Vav (Stepwells)

Vav (Stepwell) By 3 Comments

The landscape of the Baroda city is dotted with several ‘vavs’ (stepwell) and had more than 100 vavs at one point in time. Unfortunately, few of them are accessible and even fewer are in a well-maintained state. Below are the descriptions of the few accessible vavs.

Navlakhi Vav:
Navlakhi Vav

Located in the Lukshmi Vilas Palace compound, the Navlakhi vav is probably the only remnant of the Gurjar rule in Baroda. A plaque on the vav says it was built in Sultan Muzaffar Shah’s time in the 15th century. Ramesh Joshi’s book ‘Imarat Ane Avshesho — Baroda Nagari no Prachin Itihas ’ says that on one of the lower floors of the vav is a Brahmi inscription. It states that Suryaraj Kalchuri, a general of the Gurjar Kingdom and son-in-law of King Daddh I, built this vaav in the then Vatpatraka settlement. The vav came to be known as the Navlakhi Vav because 9 lakh gold coins were spent in its construction.

Later, it was restored by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III after which it became accessible to the lowest floor. Earlier it used to supply drinking water to the Lukshmi Vilas Palace, and now it supplies water to the Golf Course.

Sevasi Vav (Vidhyadhar Vav) :

Situated in the outskirts of the city, on the way to Sindhrot is the 500-year-old Sevasi Vav. Considered as the oldest and most beautiful vav of Sultan Mehmud Begada’s time. According to a Devnagari inscription on one of its beam, it was built around 1496 (Vikram Samvat 1549). The inscription also states that it was built to commemorate a spiritual leader, Vidyadhar, who died early and was revered in Sevasi village.

The vav is built with a combination of brick masonry and a system of stone columns and goes seven levels below the ground. Just like any other vav, this one is also oriented in the east-west direction. It is decorated with motifs of torans, flowers, bells and of animals such as elephants and horses and birds. The intermediate levels of the vav have false ‘jharokhas’ on its walls inscribed with floral patterns. The structure is accessed through a gate-like structure with a dome in the center. This gate is decorated with motifs of elephants and tigers in relief work on the right and left side respectively. It is said, young girls decked in gold were sacrificed at Sevasi stepwell on full moon nights, for prosperity.

Because of the lack of security, the vav got encroached by a person who damaged the frescoes by painting them orange in order to make a living out of it. The acid from the combination of smoke and moisture from burning offerings has come to damage the plaster-work. Despite the complaints being made to the authorities, the matter has not been looked into and the person continues to do so without any repercussions.

Tandalja Vav :

It is said that the Tandalja Vav was built during the Gaekwadi era over 200 years ago. Over the years, housing societies have come up in the area surrounding the vav, causing the vav to fall in neglect. In 2014, the dome in the entrance of the vav was brought down. The interior side of this dome had artistic murals depicting gods, animal motifs and narratives of war and life during the Gaekwadi era. Earlier, people living nearby used water from the stepwell, but now it has contaminated water strewn with garbage.

Saptamukhi vav:

Situated in the heart of the Dabhoi city on the banks of Dabhoi Talav is the Saptamukhi vav. It is said that it was constructed during the 13th century A.D. The ruins indicate that there were porches on the southern and the northern side of the central portion with the flights of steps from the eastern side giving access to the vav. This may mean that the vav was a ‘jaya’ type stepwell meaning that it could be accessed from 3 sides via flights of steps. The central/shaft portion of this vav is topped with a chattri. What remains of the vav can be seen embellished with carvings of gods and jharokha motifs.

Currently, the vav lies in a ruinous state with its surrounding littered from its broken stone pillars.

Here is the List of Step-wells located inside/around the City:

• Khanderao Stepwell
• Koyali Stepwell
• Hetampura Stepwell
• Kelanpur Stepwell
• Sayaji Vav
• Saptamukhi Vav (Dabhoi)
• Dumad Chowkdi Vav
• Urmi School Vav
• Asoj Vav
• Gorwa Stepwell
• Kadak Bazaar Vav (Demolished)

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3 Comments

  1. Kash says:

    Today even i visited the same vav. I feel mysterious inside it. The sculpture on each floor plotted on both side (people worship that sculpture), seems giving some kind of clue in it. And even the big matrix sculpted at the entrance, life side while entering is looking some kind of circuit board is also seems mysterious and wonderful.

  2. Sanjay Gadhalay says:

    Amazing history and. Lovely locals willing to share the stories

  3. Hiten Rathod says:

    Solo visiting Vavs nearby Ahmedabad. Good to see a comprehensive list of Vavs at Baroda. Guidance for Vav visitors at Baroda. A valuable information on Vavs at Baroda.

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