World Heritage Stepwell Special tour from Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Covering the most famous and UNESCO recognised highly important world heritage stepwells with maginificient and epic architectural style with lot of photogenic spots and photo opportunity.
Description & Instructions When Visiting Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Covering the most famous and UNESCO recognised highly important world heritage stepwells with maginificient and epic architectural style with lot of photogenic spots and photo opportunity.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Adalaj Step-well, Adalaj District-Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad India
Visitors would feel history as they step down the step well with its cool ambiance and colossal architecture. Visiting the historic monument is a captivating experience especially for history buffs. The spectacular edifice was often visited by locals for performing traditional rituals. A striking sandstone structure with a square stepped platform leads to a deep well below. There is an opening in the ceilings above the landing which allows the light and air to enter the octagonal well. However, direct sunlight does not touch the flight of steps or landings except for a brief period at noon. Hence some researchers say that the atmosphere inside the well is six degrees cooler than the outside. Another remarkable feature of this stepwell is that out of the many stepwells in Gujarat, it is the only one with three entrance stairs. All three stairs meet at the first storey, underground in a huge square platform, which has an octagonal opening on top. The vav is a spectacular example of Indo-Islamic architecture and design. The harmonious play of intricate Islamic floral patterns seamlessly fusing into Hindu and Jain symbolism embody the culture and ethos of those times. All the walls carved by ornamentation, mythological scenes along with everyday scenes of women churning buttermilk, dancers accompanied by musicians, women adorning themselves and a king sitting on a stool. Fascinating to many visitors is the Ami Khumbor (a pot that contains the water of life) and the Kalp Vriksha (a tree of life) carved out of a single slab of stone. There is a belief that the small frieze of navagraha (nine-planets) towards the edge of the well protects the monument from evil spirits.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Sun Temple, On Becharaji Highway, Modhera 384212 India
Visiting the marvellous Modhera Sun Temple of Mehsana, Gujarat, is sure to leave your heart with a duality of thoughts. It’s a mixed feeling of both surprise and anguish. The precision of this jaw-dropping structure of Modhera and the hard work of the thousands behind it is going to leave your mind surprised. And it’ll also leave you anguished when you realise that all these majesties were plundered with one stroke of destruction by Mahmud Ghazni. Standing at this moment, the temple of Modhera is just another magnificent ruin; an enigma that is lost in time.
As you relax and soothe your nerves, become one with nature and open your mind to the poetry in stone, dedicated to the sun god, living glimpses of the era far elapsed emerge out of the intricacies of narrative sculptures . The remains of the Sun Temples at Modhera are relics of times gone by when reverence of the natural elements fire, air, earth, water and sky were at their peak sharing space with myriad manifestations of Vedic gods. The ancient philosophy venerating natural elements and its association with humans was considered the prime force and energy of the life cycle. A walk around the serene temple campus makes you aware of the positively strong aura of energy which the place radiates and through it brings one closer to the environs.
the walk from the kund to guda mandap via the main temple is observed as the transcending journey from death to moksha. It’s mesmerising.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Rani Ki vav, Near the Patan Highway, 384265 India
Rani Ki Vav or ‘Queen’s Stepwell’ is a distinctive form of water storage system located in the small town of Gujarat called Patan, on the banks of River Saraswati. Believed to be the grandest stepwell in the state of Gujarat.
The 900-year-old structure listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is displayed prominently in the new ₹ 100 currency note issued by the Reserve Bank of India.
The architectural brilliance and elegance of the vav is represented in its pristine glory in the ornamental work. The beautifully proportioned sculptures of gracefully carved mahisasuramardini, parvati and other Saiva sculptures, Vishnu in different forms, Bhairava, Ganesha, Surya, Kubera, Lakshminarayan, Ashtadikpalas and other forms adorn the walls, The female figures has been depicted in various poses of Apsaras, Nagakanyas, Yoginis etc.
The most imposing imagery here is present at the water level of the Rani ki Vav, where you can see Vishnu reclining on the thousand-hooded serpent Shesha.
Duration: 2 hours
Duration: 12 hours
Starts: Ahmedabad, India
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
