Rani-ki-Vav, on the banks of the Saraswati River in Gujarat’s Patan district, was initially built as a memorial to a king in the 11th century AD. 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. Designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water, it is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels of artistic quality. Rani-ki-Vav is an example of a distinctive form of subterranean water architecture of the Indian subcontinent, the stepwell. More than 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often referencing literary works. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
