Step-wells in India are as old as the Harappan Civilisation. Although the first use of the step-wells was done in South India, most of the step-wells today are found in Gujarat and Rajasthan. There are around 3000 step-wells in Gujarat and Rajasthan combined. Gujarat and Rajasthan have semi-arid climates and the soil’s inability to store rainwater makes the region scarce of water in the summer season. It was not easy to get the water from a normal well, as people had to wait in a long queue and had to pull the rope to fetch water.
To get a grasp of this problem many step-wells were made during the medieval era by the royals and people with opulence. Step-wells are underground buildings that were constructed to store rainwater which was used in summertides. These magnificent step-wells with intricate architecture made a memorial sight and people could quench their thirst as well. Some of the famous step-wells in Gujarat and Rajasthan include Adalaj Stepwell, Chand Baori Stepwell, Panna Meena Ka Kund and one of the hidden gem is Dada Hari Ki Vav.
This architectural marvel is located in Ahmedabad and is a five-storey underground stepwell that was built in 1499 by Dhai Harir, a household lady of Mahmud Begada according to the Persian inscription in the stepwell. She was the superintendent of the royal harem.
Dada Hari Ki Vav was built by Dhai Harir famously known as Bai Harir Sultani who was a household lady of Mahmud Begada, Sultan of Gujarat Sultanate. According to the Persian inscription, Dhai Harir was the superintendent of the royal harem. According to the inscription, the total cost to build Dada Hari Ki Vav was around 3,29,000 Mahmudies. This forgotten gem of Gujarat is a tan-brown five-storey architectural elegance that stands firm today and has a Solanki architectural style. Dada Hari Ki Vav architecture is intricate enough to put you in awe and make you wonder if Vishvakarma himself had made the blueprint of this architecture.
Although today Dada Hari Ki Vav is bone dry most of the time, it used to swamp in water in the medieval era.
Fun Fact: One of the famous step-wells in Patan, Gujarat is depicted on the 100 rupee notes.
