Rani ki Vav Patan

About:

Due to silting, a major portion of the well has deteriorated. There were some renovation exercises in 1980, which have restored some of the ancient glory of the place. One of its pillars is so beautifully carved, that it reminds one of the ancient charm of the monument. It appears the well is made up of bricks. There is small gateway just below the last step of the Rani Ki Vav well. The gateway opens into a 30 km tunnel which leads to the nearby town of Siddhpur. This was used by the King to escape in the times of defeat.

The tunnel has now been blocked by stones and mud to avoid any mishap. There are 7 storeys in the step-well and the steps are intricately carved. There are sculptures of the avatars of the Hindu Gods, Jain Gurus, Goddesses, Apsaras, etc. Most of the sculptures are in devotion to Lord Vishnu. It is said that around 60 years back there were Ayurvedic plants near the well which possessed medicinal properties. Due to this, the water of the well also gained curative powers capable of healing viral disease, fever, etc.

Inside the monument, you will find the sculptures of deities and various other images that adorn the walls along the staircase. Rani ki Vav step well was constructed in Patan by Udaymati. The well is 20 mt wide and as deep as 27 mts. The architectural brilliance of the well can be seen in its walls that have beautiful ornamented sculptures. Rani ki Vav lies towards the left bank of the Saraswati river in Patan, Gujarat. The town of Patan has immense historical importance and was once the capital of the state. It is today among the major tourist attractions in Gujarat, India.

This structure is laid out in the east-west direction with its entrance facing the east and the well proper built in the western direction. It is made up of bricks that are beautifully cut and shaped. The architectural magnificence and elegance of Rani ki Vav in Patan is a rare visual delight. The interiors of the walls of this well as well as the walls bordering the staircase are decorated with marvelously proportioned statues. These consist of statues of Vishnu (dasha avataras) as Varaha and Kalki, Ganesha, Surya, Bhairava, Kubera, Lakshmi-Narayan, Vishvarupa-Vishnu and Astadikpalas. Some other forms of embellishments could also be seen. All these stand testimony to the skillfulness of the Solanki sculptors, in illustrating vigor, rhythm, beauty and diverse moods in stone.

Location info:

Climate/Weather:

History:

Rani-ki-Vav at Patan is situated at Lat. 230 51 N; Long. 720 7 E. This magnificent step well is said to been constructed by Queen Udayamati wife of King Bhimadeva I (A.D. 1022-1063). This is the highest watermark of Solanki architecture. It is 64 m long and 20 m wide. It was originally constructed of seven stories of which only five are now preserved. The shaft of this step well is 27 m deep. The step is oriented in east-west directions.

The step well has long stepped corridor descending down to the underground tank, it is having four compartmental multi-storeyed pillared pavilions with circular draw well at rear end. The corridor walls, pillared pavilions and inner side of well are embellished with fine sculptures. Nearly 400 sculptures have survived out of the original estimated 800 sculptures, which comprise of Hindu gods and goddesses, apsaras and miscellaneous themes.

Interesting things to do:

Interesting things to Visit:

The main attractions of the Patan Durabar Square are the ancient Royal palace itself. It consists of three main chowks, or courtyards; the central Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Main Keshab Narayan Chowk. In the northeastern corner of the courtyard is a triple-roofed octagonal tower, Taleju Bhawani Temple, built by King Shree Niwas Malla in 1667. Between the central Mul Chowk and the Main Keshab Narayan Chowk there is temple of Degu Taleju.

Krishna Mandir:
Built in the seventeenth century by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, the temple of Lord Krishna holds a commanding positon in the palace complex of Patan. It is the only temple in Nepal to have 21 shrines and is completely made of stone. Most of the important scenes from the ancient Hindu epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, have been engraved on its friezes.Krishna Mandir Patan, Krishna Temple Patan, patan Piture

Mahabouddha:
a little further from Patan Durbar Square lies this Buddhist Temple made of clay bricks in which thousands of images of the Lord Buddha are engraved. The Terra-cotta structure is a fourteenth-century Nepalese architectural masterpiece. It was constructed by an architect named Avay Raj.

