Ancient Love of Adornment, Pathan.Gujarat ,India

 

A beautiful celestial woman  carved in the 11th CE is seen adjusting an earring while admiring herself in the mirror at the  glorious Rani Ki Vav( The Queen’s Stepwell)  in the town of Pathan in Gujarat state of India. Its construction is attributed to Udayamati, daughter of  the king of Saurashtra , queen of the 11th-century  Solanki dynasty and wife of Bhima I .The stepwell was  commissioned in 1063 and was completed after 20 years.

A UNESCO World Heritage centre, this stepwell at Pathan is the best example of its type and the best preserved as it was silted over, it was rediscovered only in 1940s thus escaping destruction and desecration at the hands of the Muslim invaders who became rulers of the region. This stepwell was restored in 1980s by the  Archaeological Society of India.

The stepwell that once provided water and a cool microclimate in the hot arid land of Saurashtra  has been designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water. The stepwell is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels.

The apsaras or celestial beauties are adorned with jewellery including bangles, earrings, necklaces, waist girdles, anklets and others as well as with elegant clothes and well combed hairs. One sculpture of Apsara depicts her either applying lipstick to her lips or chewing on aromatic twig or applying kohl to her eyes.

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