Rani Ki Vav

This 11th-century Stepwell is the latest addition to the UNESCO world heritage sites list. This Stepwell is the Queen of all step wells in India. The perfect example of Ancient India’s finest design and architecture.

Who built Rani Ki Vav?

Queen Udayamati built it in memory of her late husband Bhima 1.

This is the first of its kind where a Queen builds a monument in remembrance of her husband. She wanted her husband’s legacy to be remembered for eternity.

Architecture

Built-in Maru-Gujaru architecture, around the same time as Dilwara temples and Modhera Sun temple.

It has 7 levels of stairs with each level adorned with beautifully carved sculptures which surprisingly are still in excellent condition.

There are claimed to be more than 1000 big and small sculptures adorning all the sections of Vav.

These sculptures mainly consist of gods, goddesses, Aphasara (Dancers), Naag Kanyas ( Snake Woman), and Vishnu Avatars.

Rediscovering Rani ki Vav in the 1980s.

Due to floods in Saraswati Rani ki Vav was flooded and got completely buried, with no traces of its existence. for many centuries

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is enshrined in the main sanctum in his favorite sleeping pose.

This image looks beautiful and serene and is visible from all the floors, making it easier for the devotees to have the darshan of their favorite lord.

Prominent Sculptures on the walls of Vav