It's Not Buried but 5 Stories Await You in This Intricate 1498 Underground Temple

In the middle of the roads, houses, and trees, what is that strange Lingam shaped structure? Is this is a secret government organization or an underground bunker? No. This is a historic structure known as the Adalaj Ni Vav. Almost perfectly aligned along the North – South axis, its design is totally unique. It does not have an entrance on the North side at all, and no entryways in the center of the structure as well. But on this side, it has 3 entrances with steps, in three directions, right to next to one another. Why was such a unique architecture built many centuries ago? What are these three octagonal structures on top?

In a place called Adalaj, there is a strange underground structure. Why was a 75 feet deep, five storied structure built 500 years ago? Who built it? The Adalaj Stepwell takes us through many twists and turns in its history.

Built-in sandstone in the Solanki architectural style, the Adalaj Stepwell is five stories deep. It is octagonal in a plan at the top, built on an intricately carved large number of pillars. Each floor is spacious enough to provide for people to congregate. It was dug deep to access groundwater at that level, accounting for seasonal fluctuations in water level due to rainfall over the years.

The air and light vents in the roofs at various floors and the landing level are in the form of large openings. From the first story level, three staircases lead to the bottom water level of the well, which is considered a unique feature. Built along a north-south axis, the entrance is from the south, and the three staircases are from the south, west, and east directions leading to the landing, which is on the northern side of the well. Four small rooms with oriel windows decorated with minutely carved brackets are provided at the landing level, at the four corners.

The structural system is typically Indian with traditional trabeate with horizontal beams and lintels. At the bottom of the well is a square stepped floor in the shape of a funnel extending to the lowest plane. This is chiseled into a circular well. Above the square floor, columns, beams, walls, and arched openings spiral around, a feature that continues to the top. However, the top part of the well is a vertical space open to the sky. The four corners of the square are strengthened with stone beams, set at 45 degrees angle.

SOURCE
Praveen Mohan