Hiranya Varna Mahavihar:
This three-storey golden pagoda of Lokeshwor (lord Buddha) was built in the twelfth century by King Bhaskar Verma. It is located in the courtyard of Kwabahal. Inside the upper storey of the pagoda, placed on a pedestal, are golden images of Lord Buddha and a large prayer wheel. There are a wealth of gemlike carvings on its walls and a complete life history of Buddha in gold relief.

Kumbeshwor:
Kumbeshwor temple in patan and Nyatapol temple in Bhaktapur are the only five-storeyed temples in the valley, with the exception of the round five-tiered Pancha Mukhi Hanuman of Kathamndu's Hanuman Dokha Palace. This temple of lord Shiva was expanded during the reign of King Jayasthiti Malla but originally constructed in 1392. a fair is held here on the Janai Purnima day in August.

Jagat Narayan Temple:
This is a tall imposing temple of lord Vishnu in red brick. Situated on the bank of the Bagmati River, the temple has many fine images of stone and an artistic metal statue of Garuda on a stone pillar.

Rudra varna Mahavihar:
This unique Buddhist Monastery contains a collection of images and statues in metal, stone, and wood. In ancient times, kings were crowned in this monastery. Many of the treasures offered by kings' devotees can be seen here even today.

The Ashokan Stupas:
There are four ancient stupas, popularly believed to have been built in 250 B.C. by Emperor Ashoka, at the four corners of Patan. The four stupas are located in Pulchowk, Lagankhel, Ebahi (way to Shankamul), and in Teat (way to Sano Gaon) respectively. This stupa gives evidence to the city's ancient religious importance.

Accheshwor Mahavihar:
This temple was established towards the beginning of the seventeenth century by Accheshwor who built a temple to house an idol of Lord Buddha. The Mahavihar has recently been reconstructed. It has 30 rooms including a monastry. "Dhyankuti" research area, training area, library, review rooms, and guest rooms. Situated behind the Ashokan Stupa at Pulchowk, the Mahavihar commands a beautiful view of the Kathmandu Valley.

Machchhendra Nath and Min Nath:
The Pagoda of Red Machchhendra Nath, also known as Avalokiteshowr and Adinath Lokeshowr, is housed here for six months each year. For the remaining six months, the idol is taken to its shrine in Bungmati. The temple of Min Nath is situated is Tengal, on the way to Tabahal. The temple of Min Nath is thought to be older thatn the temple of Red Machchhendra Nath.

The Zoo: The zoo is located in Jawalakhel. In the Zoo, there are many animals, birds, and reptiles, mostly representing the Himalayan Fauna. It is only zoo in Nepal. Inside is a pond built by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla. It is open daily from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 Am.

Jawalakhel Handicraft Center:
This carpet factory is managed by Tibetan rufugees and is a place where one can see the entire process of spinning, dying, and weaving Tibetan designed wool carpets. The center also has a well-stocked show room for carpet purchasing.

Patan Industrial Estate:
The Patan Industrial Estate is situated at Lagankhel, Lalitpur District near Sat Dobato. This industrial estate is well known for Nepali handicrafts such as wood carving, metal crafts, carpets, and thangka paintings. It is very interesting to see how these goods are made in the different workshops. For the visitors' convenience, there is a shopping arcade within the premises of the industrial estate. Almost all the handicraft products made in the estate are exhibited in the shopping arcade.

Godavari:
Situated at the foothills of Phulchowki, this place has splendid natural beauty. The road form Patan city runs to Godavari to the southeast, passing through the small, old towns of Harisiddhi, Thaiba, and Badegaon. A holy place in Nepal, it is also a good picnic spot amid dense forests. It is the site of the only Royal Botanical Garden in Nepal. A fish hatchery and a marble quarry also are located here.

