Modhera Vav is a
stepwell
Stepwells (also known as vav or baori) are wells, cisterns or ponds with a long corridor of steps that descend to the water level. Stepwells played a significant role in defining subterranean architecture in western India from the 7th to the ...
in
Modhera
Modhera is a village in Becharaji Taluka in Mehsana district, Gujarat, India. The town is well known for the Sun Temple of Chaulukya era. The town is located on the bank of Pushpavati river.
History
The town was known as Dharmaranya during Pu ...
village in
Mehsana district
Mehsana district (alternate spelling "Mahesana") is one of the 33 districts of Gujarat state in western India. Mehsana city is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district has a population of over 1.8 million and an area of over ...
,
Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
, India. The stepwell belongs to the 11th century while the ''
mandapa
A ''mandapa'' or ''mantapa'' () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture and Jain temple architecture.
''Mandapas'' are described as "open" or "closed" dependin ...
'' origins from the 10th century. It is the state protected monument.
History
The stepwell is located about a kilometre to the east of
''Surya kunda'' of
Sun Temple, Modhera
The Sun Temple of Modhera is a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya located at Modhera village of Mehsana district, Gujarat, India. It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati. It was built after 1026-27 CE during the reig ...
.
Formerly, it was considered that it belonged to the mid-10th century but now it is observed that the stepwell may belong to the 11th century with the ''
mandapa
A ''mandapa'' or ''mantapa'' () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture and Jain temple architecture.
''Mandapas'' are described as "open" or "closed" dependin ...
'' above the second ''kuta'' (pavilion-tower) may belong to the 10th century which may have been a separate shrine moved from elsewhere to this stepwell.
It is the state protected monument (S-GJ-281).
Architecture
The stepwell is small, moderately ornamented and is constructed using sandstone blocks and stone slabs. It has one entrance, three storeys and three ''kuta''s (pavilion-towers). The narrow stepped corridor is broad. It features small, square pavilions supported by unornamented pilasters. These square ''ruchaka'' type pilasters have a simple design, except for a decorative volute-pattern on the brackets. The well-shaft includes three pairs of
strut
A strut is a structural component commonly found in engineering, aeronautics, architecture and anatomy. Struts generally work by resisting longitudinal compression, but they may also serve in tension.
A stay is sometimes used as a synonym for ...
s decorated with motifs of diamond (''ratna'') on the top and a ''
kirtimukha
Kirtimukha (Sanskrit: कीर्तिमुख ,', also ', a bahuvrihi compound translating to "glorious face") is the name of a swallowing fierce face with huge fangs, and gaping mouth, very common in the iconography of Hindu temple architectu ...
'' below it. These struts would have supported structures for drawing water from the well.
The small ''mandapa'' above the ground level and located on the second ''kuta'' of stepwell displays characteristics of its early origin. It has a small simple single-celled ''
garbhagriha
A ''garbhagriha'' () is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, often referred to as the "holy of holies" or " sanctum sanctorum".
The term ''garbhagriha'' (literally, "womb chamber") comes from the Sanskrit words ''garbha'' for ...
'' (sanctum sanctorum) with the doorframe depicting lotus leaves pattern.
Gallery
File:Modhera_Vav_(27540).jpg, Three ''kuta''s (pavilion-towers) with ''mandapa'' on second ''kuta''
File:Modhera Vav (46537).jpg, ''Mandapa'' with the doorframe depicting lotus leaves pattern
File:Modhera Vav (93035).jpg, Square pavilions supported by unornamented pilasters
File:Modhera Vav (89286).jpg, Well-shaft with three pairs of struts decorated with motifs of diamond (ratna) and kirtimukha
See also
*
Adalaj Vav
*
Boter Kothani Vav
*
Rani ki Vav
Rani Ki Vav () is a stepwell situated in the town of Patan, Gujarat, Patan in Gujarat, India. It is located on the banks of the Saraswati River, Gujarat, Saraswati River. Its construction is attributed to Udayamati, the spouse of the 11th-centur ...
References
{{Mehasana
Stepwells in Gujarat
Tourist attractions in Mehsana district
Buildings and structures completed in the 11th century
Modhera