Rani ki Vav at Patan, is one out of the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Gujarat. The other one is Champaner at Pavagadh. The buried beautiful history of Rani ki VavClimbing down the stairs of this stepwell was like walking into a jigsaw puzzle. Every step into Rani ki Vav had a story of a different time. How this place was discovered, why it was made, how it was made, its architecture and the tales behind it, all are different pieces of this big puzzle.. Rani ki Vav was silted below the ground from the water of Saraswati and got excavated by Archaeological Survey of India in 1980. This place is 31st Indian entrant to the World Heritage Sites list by UNESCO.Designed as an inverted temple highlighting the importance of water and its storage system ,this stepwell was built as a memorial to a king Bhimdev by his wife Udayamati during 1063 to 1068 AD This structure is divided into 7 levels and the main’s theme of “Dasavatars” (10 incarnations) of Vishnu is revealed as one reach the water level, you will see a carving of Vishnu reclining on one thousand snake heads on Sheersagar. The intricate structure of the Vav is ornamented with more than 800 sculptures in the seven galleries, majority of which are devoted to lord Vishnu. Rani ki Vav in PhotosSculptures are in devotion to Vishnu, in the forms of Dus-Avatars Kalki, Rama, Mahisasurmardini, Narsinh, Vaman, Varahi and others representing their return to the world. Centre stage taken over by Vishnu relaxing in Sheersagar Apsara showcasing 16 different styles of make-up to look more attractive called Solah-shringar Intricate carving of Kichak, Vishnu avatars and auspicious things of pooja in the pillars. Parashurama, Budda and other forms of Vishnu surronded by apsaras. How to reach Rani ki Vav, PatanRani ki Vav, Patan is located around 125 kms from Ahmedabad and takes approximately 3 hours to reach here. It is open for visitors from 8 am to 6 pm. The site is also well connected by buses from Ahmedabad.
P.S. I was invited by Gujarat Tourism Board to cover the #InternationalKiteFestival2017. Pallavi Sharma had represented RavenousLegs at this event. The post and the pictures are to her credit. Related Posts:
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Dr.Kisor Kumar Pal
1/31/2021 06:58:32
Hi Madhabi,
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AuthorNamaste! I'm Medhavi Davda.
I travel to Evolve.. In Nature, I confide.. I find my calling in the Himalayas.. In the Oceans, I meditate.. A High-Altitude Trekker & PADI certified SCUBA Diver, I love exploring the heights and depths of the planet with my regular doses of mountains and oceans. Discovering myself & life through nature, adventures, travels, sports and dance has been an addiction since my existence! Quite fond of the natural & cultural diversity of India, I've travelled extensively in my own country before exploring international destinations. I had left my 9+ yrs of career in Software Industry in a quest to make a living out of my passions. I packed my basics in my car (gave away the rest) and lived in different parts of Himachal Pradesh for 16 months. This invaluable time taught me to experience life from a broader perspective. I'm currently living in Mumbai to work with an Adventure Travel company as a product manager for Scuba Diving. I continue living a minimalistic life. RavenousLegs on InstagramRavenousLegs on FaceBookRavenousLegs on TwitterRecent PostsAnnapurna Base Camp Trek from Ghandruk Village - the shortest route to ABC Trek
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