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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Horizontally the Vāva is distributed in six sections. The first section on the east end is a pavilion covered by a dome supported by 12 pillars standing on a platform reached by steps on three outsides. From the remaining west side the stair leads to the well, which is approached by passing the three successive principal storied landings intermidiate narrow four landings, the last one of them being connected with pillaredclosister around the octagonal shaft. The octagonal shaft constitute the fifth section and the round draw-well, the last section, is connected with the latter one by means of a device known as anatarala (vestibule). The side walls of the pillared-cloister of the octagonal shaft contain the spiral stairs. Each descent has one bread step in the middle.
The principal landings have 8 free-standing pillars and 8 pilasters attached to the wall from floor to floor. similar arrangement of pillars is seen in case of narrow four landings of which two, one on either ends have four free-standing pillars and four pilasters, while the two intermediate have a pair of double pillars and pilasters.
The walls of, the stepwell at each kuta are decked with beautiful pillared niches which contain floral panels.
The vedikā (railing) arrounded the octagonal well at each floor is highly ornate just simiar to the one narrated in the case of step-well at Adālaj. The octagonal well at top is covered with a domed pavilion supported by four pillars.22 Rānijī-kī Bāori - Bundi (Rajasthan)
The ancient city of Bundi is Reknowaed for its architecture, including its stepweels. The city is said to contain over sixty or more stepwells, although Rāniji-kiBāori is one of the larger and finest examples of its kind. It is fully restored and in exceptional condition. It was build in 1600 A.D. by Rāni Natawati, wife of Rao Rājā Aniruddha Singh who was reported to have been responsible for building 21 additional weels in the area.
Rāniji's Bāori is constructed around a single stone shaft and stairwell that is 46 meters deep, 40 meters long and 30 meters wide. Throughout, it has fine stone carnings of Ganesa, Sarasvati and the ten incarnations of Matsya, Varāha and Narsimha. There is a repeating theme of elephent carrings, especially around the high arches, with elephant trunks raised in the act of drinking as this is a powerful symbol of good luck in India.23 Neemarānā kī Bāori - Alwar
This extremely large stepwell was build about 1700 A.D. by Thakur Janak singh. Its 170 stone steps descend for 9 stories deep with two additional levels under water. The top level (what would otherwise be the ground floor level) has a runing colonnade of 87 niches. Both side of the steps are extensive varandas providing coal space for traveler's rest. The pillars are said to have a strong similarity to the architectural design of the pillars of the old temple at the qutub minar complex, out side Delhi
SOME UNIQUE STEP-WELLS AND TANKS OF GUJARATANDRAJASTHAN
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