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Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 7 templates: del empty params (6×);

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{{Infobox building
| name = Ra Khengar Vav
| image =
| caption =
| mapframe-zoom = 14
| mapframe-marker = water
| coordinates = {{coord|21.4917454|70.3833079|region:IN-GJ|display=inline, title}}
| location = Koyliphatak near [[Vanthali]], [[Junagadh district]], [[Gujarat]]
| location_country = India
| architect = Local
| construction_start_date = c. 1230 CE
| completion_date = c. 1240 CE
| date_demolished =
| structural_system =
| style = [[Indian architecture]]
| building_type = [[Stepwell]]
| designations = [[Archeological Survey of India|ASI]] State Protected Monument No. S-GJ-170
| main_contractor = Tejapala
}}
'''Ra Khengar Vav''' or '''Ra Khengar stepwell''' is a 13th-century [[stepwell]] located near Koyliphatak village between [[Vanthali]] and [[Junagadh]] in [[Gujarat]], India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/vanthali-the-vav-as-a-highway-watering-hole/articleshow/64279271.cms|title=Vanthali: The vav as a highway watering hole - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref>

== History ==
Tejapala, a minister in [[Vaghela dynasty|Vaghela]] court who is known along with his brother [[Vastupala]], constructed the stepwell for the benefit of travellers. It is built in the first half of the 13th century CE, probably between 1230 and 1240. The construction of the stepwell between Tejalapura or Jirnadurga (modern Junagadh) and Vamanasthali (modern Vanthali) is mentioned in the Jinaharsha's ''Vastupala-Charita (''dated [[Vikram Samvat]] 1497 or 1441 CE)'','' a biography of Vastupala. So it is identified with Ra Khengar stepwell by [[Madhusudan Dhaky]] and dated between 1230 and 1240. The dating is also supported by the stylistic evidences.<ref name="Juneja2001">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7N7VAAAAMAAJ|title=Architecture in Medieval India: Forms, Contexts, Histories|author=Monica Juneja|publisher=Permanent Black|year=2001|isbn=978-81-7824-010-7|page=503}}</ref><ref name="Jain-Neubauer1981">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=61fSwBF4bbYC&pg=PA22|title=The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective|author=Jain-Neubauer|first=Jutta|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=1981|isbn=978-0-391-02284-3|pages=22, 64-66, 118}}</ref> The construction is mistakenly attributed to [[Chudasama dynasty|Chudasama]] ruler [[Khengara (12th century king)|Khengara]], who reigned from about 1098 to 1125 CE.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c70MAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA444&dq=Khengar+attributed&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjd4LDDueffAhXNPXAKHS5UDMgQ6AEIPjAF#v=onepage&q=Khengar%20attributed&f=false|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency|last=India|first=Bombay|publisher=Government Central Press|year=1884|isbn=134049129X|pages=444}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1pcRAQAAIAAJ&dq=ખેંગાર+વાવ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=શાહપુર|title=Saurāshtr̥ano itihāsa|last=Shambhuprasad Harprasad|first=Desai|publisher=Soraṭha Śikshaṇa ane Saṃskr̥ti Saṅgha|year=1968}}</ref>

It is the State Protected Monument (S-GJ-170) and is under management by the Agriculture Department of the [[Government of Gujarat]].

== Architecture ==
{{expand section|date=January 2019}}
The stepwell is built in north-south direction with steps in the north and shaft well in the south. The pillars and the walls of the stepwell is ornamented with carvings. There are balconies on the both sides at the first landing by the steps. The pavilion with tiled roof on the south end is later addition of 19th century during the reign of [[Babi dynasty]] in [[Junagadh State|Junagadh]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Desai2007">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZRLGZNZEoEC&pg=PA261|title=India Guide Gujarat|author=Anjali H. Desai|publisher=India Guide Publications|year=2007|isbn=978-0-9789517-0-2|pages=261–262}}</ref> There is a circumambulatory passage around the well shaft.<ref name="Jain-Neubauer1981" /><ref name="LivingstonBeach2002">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KoVCliqcmIIC&pg=PA78|title=Steps to Water: The Ancient Stepwells of India|author1=Morna Livingston|author2=Milo Beach|date=April 2002|publisher=Princeton Architectural Press|isbn=978-1-56898-324-0|pages=78–79}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[History of stepwells in Gujarat]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Stepwells in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Junagadh district]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 13th century]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Gujarat]]

Ra Khengar Vav - Revision history

imported>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 7 templates: del empty params (6×);