"Rani-ki-Vav, on the banks of the Saraswati River, was initially built as
a memorial to a king in the 11th century AD. Stepwells are a
distinctive form of subterranean water resource and storage systems on
the Indian subcontinent, and have been constructed since the 3rd
millennium BC. They evolved over time from what was basically a pit in
sandy soil towards elaborate multi-storey works of art and architecture.
Rani-ki-Vav was built at the height of craftsmens’ ability in stepwell
construction and the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, reflecting
mastery of this complex technique and great beauty of detail and
proportions. Designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of
water, it is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels
of high artistic quality; more than 500 principle sculptures and over a
thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular
imagery, often referencing literary works. The fourth level is the
deepest and leads into a rectangular tank 9.5 m by 9.4 m, at a depth of
23 m. The well is located at the westernmost end of the property and
consists of a shaft 10 m in diameter and 30 m deep." -http://whc.unesco.org/
Thank you so much Nagi for sharing with me this wonderful postcard
showing the recently proclaimed Indian UNESCO Site Rani-ki-Vav!
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