Phulchowki:
Located around ten kilometers southeast of Patan, this mountain, 2759 meters high, is good spot for hiking. Rhododendrons of different varieties and colors from pure white to shrine is situated on top of the hill which can be reached via a motorable road.

Mobile range info:

How to reach?

Nearest Visiting places:

Sahastralinga Talav:
Sahastralinga Talav, or the tank with a thousand Shiva shrines is another of Patan's treasures, built by Jayasimha Siddharaja of the Chalukya dynasty who ruled between 1093 and 1143 AD. The 5 sq. km area of the tank was filled by the lost Saraswati river, which later dried to leave behind silt.When the tank was excavated in 1936, it revealed a large mound in the centre called the 'bakasthana' on which a platform was raised, its subterranean channels, steps, a bridge and the side elevation. A channel about a kilometer long and 5 metres wide brought water from the Saraswati to the tank.

Rani-ka-Vav:
Rated as one of the most intricately carved of the ancient 120 step wells built by the rulers of Gujarat, it also finds a place in the UNESCO World Heritage site list. It was built in the 11th century in memory of King Bhimdev I, the second ruler of the Solanki dynasty by his widow Queen Udaymati. The step well remained buried under the sands for 800 years till it was discovered by the Archaeological Society of India in the 1980s.It is believed that a larger treasure lies around the Rani-ki-Vav, assuming that the step well was used by the royal family living in the vicinity.

Adiya:
This spot consist of two picnic location of attraction 1) The 14th century Jain temple 2) The Shri Chanasma Teerth. Apart from this you have Shri Agam Mandir Teerth at Hariji and Patan town as the nearby interesting tourist spots.

Hariji:
Shri Agam Mandir Teerth of Mahavir is the main spot of visit added to it you have Shankeshwar Padmavati teerth as the other tourist location.

Mujpur:
The main tourist spot of Munjpur is the Shri Jotingada Parshwanath teerth. Apart from this you have Shankeshwar Parshwanath teerth at Shankeshwar, Shri Panchasar jain temple at Panchasar and Shri Modhera teerth at Modhera, all these Jain associated temples are situated close to Munjpur. The 11th century Sun temple at Modhera is also a worth visiting spot.

Shankeshwar:
This spot is known to be a spiritual destiny, the Shri Shankeshwar Parshwanath teerth, dedicated to Shri Shankeshwar Parshwanath Bhagvan is known pilgrim center here. Nearby the Jain pilgrim spots are Shri Jotingada Parshwanath at Munjpur , Shri Panchasar Jain temple at Panchasar and Shri Chintamani Parshwanath at Modhera are close serene locations in Shankeshwar.

Siddhpur:
It is another ancient town of Gujarat dates back even to the ages of Purana. Siddhpur is located on the banks of River Saraswati , its landscape prevails holistic with numerous temples, Ashrams, Kunds and Sacred buildings . Previously, the Bohra Muslims where the dominants over here, the well , the paved streets , service lane, mosques, and beautiful mansions that still exist set as an example. Siddhpur named after the famous ruler of Gujarat namely Siddhraj Jaisinh, he has set a mark by constructing an exuberant Rudra Mahalaya temple during the year of 12th century is a mark of reformation. This place is referred as "Sristhala" in Skanda Purana . the major input on Hinduism prevailed here because of the unique geographical features of the River saraswati. Wherein, it turns eastward flow in the town helped add air of sanctification to siddhpur, therefore, Hindus gather here to perform ritual ceremony for maternal spirits on the shores, namely 'Matru Shraddha'. This entire town is today being dominant of Hindu religious activities. The other places of interest are Thali building, Rudra Mahalaya and Mansions of Bohra Muslims. Vadnagar at the distances of 42 kms , Sharmishta Talav and Kirti Toran constitute are the nearby tourist attractions.

Vagdod:
Located on the routes between Patan to Deesa, the spot is famous for its Siddhpur camel fair celebrated on trhe Karthika Poornima day, which is the special event that pulls in multitude of people every year. Nearby, you are easily accessible to the 14th century Shri Chanasma Teerth.

