There are very few monuments acknowledged by name as having been built by women especially those of public utility.
Chandni Chowk built by Jahanara Begum.and Rani ki baori in Bundi and Rani ki Vaw in Patan are a few spectacular examples.
I had visited the other two now it was the turn of Bundi.
Rani ki Baori is a stepwell built by Queen Nathavati, wife of a famous King of Bundi, Anirudh Singh in 1699.
It is built on three levels and once you enter it has two fantastic arched gates with great artwork done on the pillars and statues of elephants. Interestingly while the stepwell is made of limestone the elephants are of marble.
The second gate inside the stepwell is beautiful with two different arch styles the one on top is ogee shaped and the bottom is cusped. The elephant on top is shown with trunk inwards as if drinking water.
There are images of various gods carved on the walls. The 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu is noteworthy plu a Mahisaadurmardini.
It’s clean and filled with water which itself is a boon.
#bundi #rajasthan