WATER FESTIVAL- RANI KI VAV

Ranikivav or the Queens Stepwell is one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites that the state of Gujarat is home to Situated on the banks of Saraswati river this stunning architectural marvel was constructed by Rani Udayamati in the memory of her husband king Bhima I of the Chaulukya or Solanki dynasty 9501300 CE. A fine specimen of the Maru-Gurjara style of architecture UNESCO describes the stepwell as one which displays height of craftsmens ability in stepwell construction It has been designed as an inverted temple and is divided into seven levels interconnected with stairs that boast sculpted panels of unmatched artistic excellence Out of the seven the fourth panel is the deepest and leads into a rectangular tank measuring 95 m by 94 m with a depth of 23 m. The structure houses a total of 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand minor ones depicting religious mythological and secular imagery Most of the sculptures are dedicated to Lord Vishnu in various forms like Lord Rama Lord Krishna Lord Narsimha Lord Vaman etc.The stepwell is believed to have been buried underground owing to a severe flood in the Saraswati river that flowed nearby It was resurrected after decades of painstaking restoration by the Archaeological Survey of India ASI starting from late 1980s.The water Festival at Rani Ki Vav is  music festival which is about creating a special environment that brings together the glory of the monument. This water festival at Rani Ki Vav showcases the rich culture, architecture ,history and various stories of our Indian tradition. During the heritage festival various cultural performances  are performed by renowned artists and masters of musical instruments like Tabla Flute Vocal Sarangi Dholak etc