City of Step Wells !!!
Step wells are the charismatic works of architecture are becoming as
upcoming tourist spots. These stepwells that have been maintained
wholeheartedly by the people of the city, with designs of leaves, flower,
birds and other scintillating ornaments on the walls, are sure to transport
you into the realm bygone. So come prepared to get fascinated. There are
numerous wells in Bundi and each has its own unique design and architectural
excellence. Bundi could be called the city of arts or kala-dham since
everything in Bundi has charm to attract the viewer. It is the birth-place
of many eminent scholars, painters and poets.
Bundi is better known as Small Varanasi (Mini-Kashi) because of its
traditional atmosphere, its arts, its culture and rich religious background.
Besides, the very number of its step wells and their dream like beauty are
sufficient to name it as the city of wells or step wells. Every step well is
an architectural wonder in itself. No other step well in Bundi are alike
except the Nagar Sagar. No doubt, nature has bestowed its charms on Bundi
and green hills have provided it a green cover but the rulers of Bundi have
made it more beautiful by constructing at every step either a beautiful
lake, tank or a step-well. This was done probably, because they thought that
Bundi must reflect its charms in the waters or it should mirror its charms
on the waves of Naval Sagar Lake, with the added charm of lotus flowers.
Do You Know
The step wells of Bundi are unique art gallery
with decorative designs and architecture, symbolizing the refined taste of
the people of the time. Its amazing that every step well has maintained the
religious tradition of having Lord Ganesha on one side and Saraswati on the
other.
In olden times, there were no taps and the only source of
drinking water were the tanks, lakes and step-wells or wells. In those days,
women with pots or pitchers on their heads used to walk kilometers to fetch
water, these well were the ideal meeting place and hangout zones for the
villagers. The step wells were full of life and were places vibrating with
beauty and charm. That was the time when women folk were nicely dressed up
in their colorful attires adorned with silver blockades and the men folk
with their colorful turbans use to hang around the step well to have a
glance of their beloved.
Showcase of Art and Architecture !!!
Panghats or wells and step-wells expressing the very attitude to aesthetics
of Indian life, are examples of what art and architecture meant for the
simple folk. The step wells of Bundi have decorative designs and symbolize
the refined taste of the people of the time. Every step well has maintained
the religious tradition of having Lord Ganesha on one side and Saraswati on
the other. The step wells of Bundi reflect in their waters the philosophical
and aesthetic attitude of the Indian society in general and of the people of
Bundi in particular. One comes across ornamental doors and fine sculptures
of a substantial height on both sides on the walls.
Factroid
Can you imagine, there are around 50 step wells in
the small district of Bundi. It was the only source of water for peoples in
the town until a piped water system was introduced. Peoples of Bundi still
preserve that custom and one can easily find localities to collect water
from these ancient step wells.
These sculptures include ten
Avatars and Navgrahs besides the Goddess of learning Saraswati and Lord
Ganesha. Providing water to a thirsty-person, was a pious duty and it was
considered to be a religious act in those days. Symbolically this has been
represented in sculptures in the Rani-Ji-ki-Baoris, where a woman is shown
pouring water from the pitcher to a thirsty-person. The step wells is richly
ornamented which leads to an atmosphere of beauty and serenity. It has big
Chhatris over the doors.
The Gallery of Old and Famous Step Wells !!!
One of the finest step wells in Bundi, is the Rani-ji-ki Baori, situated in
the heart of the city. The credit goes to the love and devotion of
Nathawatji, the queen of Rao Raja Anirudh Singh of Bundi for getting such
beautiful step-wells constructed. She nearly constructed 20 step-wells as a
whole. This beautiful Rani-ji-ki- Baori was built in the year 1699 with 40
feet in width and 200 feet in depth. Another most fabulous source of water
for people in Bundi is Bawadi, just 200 steps from Ran-Ji-Ki-Baori takes you
down to the water source. In the middle of the Bawadi there are decorated
doors which have mehrabs of 30 feet height. The water is crystal clear and
the atmosphere is clean. Gulla-ki-Bawadi or Gulab-Bawadi is also famous for
its crystal clear water. It used to attract a large number of women in the
olden days. It is unique in its charm and design for it has a hairpin curve
in its design. Beside this one can visit Nagar-Sagar, located outside the
Chogan Gate to the old city. It consists of two big bawadies or a pair of
Bawadies with the same architectural design. These are also in the centre of
the city and have a square design. Over four hundred step-wells are there in
the two bawadies. Even the Nawal Sagar is one of the famous artificial lake,
visible from the Taragarh Fort. This beautiful artificial lake mirrors the
beauty of the forts and the city, when it is full with water. In the lake, a
dazzling step well was built during the reign of Rao Raja Umaid Singh in the
year 1820. Do visit the old and famous step wells of Bundi, which are of
immense popularity and worth visiting.
About
Bund
Bundi is famous for its
forts, palaces, temples, miniature paintings and wall-paintings but one of
its most notable feature is its large number of step wells (Bawadies) with
their superb architectural design. Come and explore these underground
treasures before the hoarders of tourist take it over.
![Marvelous Sculptures at Stepwell](javascript:openchild("/bundi/img/marvelous-scultures.jpg");)
![Steps Leading to Deeper Stepwell](javascript:openchild("/bundi/img/steps.jpg");)
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