Rani ki Vav: UNESCO World Heritage Stepwell of Patan

Rani ki Vav (Queen's Stepwell) at Patan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most elaborate surviving stepwell in India. Built by Queen Udayamati in the 11th century CE as a memorial to her husband King Bhimdev I of the Solanki dynasty, the stepwell plunges seven stories below ground level through progressively ornamented pavilions. Over 500 principal sculptures and more than 1,000 minor sculptures adorn the walls, depicting Vishnu's ten avatars, Apsaras, and the 24 Matrikas. The stepwell was buried under silt after the Saraswati river flooded and was re-excavated by ASI in the 1980s. The construction uses the Maru-Gurjara architectural style, a synthesis of Rajput and early Solanki traditions unique to Gujarat. Engineering features include a curved retaining wall system that has resisted seismic stress for nine centuries. The image of Rani ki Vav was printed on the Rs 100 currency note in 2018.