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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The mother of all wells ....

The second serious momument was the 10th century Rani-ki-Vav step well.  

This extraordinary, elaborate piece of architecture, descends 7 stories underground and was designed to serve the caravanserei, the passing merchants - not the local peasants.  It was meant as both a source of water and as a cool place to socialise.  

Amazingly, it was lost until the late 19th century until a there was a subsidence in the local cricket ground .... from an archaeological point of view, I am sure I join with all my kind in extreme envy for such a find!!  Whohhh!!

Our guide is convinced the girl featured in the picture is applying her lipstick.  

Forgot to mention that one of the friezes I included for the SunTemple is a childbirth scene.




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