Rani ki Vav, Patan

Rani Ki Vav, Gujarat The Queen's Stepwell or Rani Ki Vav is a sub terrain rock cut step well on the banks of the river Saraswati in the Patan town of Gujarat in India. The most found instance of step well use is found in the provinces of Indian subcontinent where the flourish of Indus Valley civilization occurred. However the most recent exaction of a certain sub terrain step well architecture confirms the use of step well and that too at the fag end of 1st millennium CE. The Rani Ki Vav in Patan is that proof.

Rani Ki Vav is actually an inverted temple built along the banks of the river according to the design and civil architecture of step wells unearthed as late as in the year 1980s by the Archaeological Survey of India because the site remains flooded by the recurrent floods in Saraswati River

As the name states the step well inverted temple was built by the order and under the supervision of a certain queen of the Chaulukya Dynasty. After the death of Chaulukya King Bhimdev I in 1064 CE, his widowed queen, Udaymati and his son Karna, built this structure as a memorial of the late king. The temple is made of rock cutting and edifice sculpturing based of Maru Gurjara architectural style. The temple has many pillars and intricate corridors with a central courtyard and a main stepping welling of five stages. The temple houses as many as 500 principal sculptures and statues of which the main ate the ten avatars or incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
This is a great tourist attraction and a place of great historical and architectural brilliance. The site has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and conferred as the Cleanest Iconic Place by INDOSAN.

How to Reach
By Air: To Reach Ran ki Vav in Patan, the nearest airport is Ahmedabad. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is 124 kilometers away. Frequent flights are available from the domestic and international destinations. From the air terminal, cabs, buses and hired vehicles takes you to the charming town.
By Rail: The nearest railhead to reach Ran Ki Vav in Patan is 41 kilometers away. The Mahesana Railway Station Junction is the nearest well-connected railway junction. Trains are easily available from major cities of the country.
By Road: Patan housing the Ran Ki Vav is well networked. Roads extensively connect the city to major cities of the state. Intercity State buses, AC and non Ac cars and shared jeeps frequently arrive from Ahmedabad to the city and its treasured heritage.

Gujarat Tourism

Gujarat Tourism On the western coast of India, the state of Gujarat is the "Jewel of the West" in India. In Gujarat, one of India's most industrialized and prosperous states, you find the modern milieu and the age-old traditions happily married. The state derives its name from 'Gujjaratta' - meaning the land of the Gujjars, a tribe who migrated to India long back in 5th century AD. But some archeological findings from areas like Lothal, Dholavira, Rangpur, date back to the period of the Indus Valley Civilization. Since then, the state has seen the rise and fall of a number of mighty empires like the Mauryas, the Khiljis and other Muslim rulers, the Marathas till the British. The people of Gujarat reflect the vibrant culture of the state. They love to wear colorful dresses and the women prefer wearing a lot of ornaments. Most of the people speak in Gujarati. Hindi, Urdu, Sindhi and English are also spoken in Gujarat.