Adalaj - The public well or wav

Photograph of the Adalaj vav or step-well from James Burgess' 'Photographs of Architecture and Scenery in Gujarat and Rajputana' taken by Colin Murray in c.1872. This vav or step-well, once a Hindu sanctuary, is situated north of Ahmedabad and dates from 1502. The step-well was an ingenious way to conserve water in this arid region. This is a view looking along the upper gallery of the step-well, with women carrying water jars on their heads, posed in the foreground. The view looks from the richly-carved octagonal gallery along a receding vista. The walls of the vav are covered of sculptures and ornamentation which include floral and geometric motifs, horses, dancing girls, arabesques and bands of jewels.