Well & Vav update

It was in the month of Oct. '07 when I first visited the Helical stepped well . At that time the well was quite full with water and I could not see the steps beyond a point. Yesterday I saw the inner beauty of this well, most of the helical steps were visible ... or so I thought, and I noticed that the actual well is rather deep. Compare the pictures : then ....

& now....!

And here is a picture taken from top left side of the well with helical steps in full view :

Sometime back I had visited another simple yet sophisticated water management structure at Champaner, called Gebanshah's Vav or stepwell. I was informed that first landing level of the well was just the beginning, this well has several levels and is quite deep. True. Yesterday I saw its second & partly filled third level. Compare the pictures : then ....

& now ....!

I am not sure if this vav dries up during summer season, which is fast approaching. However, if and when that happens, I will be there to see how the entire structure looks in absence of any water.

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Gebanshah's Vav

Rulers of Champaner-Pavagadh were managing water & its resources quite well. Only one small river called Vishwamitri flows down the hill, which probably did not provide sufficient water during dry, non-mansoon or drought prone periods; hence there existed refined systems for collection of seasonal rain-water and its utilization.

Several small and big Talao, Stepwells and Vavs, Kunds, village wells, tanks, channels and waterworks at Amir Manzil, all indicating careful resource management; and as we climb Pavagadh hill, reach its top and return to ground that we realizes how natural topography was utilized to build “water intelligence” for the city.

Water was life sustaining for the flora & fauna and it also served spiritual and religious purposes in temples, for pilgrimage & worship.

At the base of Pavagadh hill, one simple yet sophisticated water management structure is worth mentioning, called Gebanshah’s Vav or stepwell.

According to the classical texts, there are four type of stepwells, viz., Nanda, Bhadra, Jaya & Vijaya, as shown below:

This Nanda type of stepwell was built around 16th Century AD by a fakir called Gebanshah. Built as community assets, stepwells were fed by subsoil flow with soil acting as a natural filter.

Special sand stone was used for its construction and it is minimally ornamented. Ledges at each landing level are continued around the well shaft. The entrance probably had a pavilion.

I look forward to update this post when the well water recedes, because, I am told that first landing level is just the beginning, this well has several levels and is quite deep.