Rani Ki Vav, Gujarat – Information, Facts & Architecture

Rani ki Vav aka the Queen’s Stepwell situated on the banks of Saraswati River in Gujarat is one of the largest stepwells of its kind in the country. This 900-year old structure is located about 125 km from Ahmedabad, in Patan, which was a fortified city in medieval times. Even though stepwells were constructed in India since 3rd BC as a means of storing water, Rani ki Vav is much more than that. It has gained huge popularity due to its elaborate seven-storied structure and intricately carved sculptures of gods, goddesses, and deities.

Are you planning a trip to Gujarat this holiday season? Then keep aside a day to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site which is counted among the must-visit weekend getaways from Ahmedabad. We have curated every bit of information you should know about Rani ki Vav, such as its history, architecture, timings, and other interesting and lesser-known facts.

Rani ki Vav: History

Rani ki Vav traces its origins back to the 11th century when the Chalukya Dynasty was in power. The popular assumption is that the well was commissioned in 1063 by Rani Udayamati for her husband Raja Bhimdev I. A collection of semi-historical Sanskrit narratives named Prabandha Chintamani, compiled in the 14^th century, has references to the queen building this memorial for her beloved husband.

As years passed, the River Saraswati changed its course and this stepwell was extensively damaged and silted by floods. Due to repetitive floods and river deposits, this massive structure received little attention and was almost buried under the sand. In the late 1980s, the Archaeological Survey of India started excavations on the site, desilting and restoring the structure to its present form.

Rani ki Vav Architecture

Constructed in the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, this east-facing memorial is spread over 12 acres of land. Rani ki Vav is 64 meters long, 20 meters wide and 27 meters deep, and is designed like an inverted temple. That is, the structure begins from the ground level with steps leading to the bottom of the deep well below. In addition to steps, there are supplementary staircases that can be used to reach the lower stories. The draw well is situated in the extreme west of the structure. Needless to say, Rani ki Vav shows mastery of complex techniques and a great display of details and proportion.  

The well has seven stories, each featuring sculptures of spellbinding artistic quality. You can see a combination of religious, mythological, and secular imageries in the 500 plus main sculptures and several minor ones. There are around 226 pillars in this stepwell that remain intact even after the repetitive floods. The corridors, pavilions, and pillars are intricately carved with the figures of Hindu deities, gods and apsaras or celestial dancers. The carving of Sheshashayi Vishnu, where he is seen as reclining on a serpent with thousand hoods, is one of the key attractions to check out.

Rani ki Vav: Today

Today, Rani ki Vav is one of the top tourist attractions and historical places in Gujarat. Initially, all areas of the stepwell were open to the public. However, after the earthquake in 2001, some parts were found to be damaged and sensitive to public visits by the Archeological Survey of India.

In 2014, this magnificent stepwell was added to the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites for illustrating heights of art and techniques. The structure is now a protected national monument under the Archeological Survey of India. The Rani ki Vav festival (also called Water Festival) held here in December-January is a major attraction for tourists. 

Lesser Known Facts about Rani ki Vav

• In the Indian Sanitation Conference (INDOSAN) of 2016, Rani ki Vav was awarded the title “Cleanest Iconic Place”.
• The new ₹100 note features the structure on its rear side.
• Under the last step of the well, there is a gate that opens to a 30-meter long tunnel which leads to a town near Patan called Sidhpur. It is said that this tunnel was used as a secret passage to escape during wars or invasions.
• There used to a lot of medicinal plants in and around the well. It is believed that the water in the well has medicinal properties and can cure diseases and ailments.

Attractions near Rani ki Vav

• Patan City Museum (450 m)
• Patan Patola Heritage (500 m)
• Karandiyaveer Temple (750 m)
• Sahastralinga Talav (850 m)
• Panchmukhi Hanuman (3.4 km)
• Khan Sarovar (3.8 km)

This marvelous memorial truly projects the quality of workmanship that survived the test of time. So, when you visit Gujarat, take a short trip to Rani ki Vav and pay tribute to two things – the undying love Rani Udayamati had for her husband and the unmatched techniques used in the construction of the well. And don’t leave Patan without buying the iconic patola saree the town is famous for.