Adi Kadi Vav in Junagadh – one of India’s earliest stepwells
Although Adi Kadi Vav lacks an imposing grandeur and intricacy of other stepwells in Gujarat (Rani ki Vav and Adalaj Stepwell to name a couple), the structure is remarkable in its own way. It is believed to be one of the earliest stepwells in India, though none of the sources states explicitly which century it was actually constructed in. According to this Wikipedia article, it could be as early as the second half of the 10th century.
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What’s so special about Adi Kadi Vav?
The stepwell is located in the Uparkot fort of Junagadh, and it served as a water source for those who lived inside the fort’s stone walls. The Adi Kadi Vav is descended by an extensive flight of steps (162 to be precise) leading to the shaft of this enormous well. It’s 41 m deep, 81 m long and 4.75 m wide, and the entire structure was cut out of solid rock. The step well has no external elements whatsoever. You won’t find here any kutas (pavilion towers), niches or bracing beams, which are so typical for the ornate stepwells of Gujarat, but the rock strata along the walkway look fantastic. There were hardly any visitors, so I had the stepwell more or less entirely to myself.
Looking at the high walls of this manmade canyon, I was thinking of the enormous effort of those who built them. The Uparkot Fort wiki article suggests that it was constructed by the slave girls of the Chudasama rulers, but to be honest, I find it highly unlikely. On the other hand, even today India’s construction labour force includes a lot of women, so who knows… What sounds more believable is the legend about how Adi Kadi Vav got its name. It is said that it was named after two female servants, Adi and Kadi, who used to regularly fetch water from this well for the royal family.
Adi Kadi Vav photos
Adi Kadi vav on the map
Adi Kadi Vav travel tips
To reach Uparkot fort, take an auto-rikshaw – it’s only 1 km or so from the railway station.
The entry to the fort is free, and it’s open from 7 am to 7 pm. The guide’s fee is Rs. 150-200.
There are guides waiting at the entrance to tell you of all the sights within the fort, including the Adi Kadi Vav. I politely declined their offers, because my Hindi is still in its infancy (I know, I know, shame on me), and none of them spoke English (or Ukrainian, haha!).
Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. Although the Uparkot fort is not as huge as the Golconda fort, for example, exploring its sights involves a decent amount of walking.
If you love photography, the stunning overlappings on the sides of the descent suggest some interesting photo experiments.
Make sure to visit another step well, the Navghan Kuvo, which is located close by.
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Related posts:
Adalaj Stepwell near Ahmedabad – love at first step
Rani ki Vav – the Stepwell of a Sorrowful Queen
25 photos to make you want to see the Mahabat Maqbara with your own eyes
Wordless Wednesday 25: Junagadh Gallery
Fun things to do in Junagadh, Gujarat
The ancient Ramkund stepwell in Bhuj, Gujarat
Uparkot Fort in Junagadh, Gujarat – places to visit and things to see within its walls
Eating among the dead in Ahmedabad
14 Comments
rupam { xhobdo }
Truly amazing.
indiapalette
I believe it’s one of the less visited places, but it definitely deserves more attention.
Mohana Das
Such a marvellous piece of architecture! The ancient rulers really had an eye for the aesthetics. I am glad you are writing about the architectural bounties of Gujarat, Antonina!
Antonina
Yes, my fascination started from visiting Ahmedabad, and it’s not going to end anytime soon 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Mohana, and welcome to my blog.
Yogi Saraswat
Beautiful step well. informative write up
Antonina
I’m glad you like it, Yogi, the stepwell looked surreal, especially compared to other structures of the same architectural form.
umeshkumar tarsariya
I had visited it last year, its awesome
Antonina
Nice to meet a fellow traveler with similar destination preferences.
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Bharat Gami
Wow. Amazing post. Thanks.
Antonina
Most welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
Darla
what an awe-inspiring place!
Katie
What a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing 🙂