Modhera Vav
{{Infobox Historic building
|name = Modhera Vav
|image = Modhera Vav (36116).jpg
|caption = Stepwell from the entrance side
|coordinates = {{coord|region:IN-GJ|display=inline, title}}
|location_town = Modhera, Chanasma Taluka, Mehsana district, Gujarat
|location_country = India
|architect = Local
|client =
|engineer =
|construction_start_date =
|completion_date = 11th century stepwell, 10th century mandapa
|date_demolished =
|cost =
|structural_system =
|style = Indian architecture
| floor_count =
|designations =
|mapframe-zoom =14
|mapframe-marker=water
}}
Modhera Vav is a stepwell in Modhera village in Mehsana district, Gujarat, India. The stepwell belongs to the 11th century while the mandapa origins from the 10th century. It is the state protected monument.
History
The stepwell is located about a kilometre to the east of Surya kunda of Sun Temple, Modhera. Formerly, it was considered that it belonged to the mid-10th century but now it is observed that the stepwell may belong to the 11th century with the mandapa above the second kuta (pavilion-tower) may belong to the 10th century which may have been a separate shrine moved from elsewhere to this stepwell.
Architecture
The stepwell is small, moderately ornamented and is constructed using sandstone blocks and stone slabs. It has one entrance, three storeys and three kutas (pavilion-towers). The narrow stepped corridor is {{convert|2.50|m}} broad. It features small, square pavilions supported by unornamented pilasters. These square ruchaka type pilasters have a simple design, except for a decorative volute-pattern on the brackets. The well-shaft includes three pairs of struts decorated with motifs of diamond (ratna) on the top and a kirtimukha below it. These struts would have supported structures for drawing water from the well.
The small mandapa above the ground level and located on the second kuta of stepwell displays characteristics of its early origin. It has a small simple single-celled garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) with the doorframe depicting lotus leaves pattern.{{cite book|author=Jutta Jain-Neubauer|title=The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=61fSwBF4bbYC&pg=PA89|date=1 January 1981|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-0-391-02284-3|page=57}}
Gallery
File:Modhera_Vav_(27540).jpg|Three kutas (pavilion-towers) with mandapa on second kuta
File:Modhera Vav (46537).jpg|Mandapa with the doorframe depicting lotus leaves pattern
File:Modhera Vav (93035).jpg|Square pavilions supported by unornamented pilasters
File:Modhera Vav (89286).jpg|Well-shaft with three pairs of struts decorated with motifs of diamond (ratna) and kirtimukha