Fascinating Indian tours at the Adalaj Step Well

India is a land of villages,and wells. Amongst the many hues of Indian culture, the well culture is the most ancient, and even now we find a lot of remnants of past culture and ancient constructions which make up the lovely land called India. So while here it is a great idea to explore the innumerable locales which boast of the most ancient step wells in this part of the world.

The Adalaj step well is one such Hindu water building in the western part of India in the state of Ahmedabad, boasting of an architecture which is the combination of Muslim and Indian styles of construction. Built in the 15th century, this is a five storied deep step well and is a true representation of the artistic abilities of past builders here in the land of mystical experiences India.

With all this in tow, when my friends suggested that we visit the Adalaj step well for the weekend obviously, I was more than happy to go. Adalaj is a place that is very near to the city of Ahmedabad and lies in the district of Gandhinagar. Adalaj is in fact the most popular amongst the Indian step wells many tourists come here, and enjoy the lovely surroundings and the mystical ambience that is so much part of the Adalaj step well. Step wells were normally used in olden days by those traveling in the caravans and those who needed a stopover in their long travels.

I for one was totally struck by the lovely architectural splendour of the place and was quite impressed with the way the rock cut beauty stared at us.

The way the step well was built seemed as if it was a form of tribute to the step well culture in India. Initially built by a Hindu and then decorated by a Muslim shows the way the harmonious existence of two religions could survive in this land of architectural splendour.

In fact the step well has a legend attached to it. In the 15th century, Rana Veer Singh of the Vaghela dynasty ruled over this place which was then called Dandai Desh. Mohammed Begda attacked it and Rana got killed in the battle. Rana Veer Singh’s widow was Rani Roopba who was in deep grief after the death of her husband and agreed to get married to Mohammed Begda if he promised that he would complete the construction of the step well. The Muslim king was very enamored by this queen and he agreed. Once the construction got over, Begda went to marry the queen, but Roopba was smarter and she declined to get married to him, and went round the step well started by her husband and jumped into the well.

There were six tombs near the well and these were believed to be built when Begda asked the masons if they build another well. They couldn’t and he killed them and these are the tombs that we see.

The step well is made of sandstone and has an octagonal top. With the floor very airy and spacious there are light vents in the roofs and staircases which take you up the stories. The well is built along a North South Axis and has its entry point from South. There are three staircases that are from the East, West and South directions. They all go to the landing. The landing is on the northern portion of the well. As we went round I also saw four small rooms. These had oriel windows. There were lot of decorations in the windows and there lovely brackets that made it look even more elegant. The tinidan style structure with the horizontal beams and lintels. There is a beautiful floor in the shape of a funnel at the base of the well and this is what is chiseled into a circular shaped well. Then there are beams, columns, arched entries and openings in the well and as it spirals around it is something to be seen to be believed. The four edges of the square have stone beams which are at a 45 degree angles. There are lovely flower motifs and Islamic graphics and also many symbols of Hindu and Jain Gods. Beautifully carved elephants and lovely Islamic architecture dominate the beauty of the step well. There re depictions of daily chores, and women dancing and singing done beautifully on the walls.

We saw a lovely representation of Ami Khumbor or the pot of water of life and also the KalpVriksha or the tree of life. We also saw a fresco showing the nine planets and these were the depictions that mainly attracted the villages here for the rituals and other ceremonies.

The temperature within is around five degrees lesser than the temperature outside. This is the main reason ladies used to come here , have bath, fetch water and also use it as a place to chatter and often prayed here to their favourite gods and goddesses.

Located around 18 km from Ahmedabad, the Adalaj Step Well is accessed easily from the city which is accessible by air, road and rail.

The Adalaj Step well is only one of the many proofs that we have about the glory of Indian history and the interesting events that have happened here.