Mata Bhavani's Stepwell

Mata Bhavani's Stepwell or Mata Bhavani ni Vav is a stepwell in Asarwa area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Mata Bhavani's Stepwell
Mata Bhavani's Stepwell, 1866
StatusActive
Location
LocationAsarwa, Ahmedabad
MunicipalityAhmedabad Municipal Corporation
StateGujarat
Mata Bhavani's Stepwell is located in Ahmedabad
Mata Bhavani's Stepwell
Location in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Mata Bhavani's Stepwell is located in Gujarat
Mata Bhavani's Stepwell
Mata Bhavani's Stepwell (Gujarat)
Geographic coordinates23°02′40″N 72°36′25″E / 23.0443357°N 72.6068337°E / 23.0443357; 72.6068337
Architecture
Typestepwell

History and architecture

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Mata Bhavani's stepwell was built in the 11th century during Chaulukya dynasty rule in Gujarat. It is one of the earliest existing examples of stepwells in India. A long flight of steps leads to the water below a sequence of multi-story open pavilions positioned along the east–west axis. The elaborate ornamentation of the columns, brackets and beams are a prime example of how stepwells were used as a form of art.[1] A much later constructed small shrine of Hindu Goddess Bhavani is located in the lower gallery from which the stepwell derived its name.[2] It was built before the establishment of the modern city of Ahmedabad.[3]

The stepwell is 46 metres long and 5.1 metres wide at its entrance. It has three stories and three pavilions. The diameter of the well is 4.8 metres.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tadgell, Christopher (1990). The History of Architecture in India. London: Phaidon Press. ISBN 0-7148-2960-9.
  2. ^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Ahmedabad. Government Central Press. 1879. pp. 282–283.
  3. ^ Shukla, Rakesh (24 June 2014). "ક્યારેક લોકોની તરસ છિપાવતા હતા ગુજરાતના આ જળ મંદિરો-માતા ભવાનીની વાવ". gujarati.oneindia.com (in Gujarati). Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  4. ^ Jutta Jain-Neubauer (1 January 1981). The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective. Abhinav Publications. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-0-391-02284-3.