Adalaj Step-well - Steeped in History and Tragedy!

     

     We visited this fascinating vav (Step-well) as part of our City Tour in Ahmedabad. After paying a small entry free, we entered its hallowed precincts, with our indefatigable lady guide. She pointed out its interesting facets like intricate carvings, Indo-Islamic architecture, tragic history and its relevance.

     She kept leading us down the solid, grey, sandstone steps, with flat platforms at each level, flanked by beautiful columns and meticulously carved niches, weaving her way through selfie-taking tourists; till we reached the third level from where we aren't allowed down any further! A shaky wooden fence stands there. An eyesore undoubtedly! There is water still visible at the bottom of the well. It is supposedly still potable.

     The guide started narrating the heartrending, tragic tale of the step-well. Rani Roopba had started constructing the step-well to honor her husband Rana Veersingh (who was later defeated and killed by the Muslim ruler, Mohammed Begada in battle). The Muslim ruler then proposed to the Rani who laid down the precondition that she would marry him if he completed construction of the step-well. He tried to complete it hastily and again proposed to her. The Rani refused, saying that it was incomplete!

     The guide pointed out how the last two levels of this step-well are bare, cemented, whitewashed and devoid of any ornamentation in the form of sculptures/carvings!

     This shoddy work carried out by the Muslim ruler anguished the Rani so much that she committed suicide by jumping into the same 'unfinished' vav, her labor of love! Obviously, the Rani had wanted to keep her honor intact!

     We felt really sorry for that Queen and silently prayed that her soul should rest in eternal peace. We also inwardly thanked her for this breathtaking piece of architecture!

     Aged people should avoid venturing down the step-well if they suffer from arthritis, spondylitis, blood pressure or vertigo. Children should be under strict supervision to avoid nasty falls.

     We would have loved to spend some more time there.

The copyright of this travelogue is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

This review has also been published on www.tripadvisor.in.

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Of Siblings and E-friends - Kindle Countdown Deal

 

Dear friends,

Wish you all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2021 filled with laughter and gaiety, health, peace and contentment! May all your worries and tensions be a thing of the past!

 Here's some good news to cheer you up ...

A Kindle Countdown Deal will be on from 3rd to 10th January, 2021 at www.amazon.com for my e-book titled Of Siblings and E-friends.
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So hurry and grab this golden opportunity to read a wonderful collection of stories that will set you thinking about relationships between siblings and e-friends.

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Happy reading!
Priya

 

Excerpt from the story Triumph - At what cost?

(A story in this unusual collection of stories - 

Of Siblings and E-friends)

     

     “Abhijeet, your brother is getting on my nerves these days. He keeps hounding me and faking his affections for me. I am tolerating his behavior just because he is your brother. But it is high time you put him in his place. And drag him out of his dream world."

      

     “Sneha, I can understand your plight. My sympathy is with you. But look at the positive side of this situation. You have transformed Gaurav. He speaks politely and even checks his swear words before they escape from his mouth. He dresses up immaculately and has even mastered the art of making small talk. Thanks to you! It is rightly said that “Behind every successful man, there is a lady!” What my parents and I couldn’t achieve in 20 years, you’ve achieved just in 2 months. Bravo,” Abhijeet said with a laugh, as Sneha balled her fist and aimed a punch on his nose. He ducked just at the right moment and caught her tiny clenched fist. 

     “You are incorrigible!”

     

     “And you’re a sweetheart. Correction, My Sweetheart, besides, what’s the harm if you lead him on, if that makes him a better person?”

    

     “Abhijeet, how can you be so obtuse? If this state of affairs continues, I’m sure that it’ll cause heart-break, probably, for all of us. What if I succumb to his charms one day in the future?” she teased. 

     Suddenly Abhijeet became dead serious. “Promise me that you are only mine,” he sounded very anxious and earnest. For the first time, he appeared uncertain and confused. 

     “Of course, I am. But the ball is in your court now. If you don’t resolve this issue within a week, I’ll have to be frank and confront him with the truth. Things could take a nasty turn then. Don’t say then, that I didn’t warn you!” 

     She left Abhijeet in an uncharacteristically pensive mood that day.

End of Excerpt