Bahucharaji:
Here, there is a famous temple namely to the Goddess Bahucharaji and also there is a collection of three temples termed as Adyasthan [original site] and Madyasthan. During the full moon day devotees swan in to perform tonsorial ceremonies. The important fair is hosted by the Bahucharaji temple during the month March-April in order to perform rituals at night.

Kadi:
This place is famous for the Jain temple around. The nearby attractions are Kunadal, Adundara villages and Shri Bhoyani Teeth.

Kalol:
Kalol Swaminarayan Temple is the main attraction for the tourist. Moreover, the large Indian handigraft emporium namely Shri Vishwa Karma handicraft is located here, and nearby 7kms you have Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Limited as the tourist visiting spot. The Shri Vamaj Tirth, a serene Jain Temple at Vamaj is also near to this place.

Modhera:
The other name of this place is Mundera, it is a big pilgrim center with numerous temples around and brings in a huge number of devotees from places around every year. This spot is renowned to be very ancient even from the dates of Puranic age. It is believed that in this township, where Lord Ram performed a Yajna [sacrifice]of sanctification for the sins of having killed Ravana, the king of Lanka.this city of temple is located on the banks of the Pushpavathi River,in Mehsana district and the people worship Lord Surya as this main deity. The main attraction here is the Sun temple which built in the pattern of solanki architecture and it dates to the 11th century during the rule of king Bhimdev 1 of Patan. Here, there is a pond namely Surya Kund, often used by the devotees, the amazing site is that, over 100 small temples are seen on the step-terraces around this high pond.

Taranga Hills:
The hill region is thronged three peaks around and Taranga is near to the Jain Temple of Idol which is said to be the Jain Siddha Kshetra. These hills have 5 Digambar and 5 Shwetambar temples and it is said that several saints have obtained final emancipation after powerful austerities from here. The beautiful temple of Lord Ajitnath is located here, this was constructed during the 12th century by the Shwetambar Solanki king, Kumarapal of Patan.

Thol wildlife sanctuary:
The circumference of this jungle is 7sq. km and it is a home of nature and beauty filled in with variety of wildfowl, flamingos, gray pelicans, black ibis and wetland birds. The best seasons are the month of October to March.

Unjha:
This town is another antique location of the district. Here, you have the temple of Umia Mata, dedicated by the family of Kadva Patels. It serves as a base for those who visit Modhera temple. Apart, from this, the village is famous for Ayurvedic pharmacy and Medicine Manufacturing. The main trade transaction from this village is Jeera, Oilseeds, Cumin, Variyali and Isabgul. The main ritual to this village is the marriage custom of Kadvakanbis who still inherits here, Great Bonanja of fair is held oft a Maha Sud and Vaishak Sud.

Vadnagar:
The town is very ancient and has great important historical values. The six 12th century gates with great work of historic ambience welcome you to this town, which really takes us back to the past. This town is enriched with numerous temples, narrow lanes, small houses, plinths and pillars talks about the values of ancient architecture. The town is still at its old charm un faded. Among the six 12th century Gates, Amarthol is the oldest one that still exists in this town. The major attractions are the Kirti Mandir, which is significant for its 12th century Torana Gates is here and the famous Lord Shiva temple known as the 17th century Hatkeshwar temple is a prime pilgrimage center.. Other places of tourist interest are Kasivishvesvara Shiva temple, Swaminarayan Temple, Sitla Mata Temple and two other Jain Temple.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

Jyothi Petrol Pump:Mehsana,Gujarat,India

Shiv Shakthi Petrol Pump:Palanpur,Banaskantha,Gujarat,India

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

Hotel Janpath:Mehsana,Gujarat,India

Lajwanti Hotel:Palanpur,Banaskantha,Gujarat,India

nav jivan hotel:Patan,Gujrat,India

Things to carry:

Tips & Suggestions:

Help Line/Phone Number: