Ra Khengar Vav or Ra Khengar stepwell is a 13th-century

stepwell Stepwells (also known as vavs or baori) are wells or ponds with a long corridor of steps that descend to the water level. Stepwells played a significant role in defining subterranean architecture in western India from 7th to 19th century. So ...

located near Koyliphatak village between

Vanthali Vamansthli (Vanthli)is a city and a municipality in Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Demographics India census, Vanthali had a population of 21,891. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Vanthali has an avera ...

and

Junagadh Junagadh () is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Located at the foot of the Girnar hills, southwest of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar (the state capital), it is the seventh largest city in the state. Literally ...

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

, India.

History

Tejapala, a minister in Vaghela court who is known along with his brother

Vastupala Vastupāla (died 1240 CE) was a prime minister of the Vāghelā king Vīradhavala and his successor Vīsaladeva, who ruled in present-day Gujarat region of India, in the early 13th century. Although he served in an administrative and military ca ...

, constructed the stepwell for the benefit of travellers. It is built in the first half of the 13th century CE, probably between 1230 and 1240. The construction of the stepwell between Tejalapura or Jirnadurga (modern Junagadh) and Vamanasthali (modern Vanthali) is mentioned in the Jinaharsha's ''Vastupala-Charita (''dated

Vikram Samvat Vikram Samvat (IAST: ''Vikrama Samvat''; abbreviated VS) or Bikram Sambat B.S. and also known as the Vikrami calendar, is a Hindu calendar historically used in the Indian subcontinent. Vikram Samvat is generally 57 years ahead of Gregorian Calend ...

1497 or 1441 CE)'','' a biography of Vastupala. So it is identified with Ra Khengar stepwell by Madhusudan Dhaky and dated between 1230 and 1240. The dating is also supported by the stylistic evidences. The construction is mistakenly attributed to

Chudasama The Chudasama are a Rajput clan found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are offshoot of the Samma tribe of Sind. The Chudasama dynasty of Junagadh once ruled Thatta of Sind and Chudachandra laid foundation in Gujarat with Junagadh ...

ruler

Khengara Khengara was a Chudasama king of Saurashtra region of western India who reigned from 1331 CE to 1351 CE ( VS 1387 to VS 1407). His capital was at Junagadh. Reign Khengara succeeded his father Mahipala I in 1331 CE. He expelled the Muslim gove ...

, who reigned from about 1098 to 1125 CE. It is the State Protected Monument (S-GJ-170) and is under management by the Agriculture Department of the

Government of Gujarat The Government of Gujarat, also known as Gujarat Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Gujarat and its 33 districts. It consists of an executive of the legislators appointed by the Governor of Gujarat, a judiciar ...

Architecture

The stepwell is built in north-south direction with steps in the north and shaft well in the south. The pillars and the walls of the stepwell is ornamented with carvings. There are balconies on the both sides at the first landing by the steps. The pavilion with tiled roof on the south end is later addition of 19th century during the reign of Babi dynasty in

. There is a circumambulatory passage around the well shaft.

References

{{reflist Stepwells in Gujarat Tourist attractions in Junagadh district Buildings and structures completed in the 13th century Monuments and memorials in Gujarat

History

Architecture

See also

References