Boter Kothani Vav

Boter Kothani Vav, also known as Mehsana Vav[1] or Interi Vav,[2] is a stepwell located in Mehsana, Gujarat, India.

Boter Kothani Vav
Stepwell interior with exposed bricks
Alternative namesMehsana Vav
General information
Architectural styleIndian architecture
Town or cityMehsana
CountryIndia
Coordinates23.603431°N 72.401489°E / 23.603431; 72.401489
Completed1674
Technical details
Floor countEleven storied stepwell
Design and construction
Architect(s)Local

History

The stepwell was constructed during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. An inscription dated Samvat 1731 (1674 CE) in Persian and Devnagari scripts states that it was commissioned by Shah Gokaldas from Laghu Shakha of Shrimali caste, and his mother Manabai for public welfare.[1][3] Gokaldas is a son of Virji who is a son of Vaka and grandson of Tejpal, as mentioned in the inscription.[4]

Repaired and renovated during the Gaekwad rule,[5][6] it became neglected and polluted. It was cleaned by the Mehsana Municipality in 2013.[6][7][8] It was cleaned again and its water was approved for use in gardens in 2020.[9]

Architecture

It is located near Bhimnath Mahadev temple in Para area.[10] It is constructed of bricks and sandstone.[6] It is 14 to 15 metres (45 to 50 ft) long and eleven floors deep, and has unique twin wells.[6] It is known as Boter Kothani Vav, literally the stepwell with 72 cells.[3][11]

  • Persian and Devnagari inscriptions in the stepwell
    Persian and Devnagari inscriptions in the stepwell
  • Neglected stepwell filled with debris
    Neglected stepwell filled with debris

See also

References
  1. Purnima Mehta Bhatt (16 December 2014). Her Space, Her Story: Exploring the Stepwells of Gujarat. Zubaan. pp. 57–58. ISBN 978-93-84757-08-3. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017.
  2. "મહેસાણાની ઐતિહાસીક વિરાસત એવી 'બોત્તેર કોઠા'ની વાવ ફરીથી તંત્રની ઉદાસિનતાનો". Divya Bhaskar (in Gujarati). 13 May 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  3. S. B. Rajyagor, ed. (1975). Gujarat State Gazetteers: Mehsana District. Gujarat State Gazetteers. Vol. 5. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Government of Gujarat. p. 805. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017.
  4. Bhojak, Kanaiyalal Amthalal (1957). Mehsana: Prachin Arvachin મહેસાણા: પ્રાચીન અર્વાચીન [Mehsana: Ancient and Modern] (in Gujarati). Mehsana: Mehsana Municipality. pp. 48–53.
  5. Shukla, Rakesh (24 June 2014). "ક્યારેક લોકોની તરસ છિપાવતા હતા ગુજરાતના આ જળ મંદિરો-બોતેર કોઠાની વાવ". gujarati.oneindia.com (in Gujarati). Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  6. "શિલ્પ-સ્થાપત્યની બેનમૂન બોતેર કોઠાની વાવ કચરાપેટી બની ગઈ". Webdunia (in Gujarati). 2 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  7. "૭૨ કોઠા વાવ : મહેસાણાની શાન અને જાન છે" (in Gujarati). Divya Bhaskar. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  8. "Enthusiasts to revive stepwell in Mehsana". The Times of India. 21 March 2013. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  9. "મહેસાણાની અવાવરૃં બનેલી 72 કોઠાની વાવ જીવંત કરાશે" (in Gujarati). Gujarat Samachar. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  10. "અયોગ્ય@મહેસાણા: ઐતિહાસિક 72 કોઠાની વાવમાં સ્વચ્છતા અભિયાનનું સુરસુરીયું" (in Gujarati). Atal Samachar. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  11. Census of India, 1991: Mahesana. Government Photo Litho Press. 1992. p. 29.
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