha, it attained its greatest splendour and the solanki dominion, its widest extent and highest prosperity.
Steps lead down to the water level . Aesthetically, it is a pleasing work of art . This stepwell is one such monument . It is not just merely site of collecting water and socializing, but holds great spiritual significance too.
Rani Udayamati of the solanki dynasty commissioned this Vav or stepwell, in the memory of her husband King Bhimdev1 . The Vav was later flooded by the nearby river and silted over. It was later excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India, with the carvings found in pristine condition. It is among the finest stepwells in India, and one of the most famous legacies of the ancient capital city.The architectural elegance of the Vav is represented in its pristine glory in its ornamental work. The beautifully proportioned sculptures carved adorn the walls of the stepwell,being ample testimony to the mastery of solanki sculptures in depicting vigour, beauty and various moods in stone.
