The Queen's Stepwell at PatanIllustrations: 75 colour and 136 b/w figures and 26 plans Description: In the arid region of Gujarat and Rajasthan with scarce rain, a highly original architectural form developed, that of the stepwell, that is, a well with a long flight of steps leading down to the water's edge. The steps did not remain as a mere adjunct to the well, but increased in complexity. Structural necessity to hold back the loose earth, coupled with the builder's Jove of the ornate, transformed the flight of steps into an elaborate stairway, with many pillared pavilions demarcating the stages and with many storeys on successive pavilions. The Ranki Vav, or the Queen's Stepwell, at Patan, the old capital of Gujarat, was built by Udayamati in memory of her husband late in the eleventh century. The monument was planned on an ambitious scale, over two hundred feet in length, with a draw well nearly one hundred feet deep, and was furnished with no fewer than eight hundred sculptures. The present work is concerned with the architecture, statuary, style and chronology of the Queen's Stepwell. The method of construction is also considered to enable the reader to understand better this unique architectural form. Twenty - six large drawings, specially commissioned, and 211 colour and black - and - white photographs, illustrate the book. |
Contents
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY M POSTEL | 5 |
INTRODUCTION | 29 |
ARCHITECTURE | 39 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
adorned apsară apsară Fig arch Archaeological Survey architectural ascetic attributes Balarama beard Bhairava bracing structure Brahma broken built carved central niche consort Fig corner block corridor crown deities Dhaky discus divine couple eight facing the north feet fly-whisk four hands four-armed fourth pavilion Gaṇeśa goddess Fig Gujarat hair is arranged hand holds head IIIrd terrace IInd images incarnations Indra Īśāna IVth terrace jață Kalki karanda Kubera lotus lotuses mace metres Modhera monument mount Narasimha Nārāyaṇa natural left hand natural right hand ornaments pair Parvati Patan pavilion Niche pedestal pediment pillared panels pitcher Rajasthan Ranki rear regent rosary rows sculptures seated second pavilion side frames sinistral sinistral conch Śiva skull-cup slabs south Niche standing stele steps stepwell tank temple third pavilion third stage three snake hoods torana trident ture Twelve Gauris Udayamati upper vacant vacant niches varada varadākṣamālā Varaha Varuna Vasus VIIth Viṣṇu VIth Vth storey wall facing