Ranki Vav (The Stepwell of Ranki)

The Ranki Vav is situated on the bank of the river Saraswati in the North-west of the city of Patan. It is the oldest among the beautiful and ornate stepwells that are found in Gujarat. Udaymati, the queen of the Solanki King Bhimdev First had it built in approximately the eleventh century. This stepwell is a manifestation of the art, culture and devotion to beauty.

The well has been constructed in the east-west direction. The entrance is in the east and the reservoir is in the west. According to the classification made in the science of architecture, this well is of the 'Nanda' type. This well had seven storeys. As of today five of them have been preserved. The well is 65m in length and 20m wide. The reservoir is 28m deep. 

The Ranki Vav is a treasure of the sculpture and architecture of the Chalukyan style. There is a great wealth of sculptures here. There is here a harmonious blend of the Shaiva (Worshippers of Lord Shiva). Vaishnava (Worshippers of Lord Vishnu) and the Shakti (The Goddess of Power) cults. Images of Shiva, Ganesh and the twenty-four forms of Vishnu are carved out on the walls of the well. Sculptures of gods and goddesses and the image of Vishnu sleeping on the Sheshanag (The King of snakes) found on the walls of the well are really excellent. The sculptures of a woman writing a letter, a young belle looking at her own image in the mirror, a beauty applying collirium to her eyes with a collyrium stick-all these are magnificent specimens of sculpture. One can savour the beauty of the artistic images created by a mastercarver. The Ranki Vav is an epic of beauty carved in stone. It provides a visual feast to lovers of art and the seekers of knowledge.

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