Rani-Ki-Vav (the Queen's Step Well) at Patan is one of the most magnificent step-well in the World. It was added to the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in the year 2014 and rightly so. It is a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent.
It was built in the last decades of 11th century by Queen Udayamati as a memorial to her husband King Bhimdevan 1 of Solanki Dynasty. Measuring more than 65 meters in length, it is designed inverted temple it is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels of high artistic quality.
At the ground level a free standing structure om two columns with an elaborate superstructure was built as a kind of ceremonial structure. The well is located at the westernmost end of the structure and consists of a shaft 10 m in diameter and 30 meters deep.
Beyond the entrance commences a stepped corridor marked at intervals by landings where multi-storyed pavilions were built; at the end of a corridor there is a reservoir, beyond which is the well.
Adorned with exquisitely carved sculptures arranged in paneled niches. Both walls of the corridor, and the well itself, besides the pavilions, were fully covered with large sculptures which must have numbered about eight hundred, and with many other carvings of a symbolic or decorative character.
There are more than 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often referencing literary works.
It was built in the last decades of 11th century by Queen Udayamati as a memorial to her husband King Bhimdevan 1 of Solanki Dynasty. Measuring more than 65 meters in length, it is designed inverted temple it is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels of high artistic quality.
At the ground level a free standing structure om two columns with an elaborate superstructure was built as a kind of ceremonial structure. The well is located at the westernmost end of the structure and consists of a shaft 10 m in diameter and 30 meters deep.
Beyond the entrance commences a stepped corridor marked at intervals by landings where multi-storyed pavilions were built; at the end of a corridor there is a reservoir, beyond which is the well.
Adorned with exquisitely carved sculptures arranged in paneled niches. Both walls of the corridor, and the well itself, besides the pavilions, were fully covered with large sculptures which must have numbered about eight hundred, and with many other carvings of a symbolic or decorative character.
There are more than 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often referencing literary works.
41 comments:
Exquisite work.
The intricate designs are amazing. Incredible detail at every level.
Bom dia,
Belíssimas imagens!!
Aproveito e fico com você aqui no seu Blog.
Ótimo dia para você!
http://arroz-di-leite.blogspot.com.br/
Bjs
Tânia Camargo
Hello, looks like an amazing place to visit. The details and sculptures are awesome. Great shots, enjoy your new week!
Beautiful ... Those intricate carvings re incredible. I just imagine the number of hours each single carving must have taken.
Fascinating and lovely!
Another fabulous find Rajesh...I have never seen a subterranean water resource or inverted temple....stunning spot....I am in awe.
IMHO, the entire India should be under UNESCO Heritage Site jurisdiction. Too pretty and too precious.
Worth a Thousand Words
This is an amazing building and your photographs are beautiful. It's hard to imagine how much effort went into this work of art.
What an awesome and incredible place, Rajesh, and your captures are superb!! Thank you for sharing the beauty and the history!!
What an awesome place, excellent shots.
Wow, Rajesh. That is a magnificent structure. I can only imagine all the work, time and skill that went into building it.
It's a well? Wow, it's huge!
Wow! Incredible structure! I feel proud!
What an amazing and complex structured well! I'm glad is is being preserved as a UNESCO site.
that looks like a big one :)
Amazing!
Amazing structure, truly amazing.
Best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
Complex and high at some points, one should not have to deal with 'fear of hights'
Have a nice abc-day/-week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)
Absolutely amazing.
I can picture the Queen descending those stairs.
Olá amiga, vim desejar-lhe um abençoado início de mês, e lindos dias
de outono!!!
Obrigada pela visita atenciosa!!!
Doce abraço Marie.
Fascinating photos and great choice for Q!
Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
I don't think that there is any building in Europe that is so exquisitely built like this one created like lace in concrete.
European buildings are more robust!
Wil, ABCW Team.
very regal!
ROG, ABCW
Oh my, amazingly beautiful.
Awesome well, Rajesh! Sounds like a sculptural treasure and indeed marvellous architecture... Excellent capture
It looks so delicate to have lasted all this time.
Ann
exquisit and wonderful !
Have a nice abc-day/ - week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ <abc-w-team)
How amazing that it's designed as an inverted temple!
more great detail!
ROG, ABCW
Really amazing is all I can say!
lovely.
Amazing architecture.
So intricate and delicate. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to do anything like this today.
The View from the Top of the Ladder
Beautiful architecture....
Earlier people use to construct such beautiful water storage facility. i do not know why these have fallen in disuse. We have maximum water wars now!
Wonderful architecture!
Such a beautiful and interesting place. Great captures.
Different type of structure !!
Simply amazing !
Beautiful place, loved the pics, its mind blowing.
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