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{{Infobox Historic building
|name = Matri Vav
|image =
|caption =
|coordinates = {{coord|region:IN-GJ|display=inline, title}}
|location_town = Kankavati, Dhrangadhra Taluka, [[Surendranagar district]], [[Gujarat]]
|location_country = India
|architect = Local
|client =
|engineer =
|construction_start_date =
|completion_date = Approximately early 17th century
|demolished_date =
|cost =
|structural_system =
|architectural_style = [[Indian architecture]]
| floor_count =
|designations = [[Archeological Survey of India|ASI]] State Protected Monument No. S-GJ-218
|mapframe-zoom =14
|mapframe-marker=water
}}
'''Matri Vav''' is a [[stepwell]] in Kankavati village of Dhrangadhra Taluka of [[Surendranagar district]], [[Gujarat]], India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Jain-Neubauer |first=Jutta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=61fSwBF4bbYC&q=khodiyar+stepwell |title=The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective |date=1981 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-0-391-02284-3 |pages=24, 48 |language=en}}</ref> It was approximately built in early 17th century. The stepped corridor of the stepwell has five pavilion-towers and four intermediate frames. It has decorated niches and well shaft.

== History ==
The dating of the stepwell is difficult due to the lack of decorative or sculptural elements in the stepwell as well as due to simple and basic architectural layout of the stepwell.<ref name=":0" /> It was approximately built in early 17th century.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2018-12-10 |title=The subterranean beauty of the Matri vav |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/the-subterranean-beauty-of-the-matri-vav/articleshow/67017601.cms |access-date=2024-11-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> It is told that it was built by Rana Bimsinhji.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Bhatt |first=Purnima Mehta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tWmiDAAAQBAJ&dq=Matri+stepwell&pg=PT34 |title=Her Space, Her Story: Exploring the Stepwells of Gujarat |date=2014-12-16 |publisher=Zubaan |isbn=978-93-84757-08-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NKAUAQAAMAAJ&q=Matri+stepwell |title=Census of India, 1991: Surendranagar |date=1992 |publisher=Government Photo Litho Press |language=en}}</ref> It is a state protected monument (S-GJ-218).<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=State Protected Monuments List |url=http://www.sycd.gujarat.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/Images/pdf/List-of-monument.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427193421/http://www.sycd.gujarat.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/Images/pdf/List-of-monument.pdf |archive-date=2017-04-27 |access-date=2024-10-27}}</ref>

== Architecture ==
The stepwell is built in an artificial lake and thus stays submerged in the water most of time. It was built in the lake because it can provide water during the drought when the lake dries up but the well would supply the water collected below the level of the lake.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> It has the common features of the stepwells but the stepped corridor is built on the bed of the lake instead of under ground as in the other stepwells.<ref name=":0" /> The stone embankment of about one foot is visible from outside.<ref name=":1" /> It is built from [[Sandstone|red sandstone]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UawiUkaeJt8 |title=Matri Vav - Kankavati, Dhrangadhra - માત્રી વાવ - કંકાવટી, ધ્રાંગધ્રા |date=2021-06-20 |last=Zala |first=Asha |type=Video |language=gu |time=00:04 |time-caption=Notice Board, Archaeology Department, Government of Gujarat |access-date=2024-11-17 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

It is constructed in an east-west direction with the entrance in the east and the circular well in the west.<ref name=":0" /> The entrance is located under the tin-sheet roof.<ref name=":1" /> The stepped corridor has five pavilion-towers alternating with four intermediate frames having double bracing crossbars each.<ref name=":0" />

The structure of the stepwell results in an elongated rectangular platform with open spaces; formed by the gaps between the pavilion-towers and of the well, on the top. Thus this platform forms two half-metre wide parallel paths on the side walls of the stepwell which meets at the end in a circular path surrounding the well. These paths also meet each other by the platforms and crossbars of the pavilion-towers and intermediate frames. Some steps from the entrance leads to this platform level while the other steps lead to the stepped corridor going down the well.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The pavilion-towers have less decoration while the well shaft is profusely decorated.<ref name=":4" /> The circular well has two beams at the top; longer one in the middle supported by brackets which a shorter one supported by corbels. The longer beam has a decoration of small [[kirtimukha]], in middle, on its vertical side.<ref name=":0" />

There are large and beautifully carved niches with decorated crown pieces in both side walls of the each pavilion-towers landings.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> The first pavilion-tower is converted into a temple and its niches have a statue of [[Ganesha]] and a [[Trishula|trident]] carving respectively. The niches in the fourth pavilion-tower have Ganesha and [[Vishnu]] respectively.<ref name=":1" /> The stepwell is named after Matri, the mother-goddess, whose image is said to be present in the lower storeys of the stepwell.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The lower storeys are reached only by narrow ledges on the side walls.<ref name=":1" /> The decorative elements include erotic sculptures as well as geometric, natural and mythical motifs.<ref name=":4" /> There are shrines of Koteshwar and Matreshwar Mahadev.<ref name=":2" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Stepwells in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Surendranagar district]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 17th century]]

Matri Vav - Revision history

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