Rani ki Vav

stepwell, Patan, India

Also known as: Queen’s Stepwell

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Last updated

July 20, 2026

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Rani ki Vav, meaning "Queen's Stepwell," is a renowned stepwell located in Patan, India. Commissioned around 1060 by Queen Udayamati, it was built to honor her deceased husband. This magnificent structure, measuring 210 feet long and 65 feet wide, is an exceptional example of subterranean architecture, designed to provide access to water sources in arid regions.12

Stepwells served as vital water sources for drinking, bathing, and irrigation, and also offered cool sanctuaries for travelers. Rani ki Vav, in particular, is celebrated for its immense scale and elaborate stone carvings, functioning as a subterranean temple. Despite being buried for centuries due to flooding, it was excavated and restored in the 1980s and designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014.12

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Origins and major sites
…at India’s best-known stepwell, the Rani ki Vav (“Queen’s Stepwell”) in Patan (northern Gujarat), commissioned by Queen Udayamati about 1060 to commemorate her deceased spouse. Its enormous scale—210 feet (64 metres) long and 65 feet (20 metres) wide—probably contributed to the disastrous flooding that buried the almost-finished stepwell for nearly…
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…at India’s best-known stepwell, the Rani ki Vav (“Queen’s Stepwell”) in Patan (northern Gujarat), commissioned by Queen Udayamati about 1060 to commemorate her deceased spouse. Its enormous scale—210 feet (64 metres) long and 65 feet (20 metres) wide—probably contributed to the disastrous flooding that buried the almost-finished stepwell for nearly…
Read More