Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
Located on the banks of the Saraswati River, Rani Jivav was originally built in memory of a king in the 11th century AD. Stepwells are a unique form of groundwater resource and water storage system in the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed since the 3rd millennium BC. Over time, they evolved from essentially pits in the sand to elaborate multi-layered works of art and architecture. Built at the height of stepwell construction and the Maru-Gurjara architectural style of artisans, Rani Jivav reflects the mastery of this complex technique and the ultimate beauty of detail and proportion. Designed as an inverted temple, it highlights the sacredness of water and is divided into seven levels of stairs, with carved panels of high artistic quality; over 500 major sculptures and more than a thousand minor sculptures combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often quoting literary works. The fourth level is the deepest, leading to a rectangular pool 9.5 meters long and 9.4 meters wide, with a depth of 23 meters. The well is located at the westernmost end of the property and consists of a vertical shaft 10 meters in diameter and 30 meters deep.