FOUNDED BY THE SOLANKI DYNASTY
About the location: The only real sign of Patan’s former glory is this stunningly beautiful stepwell. Situated on the banks of the Saraswati River, it is one of the oldest and finest stepwells in Gujarat and is remarkably preserved. Stairs lead down through several levels with rows of carved pillars and over 800 statues, most of which are Vishnu-avatar themed, as well as fascinating geometric patterns. The stepwell is built in the form of an inverted temple. It displays the finest craftsmanship and unique Maru-Gurjara architectural style of that era and has sculptures like the Vimalvasahi Temple of Mount Abu and the Sun Temple of Modhera.
Brief History: This stepwell was built in 1063 by Queen Udaymati of the Chaulukya dynasty in memory of her husband Bhimdev I. In the 1304 composition of the Jain monk Merutunga, it is mentioned that Udaymati, daughter of Narvarah Khangara, built this stepwell in Patan. It is also mentioned in the same composition that the construction of this stepwell started in 1063 and was completed 20 years later. Archaeologists Henry Cousens and James Burgess visited it in the 1890s, when it was completely buried under silt and only the shaft and a few pillars were visible. The stepwell was rediscovered in the 1940s and the Archaeological Survey of India renovated it in the 1980s. This stepwell has been listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2014.