ADALAJ KI VAV (Stepwell)

Adalaj ki vav is a 20km detour from the city of Ahmedabad took me to Adalaj , a village reputed for an architectural wonder  : a marvellous stepwell or vav built in 1499 to hold water , offer spiritual sustenance and be a  refuge for the travellers and local people . 

As soon as I stepped into the ornate structure ,  I was bowled over by its striking beauty . What makes Adalaj distinct from other stepwells is its spectacular mix of Indo - Islamic architecture and designs . The legend behind its genesis is as intriguing as its architectural brilliance . The saga of the stepwell's creation has love and war , betrayal and devotion . 

The details of this story has been inscribed on the pillars and walls in Sanskrit and Pali . The Adalaj ki vav was commissioned by Rani Roopba , the queen of Rana Veersingh , a local chief who was vanquished by the Muslim ruler , Mohammed Begada . Smitten by her stunning bauty , Begada proposed her . 

Playing it safe , the dejected queen agreed to the proposal on condition that he complete five - storied stepwell as a sign of devotion . Enticed by her charms , Begada agreed to take up the challenging task . The excavatiom and construction work , which had stalled abruptly , began in right earnest. As years rolled by , an edifice juxtaposing the old Indian architectural ideals with the nobility of Islamic architecture , emerged .  

When the five - storied structure was nearing completion , Rani Roopba plunged into waters and ended her life . This has sanctified the place and many rural people carry back water from this well , like the river Ganga water . Every visitor prays for the spirit of the Rani who is believed to still live here . Begada halted construction immediately , which could explain the incomplete dome , but did not demolish it . the enraged ruler ensured that his exemplary stepwell would not be replicated and hence put to death the masons involved in its construction .

The Adalaj ki vav stands as the major monument of its kinf , with three ectrance stairs leading to a stepped corridor . These three entrances meet at the first story , underground , in a huge suquare platform . There are openings in the many ceilings which make way for good ventilation for the octagonal well . However , direct sunlight does not touch the flight of steps or landings except for a bried period at noon . The structures interplay with the light is worth a see . Best time to go would be when the suns up and when you , are underground . 

And it is even said that the actual reason it was built was to store the rain water during the monsoon reason as people can make use of that water . Whether the story behind this construction is a happy or a sad ending but this place is a very beautiful , elegant , calm and restoring place with many emotions , architecture , history .