Jethabhai's Stepwell

Last updated

Jethabhai's Stepwell
Inside of Stepwell.jpg
StatusActive
Location
Location Isanpur, Ahmedabad
Municipality Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
State Gujarat
Ahmedabad locator map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
India Gujarat location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Jethabhai's Stepwell (Gujarat)
Geographic coordinates 22°58′28″N72°36′12″E / 22.9745°N 72.6034°E / 22.9745; 72.6034
Architecture
Type Stepwell
FounderJethabhai Mulji
Completed1860s
Specifications
Length210 feet (64 m)
Width21–22 feet (6.4–6.7 m)

Jethabhai's Stepwell or Jethabhai ni Vav, is a stepwell in Isanpur area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. It was situated near sha e Alam and one of the heritage stepwells in Ahmedabad.

Contents

History and architecture

Jethabhai step well plan, 1884 sketch 19th century Jethabhai step well plan Gujarat, 1884 sketch.jpg
Jethabhai step well plan, 1884 sketch

James Burgess wrote in 1905 in the Archaeological Survey of Western India, volume VIII, "two and a half miles south of Ahmadabad, near Isanpur... [is] perhaps one of the most modern examples of the regular wav [step well]. It was constructed little more than forty years ago by the late Jethabhai Jivanlal Nagjibhai (or Mulji) of Ahmadabad. To obtain the materials, he purchased from the holder of Shah Alam the rauza belonging to a masjid known as that of Malik Alam...and from the late Qazi Hasan-ud-din of Ahmadabad he bought the Nenpurvada masjid at Rajapur-Hirpur together with its accompanying rauza. These were pulled down by the Hindu purchaser and the materials used in the construction of this well and in putting up a portico to his temple in the Shaherkotda suburb. In the ornamentation of the well one of the mihrabs of the mosque has evidently been utilized. This wav... is 210 feet (64 m) in length and from 21 to 22 feet (6.4 to 6.7 m) wide, with a dome raised on twelve pillars on the entrance at the west end. It has the usual descents from platform or gallery to gallery."

The stepwell was built by Jethabhai around 1860s. It has four pavilions and the entrance pavilion is canopied. [1] [2] [3]

The stepwell was restored by the Archaeological Survey of India in 2017–2018.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patan, Gujarat</span> City in Gujarat, India

Patan, also known as Anahilavad, is the administrative seat of Patan district in the Indian state of Gujarat and is an administered municipality. It was the capital of Gujarat's Chavda and Chaulukya dynasties in medieval times, and is also known as Anhilpur-Patan to distinguish it from Prabhas Patan. During the rule of Gujarat Sultanate, it was the capital from 1407 to 1411.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indo-Islamic architecture</span> Islamic architecture in Indian subcontinent

Indo-Islamic architecture is the architecture of the Indian subcontinent produced by and for Islamic patrons and purposes. Despite an initial Arab presence in Sindh, the development of Indo-Islamic architecture began in earnest with the establishment of Delhi as the capital of the Ghurid dynasty in 1193. Succeeding the Ghurids was the Delhi Sultanate, a series of Central Asian dynasties that consolidated much of North India, and later the Mughal Empire by the 15th century. Both of these dynasties introduced Islamic architecture and art styles from West Asia into the Indian subcontinent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park</span> A UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Panchmahal district, Gujarat, India.

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in Panchmahal district in Gujarat, India. It is located around the historical city of Champaner, a city which was founded by Vanraj Chavda, the most prominent king of the Chavda Dynasty, in the eighth century. He named it after the name of his friend and general Champa, also known later as Champaraj. The heritage site is studded with forts with bastions starting from the hills of Pavagadh, and extending into the city of Champaner. The park's landscape includes archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage monuments such as chalcolithic sites, a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16th-century capital of the state of Gujarat. There are palaces, entrance gates and arches, mosques, tombs and temples, residential complexes, agricultural structures and water installations such as stepwells and tanks, dating from the eighth to the 14th centuries. The Kalika Mata Temple, located on top of the 800 metres (2,600 ft) high Pavagadh Hill, is an important Hindu shrine in the region, attracting large numbers of pilgrims throughout the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stepwell</span> Wells or ponds reached by steps, common in South Asia

Stepwells are wells, cisterns or ponds with a long corridor of steps that descend to the water level. Stepwells played a significant role in defining subterranean architecture in western India from 7th to 19th century. Some stepwells are multi-storeyed and can be accessed by a Persian wheel which is pulled by a bull to bring water to the first or second floor. They are most common in western India and are also found in the other more arid regions of the Indian subcontinent, extending into Pakistan. The construction of stepwells is mainly utilitarian, though they may include embellishments of architectural significance, and be temple tanks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rani ki Vav</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site in Patan, India

Rani Ki Vav is a stepwell situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat, India. It is located on the banks of the Saraswati River. Its construction is attributed to Udayamati, the spouse of the 11th-century Chaulukya king Bhima I. Silted over, it was rediscovered in the 1940s and restored in the 1980s by the Archaeological Survey of India. It has been listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India since 2014. This stepwell is designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water. It is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels. These panels have more than 500 principal sculptures and over 1000 minor ones combining religious, secular, and symbolic imagery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adalaj Stepwell</span> Building in Gandhinagar, India

