Vidyadhar ni Vav is one of the most beautiful, yet absolutely neglected and marginalized step-wells in Gujarat. I had lived in Vadodara for years yet never knew about this place. It was only much later when I was already out of the city, that I got a chance to visit the place.
 |
| Vidyadhar ni Vav |
 |
| Vidyadhar ni Vav |
 |
| Vidyadhar ni Vav |
The
vav is located just a little outside the city as one travels towards Sindhrot. It comes on the left as one leaves the city and drives on towards this very popular road, especially for the youngsters on bikes and cars. There is a very good chance that you might just miss the place, for there is little that tells you about the place on the main road (the
vav is pretty much just on the side of the road though).
 |
| The opening at the Vav |
 |
| The steps takes you down |
 |
| The lonely guarding the steps |
 |
| More steps |
 |
| The exposed brick wall at the end |
Built in the traditional style of any Gujarati
vav, it has a very humble entrance and it has many levels for a comfortable stay (in the past, of course). A few of the idols here are even worshipped, much to the dismay of the rest. A guard is also present, yet is least interested in what you do there. A number of kids would also come to join you, unfortunately the guard stops them from coming down the steps.
 |
| The humble entrance |
 |
| The candle used for worship |
 |
| The opening to the sky |
 |
| Space for bhavan also in the vav |
 |
| Most of the cladding is off now, and the mud bricks can be seen |
 |
| Flowers for worship |
 |
| A jharokha with intricate work |
 |
| Some more beautiful work on the wall |
Wow...Great Pics & Gr8 Place
ReplyDeleteWhere is this place in gujarat
@parsaran: thanks! this place is located on the outskirts of vadodara, as u leave gotri and go towards sindrot...about 5-10 km on the road. sadly i do remember any signage there, ask the locals and you should be able to locate the place. though its not well known even there!
ReplyDeletehi siddhartha, you are doing really a awsome job dude... i had been following your blog & looking for the places that interest me... i am too a travel crazy..
ReplyDeletejust wanted to know bout the "Vidyadhar ni Vav" you said that it was about 5-10 Km on the road side..
do you remember of crossing the mahi river or any thing else that you could recall.. please try if you could, i would be thankful.. desperately looking forward to visit the place..
@vaibhav: thanks a lot for your feedback :)
ReplyDeleteas for this place, you might just have to go and explore the exact location. take a bike/ car and go, its on the main sindrot road and should not be so difficult to find; and comes much before mahi river.
all the best!
Wow.! Fantastic location and post..!
ReplyDeletethank you sridharan!
ReplyDeletehi,Siddhartha Joshi can u tel me whether the water in this stepwell is still being used or there is no water. n also cn u tel me about the houses and the people nearby.
ReplyDeleteI have a comment in the inbox (which I do not see here) hence my reply.
ReplyDelete'Anonymous: hi,Siddhartha Joshi can u tel me whether the water in this stepwell is still being used or there is no water. n also cn u tel me about the houses and the people nearby.'
Well unfortunately I can't tell you much about the houses and people nearby as I just didn't travel much around the vav. As for water, its no longer in use (like all the other step-wells I have come across in Gujarat), which is a shame actually...
The vav is in my village called Sevasi. Not sure how the blogger has missed it. I have spent my childhood playing in this Vaav, very proud of it. There was no water until 4 years ago when the ground water table level has gone up due to nearer Narmada canal.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how I missed it too - I wasn't particularly out there to 'find' anything, so saw what came my way...that's it...
Delete