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 | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Asarwa, Ahmedabad |
| Municipality | Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation |
| State | Gujarat |
  Location in Gujarat, India | |
| Geographic coordinates | 23.0443357°N 72.6068337°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | stepwell |
History and architecture
Mata Bhavani's stepwell was built in the 11th century during Chaulukya dynasty rule in Gujarat. It is one of the earliest existing example 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 at lower gallery from which the stepwell derived its name.[2] It is built before the establishment of modern city of Ahmedabad.[3]
The stepwell is 46 metre long and 5.1 metre wide at entrance. It has three stories and three pavilions. The diameter of well is 4.8 metre.[4]
References
- Tadgell, Christopher (1990). The History of Architecture in India. London: Phaidon Press. ISBN 0-7148-2960-9.
- Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Ahmedabad. Government Central Press. 1879. pp. 282–283.
- 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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.
