Step-wells of Junagadh | Adi kadi vav and Navghan Kuwo

Adi Kadi Vav : We tend to feel bad when we read facts about all the wonders of the world or the grand monuments everywhere, the temples carved out of mountains or entire cities built in a similar way.

We promise you won’t feel the same way anymore after reading this article. In fact, tell about this to the people who have never been to Junagadh and let them envy you for your hometown!

Uparkot has gained quite a popularity for Photoshoots recently, but the next time you visit there, look out for the marvellous architecture built by our ancestors years and years ago without the help of any building instruments and do tell the tales of the grandeur to your friends.

We know water is the main source of sustaining our lives. This article is about how our ancestor dug their water resources and the stories that go around their construction. We are going to tell you about the two main wells built near the fort; Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuwo. Usually, wells are constructed by digging into the surface and thereafter the walls, steps and columns are constructed as they would have been in construction above the ground. These two differ from the rest of the steps wells built elsewhere, because they were carved from underground stone, including the steps, columns and walls, while the well itself has been left as it was found naturally.

This leads us to one inference, the Navghan Kuwo and Adi Kadi Vav were built from a single stone piece which shows the brilliance of the diggers and craftsmen who built these structures.

Let’s dig a deeper into the history of these two marvels. We will proceed with the old one first.

Navghan Kuwo:

Navghan Kuwo is believed to be built more than thousand years ago, prior to 1026 AD. It was built from the excavation of soft rock to some extent and the rest of the structure was constructed just like the other wells. Spiralling along the walls of the well, the stairs go down about 170 ft to the water level. It has been said that the water from this well gave solace to people residing in the fort and supplies during war times and was a blessing during the numerous sieges of the fort.

Adi Kadi Vav :

Adi Kadi Vav was carved from a single rock. About 120 steps were carved using the stone which finally meets the well at very deep levels. There are a few legends associated with this well. On the order of the king, the workers started digging into the hard rock at this point, but couldn’t find water. According to the royal priest, two unmarried girls were to be sacrificed at this point to find water, therefore Adi and Kadi were chosen for the purpose and eventually water was found. Another legend tells the story of two girls, Adi and Kadi, who used to bring water from this well by climbing down and up the long flight of stairs. Either way, people still hang clothes and bangles on a tree nearby in their memory.

Hope you were delighted to know about these step-wells. If you know anything other then what is mentioned in the article please share it in the comment box.

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