Indian queens were not only known for their astounding beauty but were also eminent for their incredible valor. The following particular is about the most beautiful love story, the story of sacrifices, which the locals still remember.
Adalaj stepwell located in the outskirts of Ahmedabad Gujarat at a distance of 18 km, is one of the famous tourist attractions and is considered a fine example of Indian architecture.
Years back due to the water crisis, the semi-arid regions of Gujarat & Rajasthan were called dry states. Water was the most primitive source of existence, where every second lady of the houses had to walk miles in the sweltering heat to fetch water. Construction of a step-well in such a region was like a boon and a blessing for the people.
Rana Veer Singh, King of the Vaghela Dynasty ruled the territory known as Dandai desh during that time, A good-natured ruler, whose first priority was always the people living in his kingdom. During the 15th Century, Veer Singh began the construction of a large and deep stepwell to alleviate the misery of water.
Rani Rudabai or Roopba – wife of Rana Veer Singh was extremely beautiful just like her name (which means powerful and graceful) and was famous for her chastity. Roopba was very generous to the people living in the kingdom just like the King.
Before the completion of the project, the region was attacked by Mohammed Begda, the Muslim ruler of the neighboring kingdom. Rana Veer Singh gets killed in the battle against Begda and the territory lands under the hands of the enemy invader.
Begda was astounded by the beauty of Queen Rudabai and he desires to have her. He stops her from performing Sati and proposes her for marriage as a dowager. As Queen Rudabai wanted to complete the last wish of her husband, for the betterment of the people, accepts the proposal but with a condition, that he has to first complete the construction of the stepwell.
Begda, who was deeply enamored by the queen's beauty agrees to the proposal and builds the well in recorded time. After the completion of the well, Begada was so much impressed with the architectural excellence, he asks the mason if they could construct similar well again, when the masons agreed he sentenced them to death, as Begada never wanted to create a replica of the stepwell.
Sultan reminds the queen of the promise to marry him, Queen who had achieved her objective of completing the stepwell, jumps into the same well, and ends her life, ending the saga of building the well in tragedy. Before her death, Queen Rudabai asks the saints of the village to take a bath in the stepwell so that the water gets purified, thereby delivering her from her sins.
The abstract epitome of Architectural marvel, Adalaj stepwell made in the Solanki style architecture is carved with the fusion of Hindu, Islamic and Jain culture. Its heights 5 stories deep, built on an intricately large number of pillars. The Islamic motifs blend very well with the symbols of Hindu and Jain gods carved at various levels of the well.
The walls are carved with a depiction of women performing daily chores and the king overlooking them. The temperature inside the well is said to be about five degrees lower than the outside hot summer temperatures. Keeping in mind, the women who came to fetch water can spend more time in the cool climes here. The Stepwell also has an opening on each floor where one can rest and lay back. On the left-hand side is a small temple of Goddess Amba that one can visit.
Adalaj step well has no entry fee, it’s free of cost and there is no guide facility, so I am sure, before visiting Adalaj Stepwell, this blog will be really helpful for you to know the history behind this beautiful work of art.