Boter Kothani Vav

Last updated

Boter Kothani Vav
Boter Kotha ni Vav Mehsana Stepwell 2.jpg
Stepwell interior with exposed bricks
Boter Kothani Vav
Interactive map of Boter Kothani Vav
Alternative namesMehsana Vav
General information
Architectural style Indian architecture
Location Mehsana, India
Coordinates 23°36′12″N72°24′05″E / 23.603431°N 72.401489°E / 23.603431; 72.401489
Completed1674
Technical details
Floor countEleven storied stepwell
Design and construction
ArchitectLocal

Boter Kothani Vav, also known as Mehsana Vav [1] or Interi Vav, [2] is a stepwell located in Mehsana, Gujarat, India. It was completed in 1674 and was renovated in 2025.

Contents

History

The stepwell was constructed during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. An inscription dated Samvat  1731 (1674 CE) in Persian and Devnagari scripts states that it was commissioned by Shah Gokaldas from Laghu Shakha of Shrimali caste, and his mother Manabai for public welfare. [1] [3] Gokaldas is a son of Virji who is a son of Vaka and grandson of Tejpal, as mentioned in the inscription. [4]

Repaired and renovated during the Gaekwad rule, [5] [6] it became neglected and polluted. It was cleaned by the Mehsana Municipality in 2013. [6] [7] [8] It was cleaned again and its water was approved for use in gardens in 2020. [9] In November 2025, the Mehsana Municipal Corporation started the renovation, upgradation and restoration of the stepwell and it's surroundings at a cost of ₹2.66 crore (US$310,000). The site is spread over an area of 1,600 square metres (17,000 sq ft). A paved walkway, sitting arrangements of 40 people, a garden, lighting poles, a security cabin and an open air interpretation centre will be constructed in 700 square metres (7,500 sq ft) of it. [10] [11] [12]

Architecture

It is located near Bhimnath Mahadev temple in Para area. [13] It is constructed of bricks and sandstone. [6] It is 14 to 15 metres (45 to 50 ft) long[ citation needed ] and eleven floors deep, and has unique twin wells. [6] It is known as Boter Kothani Vav, literally the stepwell with 72 cells. [3] [14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Purnima Mehta Bhatt (16 December 2014). Her Space, Her Story: Exploring the Stepwells of Gujarat. Zubaan. pp. 57–58. ISBN   978-93-84757-08-3. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "મહેસાણાની ઐતિહાસીક વિરાસત એવી 'બોત્તેર કોઠા'ની વાવ ફરીથી તંત્રની ઉદાસિનતાનો". Divya Bhaskar (in Gujarati). 13 May 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  3. 1 2 S. B. Rajyagor, ed. (1975). Gujarat State Gazetteers: Mehsana District. Gujarat State Gazetteers. Vol. 5. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Government of Gujarat. p. 805. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Bhojak, Kanaiyalal Amthalal (1957). Mehsana: Prachin Arvachinમહેસાણા: પ્રાચીન અર્વાચીન[Mehsana: Ancient and Modern] (in Gujarati). Mehsana: Mehsana Municipality. pp. 48–53.
  5. ↑ Shukla, Rakesh (24 June 2014). "ક્યારેક લોકોની તરસ છિપાવતા હતા ગુજરાતના આ જળ મંદિરો-બોતેર કોઠાની વાવ". gujarati.oneindia.com (in Gujarati). Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "શિલ્પ-સ્થાપત્યની બેનમૂન બોતેર કોઠાની વાવ કચરાપેટી બની ગઈ". Webdunia (in Gujarati). 2 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "૭૨ કોઠા વાવ : મહેસાણાની શાન અને જાન છે" (in Gujarati). Divya Bhaskar. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Enthusiasts to revive stepwell in Mehsana". The Times of India . 21 March 2013. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "મહેસાણાની અવાવરૃં બનેલી 72 કોઠાની વાવ જીવંત કરાશે" (in Gujarati). Gujarat Samachar. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  10. ↑ "ભાસ્કર એક્સક્લૂસિવ:તોરણવાળી ચોક હેરિટેજ થીમ પર ડેવલપ કરાશે, જ્યાં કોઈ વાહન પાર્કિંગ નહીં થાય". Divya Bhaskar. 30 October 2025.
  11. ↑ https://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/local/gujarat/mehsana/news/municipal-corporation-tendered-for-reconstruction-of-vav-at-a-cost-of-rs-325-crore-136446381.html
  12. ↑ "બોતેર કોઠાની વાવ: પર્યટકો રાત્રે પરિવાર સાથે હરવા ફરવા હેરિટેજ લાઇટિંગની મજા માણી શકશે" (in Gujarati). Divya Bhaskar. 1 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "અયોગ્ય@મહેસાણા: ઐતિહાસિક 72 કોઠાની વાવમાં સ્વચ્છતા અભિયાનનું સુરસુરીયું" (in Gujarati). Atal Samachar. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  14. ↑ Census of India, 1991: Mahesana. Government Photo Litho Press. 1992. p. 29.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.