Rani Ki Vav, on the banks of the Saraswati River, was initially built as a memorial to a king in the 11th century AD. Stepwells are a distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on the Indian subcontinent and have been constructed since the 3rd millennium BC. It’s situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat, India.
They evolved over time from what was basically a pit in sandy soil towards elaborate multi-story works of art and architecture. Rani Ki Vav was built at the height of craftsmen’s ability in stepwell construction and the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, reflecting mastery of this complex technique and the incredible beauty of detail and proportions.
Designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water, it is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels of high artistic quality; more than 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological, and secular imagery, often referencing literary works.