Adalaj Stepwell or Rudabai Stepwell is a stepwell located in the small town of Adalaj, close to Gandhinagar city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was built in 1498 in the memory of Rana Veer Singh Vaghela cheif

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jama Mosque, Ahmedabad</span> Mosque in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Jama Masjid, also known as Jumah Mosque or Jami' Masjid, is a mosque in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. It and was built in 1424 during the reign of Ahmad Shah I. The inscription on the central mihrab commemorates the inauguration of the mosque on the 1st Safar A.H. 827 or January 4, 1424 A.D. by Sultan Ahmad Shah I. The mosque lies in the old walled city, and it is situated outside Bhadra Fort area. The old walled city is divided into separate quarters or pols, and the Jami' Masjid is found on the Gandhi Road. Along the south side of the road, the mosque is a short distance beyond the Teen Darwaza or Tripolia Gate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amritavarshini Vav</span> Building in Ahmedabad, India

Amritavarshini Vav, also known as Panchkuva Stepwell or Katkhuni Vav, is a stepwell near the Panchkuva Darwaja in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhafiz Khan Mosque</span> Mosque in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

The Muhafiz Khan Mosque is a fifteenth-century mosque located in the city of Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is considered to be one of the more exceptional structures in the city. The mosque was constructed in 1465 by Jamail-ud-Din Muhafiz Khan during the reign of Mahmud Shah I (1458-1511), and is considered to be an excellent example of Mughal architecture. It is named for the governor of the region at that time. The mosque is a protected building under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dada Harir Stepwell</span> Building located in Ahmedabad, India

Bai Harir Sultani Stepwell is a 15th century stepwell in Asarwa area 15 km off Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmed Shah's Mosque</span> Mosque in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Ahmad Shah's Mosque, also known as Shahi Jam-e-Masjid or Juni Juma Masjid is the oldest mosque of Ahmedabad, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mata Bhavani's Stepwell</span>

Mata Bhavani's Stepwell or Mata Bhavani ni Vav is a stepwell in Asarwa area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Malik Isan's Mosque, also known as Isanpur Mosque or Gumle Masjid, is a medieval mosque in Isanpur area of Ahmedabad, India.

Stepwells are wells in which the water is reached by steps. They are most commonly found in western India especially Gujarat where over 120 such wells are reported. The origin of the stepwell may be traced to reservoirs of the cities of the Indus Valley civilization such as Dholavira and Mohenjo-daro. The stepwells were constructed in the south western region of Gujarat around 600 AD. From there they spread north to Rajasthan and subsequently to north and west India. Construction activities accelerated during the tenth to 13th century during the Chaulukya and Vaghela periods. The construction of these stepwells hit its peak during the 11th to 16th century. The Muslim rulers of the 13th to 16th century did not disrupt the culture that was practiced in these stepwells and encouraged the building of stepwells. The wells lost their significance in the 19th century due to introduction of water pumps and pipe-systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaleshwari Group of Monuments</span>

The Kaleshwari Group of Monuments, also known as Kaleshwari-Ni Nal, is located near Lavana village, Khanpur Taluka of Mahisagar district, Gujarat, India. It is near the district headquarters Lunavada and near a stream in Hidimba Van, the forest of Hidimba. The group includes intricately-carved temple ruins, two stepwells, a reservoir, structures with panels of erotic sculptures and idols scattered all over the site. The ruins are located at the foothills and on the hillock. They were built between the 10th and 16th century; some monuments were reconstructed after the 18th century. These are State Protected Monuments.

Madhavav or Madhav Vav is a stepwell located in Wadhwan town of Surendranagar district, Gujarat, India. It is located in the western side of old town.

The Architecture of Gujarat consists of architecture in the Indian state of Gujarat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munsar Lake</span> Lake and shrines in Gujarat, India

Munsar Lake is water body constructed by Minaldevi, mother of Jayasimha Siddharaja, of Chaulukya dynasty. It was named as Mansavor but due to Indiscretion it's widely known as Munsar. This lake is situated at Viramgam, near Ahmedabad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adi Kadi Vav</span> Stepwell in Junagadh, India

Adi Kadi Vav or Adi Chadi Vav is a stepwell in Uparkot Fort, Junagadh, Gujarat, India. The date of its construction is uncertain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brahma Vav</span> Stepwell in Gujarat, India

Brahma Vav is a stepwell in Khedbrahma, Gujarat, India. It was built in 14th century.

References

  1. Jutta Jain-Neubauer (1 January 1981). The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective. Abhinav Publications. pp. 56–57. ISBN   978-0-391-02284-3.
  2. "JETHABHAI NI VAV LIGHTS UP ON DEV DIWALI". Ahmedabad Mirror. 22 November 2010. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  3. Manish, Kumar (24 October 2008). "BRT corridor runs into heritage hurdle". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 December 2014.