Rani Ki Vav
| Rani Ki Vav | |
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UNESCO world heritage 
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| Stepwell Rani Ki Vav |
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| National territory: |
 India
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| Type: | Culture |
| Criteria : | (i) (iv) |
| Surface: | 4.68 ha |
| Reference No .: | 922 |
| UNESCO region : | Asia and Pacific |
| History of enrollment | |
| Enrollment: | 2014 (session 38) |
The Rani Ki Vav ( Gujarati રાણકી વાવ ) is a step wells in Patan in the Indian state of Gujarat . He was in the list of the 2014 UNESCO - World Heritage added.
history
The stepwell called Rani Ki Vav ('Queen's Fountain') probably dates from the second half of the 11th century, when the Solanki dynasty ruled Gujarat. Corresponding written evidence (documents or inscriptions) is missing, but it is widely accepted by research that Queen Udayamati had the building built in honor of her late husband Bhimadeva I (r. 1022-1064). This is confirmed by a mention in the 1304 work Prabandha Chintamani of a Jain monk named Suri . It is not clear whether the subterranean structure was completed during the widow's lifetime or during the reign of her son Karnadeva I (r. 1064-1093). After the takeover of power by Islam (around 1300), perhaps even earlier, the underground structure silted up more and more and was only excavated in the 1980s under the direction of the Archaeological Survey of India , whereby the excellently preserved sculptures and relief decorations of the structure are revealed came. The undecorated (upper) parts are modern additions made by archaeologists.
architecture
Like most Indian temples , it is oriented in an east-west direction and is about 64 m long, 20 m wide and 27 m deep. The staircase is on the east side; the actual fountain with its life-giving and life-sustaining water occupies the west side of the underground structure. The round well shaft, which is fed by groundwater, but also by the rains of the monsoon season , is horizontally graduated several times; the corresponding cornices are continued in the access area, which is divided by three - unfortunately only partially preserved - multi-storey rows of portico . Depending on the height of the water level, the portico floors made it possible to draw water from different levels.
Architectural jewelry
Large parts of the outer walls are covered with figural and ornamental reliefs. The majority of the figures are almost free plastic and mostly represent figures of gods - mainly from the Vishnuit pantheon of gods ( Varaha , Vamana , Narasimha , Rama , Krishna , Kalkin ) - which are framed or respectively by columns with shaft rings and 'beautiful girls' ( surasundharis ) . to be accompanied. Some of the girls are in the process of putting on make-up or looking at them in the mirror, others are gripping the foliage of a tree with one or both hands and can thus be interpreted as tree nymphs ( salabhanjikas ).
The undecorated square pillars of the multi-storey porticos in the lower part rest on an equally square base ; in the middle of each pillar a jug motif ( kalasha ) appears with leaves protruding from the side. Above it is an octagonal part covered with reliefs, above which there is a cross-shaped cantilever plate supporting the stone entablature , the front sides of which are designed as atlases . While the front of the short front pieces above are adorned with small figures of gods, the architraves on the sides show numerous kirtimukha motifs, mainly vegetal and geometric relief decoration.
southern side wall
Portico pillar
geometric-floral reliefs
Vishnu on the world serpent shesha
literature
- Jutta Jain Neubauer: The Stepwells of Gujarat. An Art-historical Perspective. Abhinav Publications, 1981, ISBN 0-391-02284-9 .
- Morna Livingston, Milo Beach: Steps to Water. The Ancient Stepwells of India. Princeton Architectural Press, 2002, ISBN 1-56898-324-7 .
Web links
- Rani Ki Vav - Photos + Info (English)
- Rani Ki Vav - detail photo
- Step wells in Gujarat - Photos and information (English)
Individual evidence
Cultural heritage: Ajanta Rock Temple (1983) | Ellora Cave Temple (1983) | Red Fort in Agra (1983) | Taj Mahal (1983) | Konarak Sun Temple (1984) | Mahabalipuram Temple District (1984) | Churches and Monasteries of Goa (1986) | Khajuraho Temple District (1986) | Temple District of Hampi (1986) | Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri (1986) | Pattadakal Temple Complex (1987) | Elephanta Caves (1987) | Great Temples of the Chola Dynasty (1987) | Buddhist shrine near Sanchi (1989) | Humayun's Mausoleum (1993) | Qutb Complex (1993) | Mountain Railways in India (1999) | Mahabodhi Temple of Bodhgaya (2002) | Bhimbetka Caves (2003) | Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (2004) | Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004) | Red Fort in Delhi (2007) | The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur (2010) | Mountain Fortresses of Rajasthan (2013) | Rani Ki Vav (2014) | The architectural work of Le Corbusier : Capitol Complex in Chandigarh (2016) | Nalanda Mahavihara Archaeological Site (2016) | Old City of Ahmedabad (2017) | Victorian Gothic and Art Deco ensembles in Mumbai (2018) | Old City of Jaipur (2019)
Natural heritage: Kaziranga National Park (1985) | Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985) | Keoladeo National Park (1985) | Sundarbans National Park (1987) | Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers National Park (1988) | Western Ghats (2012) | Great Himalaya National Park (2014)
Cultural / natural heritage: Kangchenjunga National Park (2016)
Coordinates: 23 ° 51 '31.8 " N , 72 ° 6' 6.3" E