Adalaj Stepwell

1499 stepwell with elaborate carvings, 18 km north of the city

Adalaj Vav, 18 kilometres north of Ahmedabad on the road to Gandhinagar, is the most spectacular stepwell in Gujarat. Five storeys deep, the well descends through octagonal landings with carved pillars and brackets on every level. The carvings mix Hindu, Jain, and Islamic motifs — a sign of the syncretic culture of the period — and the temperature at the bottom is reliably 5 °C cooler than ground level, even in summer.

The well takes about 45 minutes to visit. Combine it with a stop at the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar for a half-day trip from the city.

things to do sight architecture
A story
The well was begun by Rana Veer Singh and completed in 1499 by his widow, Rani Roopba, after he was killed in battle. The widow had agreed to marry his victorious enemy in exchange for the well's completion — and on its inauguration day she instead jumped into the well to her death, refusing the marriage. The legend is unverifiable, but the well's inscription does name her, alone.