At 25 kilometers from the outskirts of Ahmedabad (Ahmedabad), this is an ancient landmark with gorgeous design. It was a truly unique experience for me during my recent trip to Gujarat. Built between the 5th and 19th centuries, Adalaj Stepwell or Adalaj Ni Vav exist Ahmedabad Gandhinagar Road is an extraordinary example of Islamic architecture in India, and it endures a tragic story with fantastic architecture. This Vav (Gujarati version of Stepwell) is an ode to the way of life of ancient Indians.
For the people who consumed water throughout the year on this complex reservoir, this was a far-sighted solution to the permanent water shortage in medieval India. Although in modern times, the vestiges of this structure are the descending depths of arches and passages, little or no knowledge of what prevails underground is.
Fascinating features of Adalaj Stepwell
When I stood at the entrance of the five-story building sunk into the Solanki architectural style under the sandstone, I could see the arches and the octagonal floor plan in the background, with intricately carved pillars. This “Vav” is surrounded by towering walls and is decorated with main carvings of Islamic architecture in India, highlighting floral patterns, women who stir buttermilk, Hindu gods, dancers, musicians, and Islamic symbols. These symbols are likely to be attributed to Sultan Mahmoud Beghada built it.
The two most striking depictions that caught my attention are Kalp Vriksha (Tree of Life) and Ami Khumbor (Water of Life), each carved from a single stone. The main entrance of Adalaj Stepwell is from the south, and the other two stairs open to the east and west, eventually leading to the north side of the well.
Upon entering Adalaj Ni Vav, you will notice four small rooms with bay windows on both sides and detailed etched brackets. The entire Indian-style structure, beams and lintels extend to the lowest level. The circular Vav is well-defined, but its top is vertically open to the sky.
The open ceiling allows light and air to enter the octagonal well, but direct sunlight can only reach the steps at noon. Each of the four corners of the floor is supported by stone beams and set at an angle of 45 degrees. Most of the intricate pillar carvings are intact. In addition, I cannot avoid the charm of the murals of the Nine Planets (Navagraha), which are believed to have attracted villagers to worship in several ceremonies.
It is believed that Navagraha protects the monument from bad omen. A word from the local guide revealed that in the past, Adalaj was a frequent stopover because inside, it was 5 degrees cooler than outside.
The relatively low internal temperature encourages women to take water for a long time, which can also explain the problem and spend more time worshiping the gods. Adalaj Ni Vav integrates exquisite architectural elements such as symmetrical arches, majestic columns and exquisite carvings into the central structure, full of suspense and drama. A quick glance at the history of India’s Vav reveals that the earliest existing ones can be traced back to 600 AD, although the most enduring ones belong to the era after the 10th century.
Especially Adalaj, it was launched by Rajavir Singh of the Waghera Dynasty in 1499 and completed by King Muhammad Vegada as the Emperor’s wife Rani Rudhabai. Therefore, the aesthetics and architectural design of this Vav showcases Hindu and Islamic architecture on all levels. Rana Veer Singh was deprived of his life during the war, and Mahmud Begada assisted Rani Rudabai in preparing the building. A groove on the first floor depicts the history of Adalaj’s step well, which is carved in Sanskrit on the marble slab near the entrance to the east of the well.
The Sanskrit inscription details: “Samvat 1555 (AD 1498), the eleventh month of the year (Magha), Mahmud Padshah is the ruler and pays tribute to Ganesha (Vinayaka) worshipped by King Mokala. Further description narrates Ka The birth of Erna, his son Muraja, his grandson Mahiba, and great-grandsons Virsin and Nesha. Virsinh’s wife Rooda built this well.” Then there is the summary of the well, some compliments to the queen, and a date. Repetition.
But tragic story
As we walked through the stepwell, my guide introduced me to the ancient chronicles of its tragic origin. Here, I learned that in the 15th century, Rana Veer Singh, who ruled this small empire, decided to build a step well to alleviate the water shortage of the people of his kingdom. However, before the completion of the building, the Muslim ruler Muhammad Beghda from the neighboring dominion attacked the territory and King Rana was killed in the fighting. Muhammad Beghdad subsequently acquired this kingdom.
Although Rana Veer Singh’s beautiful widow, Rani Roodabai, wanted to devote herself to her husband’s funeral pyre, Begada prohibited her from doing so, instead Propose to her. Rani Roodabai agreed to marry Mohammed Begda on the condition that he will complete the construction of the well in record time. He agreed. However, once it was built, the queen abandoned her promise and jumped into the well to end her life.
The 200-year historical manuscript of the Swaminarayan sect also inferred that before committing suicide, Rani Roopba begged the saints to bathe in this step well to purify the water.
Tomb by the well
Legend has it that the tomb near the well was built by the six masons who actually built it. Similar to the Taj Mahal story, Muhammad Beghda asked these masons if they could build a similar “well”? With their consent, Bergda sentenced them to death because he didn’t like the replicas of these five-story buildings. Such a stunning building ended with such a tragic ending, which is deeply saddening. However, the design of intricate carvings has become embossed in modern times, because we viewers can appreciate a lot of things from what is left behind.
Each of the five floors is spacious, and the wells are dug deep enough to store groundwater accumulated by rainfall over the years. Starting from the first floor, three stairs descend to the bottom of the well, which is estimated to be very unique in the era when it was built. Similarly, the ceiling has large ventilation and lighting openings on each floor, and wide openings on the arrival floor. Fast forward to today: People’s perception has transformed into an impression of the dynamic urban landscape and visual connectivity of this iconic cultural heritage.
In the past, it was difficult to find and store water in Gujarat, and this step well served as an important community structure. Today, Adalaj Ni Vav is one of the only 200 stepped wells left in Gujarat. It has withstood the test of time and is now a beam of a bygone era. Many others have become ruins or terminated after becoming unsanitary. It is said that the reason why Adalaj Ni Vav can persist for so long is because the architect has a keen understanding of the local soil and earthquake conditions.
