Your archive
From the archive record
Built-in 1499 by Queen Rudabai, wife of the Vaghela chief, Veersinh, this five-storey stepwell was not just a cultural and utilitarian space, but also a spiritual refuge. It is believed that villagers would come every day in the morning to fill water, offer prayers to the deities carved into the walls and interact with each other in the cool shade of the vav. There is an opening in the ceilings above the landing which allows the light and air to enter the octagonal well. However, direct sunlight does not touch the flight of steps or landings except for a brief period at noon. Hence some researchers say that the atmosphere inside the well is six degrees cooler than the outside. Another remarkable feature of this stepwell is that out of the many stepwells in Gujarat, it is the only one with
License this footage
Broadcast-quality masters are available from Wilderness Films India.
Keep exploring
fort · bazaar
Chandni Chowk, one of the busiest and most historic parts of Old Delhi. The wide street is filled with shoppers, workers, visitors, and cycle rickshaws moving through the market.
fort · aerial
An aerial view of Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan, India, during the golden hour near sunset. Warm sunlight illuminates the fort's extensive stone ramparts, palaces, temples, and historic towers, accentuating the scale and architectural detai…
Rajasthan·festival · hills
This archival footage captures a vibrant Shobha Yatra moving through Jaipur, Rajasthan, against the backdrop of some of the city's most iconic landmarks.
fort · hills
A walk through one of India's largest and most historic hill forts - Chittorgarh. Located in Rajasthan, the fort is spread across nearly 700 acres atop a hill overlooking the city of Chittorgarh, and served as the capital of the Mewar kingd…
monsoon · fort
Severe flooding and waterlogging near the historic Red Fort and Salimgarh Fort in Delhi during the monsoon season.
temple · fort
The historic Sathis Deori Temple, also known as Satbis Deori, stands within the vast fort complex of Chittorgarh Fort.
Rajasthan·fort · old town
A historical display of Rajput weaponry inside Junagarh Fort. The exhibit is arranged within a deep teal-coloured niche framed by a traditional Rajasthani archway.
Rajasthan·fort · architecture
A temple structure is located within Junagarh Fort. The architecture reflects traditional Rajasthani design with carved stone elements. The temple परिसर is integrated into the larger fort complex.