Located near the Shree Navgrah Mandir, this Vav (step-well) and its stone seating area stand as a beautiful tribute to Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Built by Shri Govindrao Vishnu Dev Vakil, the structure is a rare piece of history that shows the deep respect people had for the King.
The entrance is full of meaning. It features the “SRG” monograms and “Long Live” messages, as well as angels along-side Maharaja’s face carved into the stone. It also has unique table of previous and current ruling Maharaja’s. The pillars are decorated with flowers and vases, and a marble plaque sits right at the top. The vibrant patterns surrounding these figures are characteristic of the stucco work found in 19th and early 20th-century Gujarati architecture. The structure is also topped with a small dome and a shikhara-style finial, indicating its importance as a public monument. You can even find carvings of the Maharaja himself alongside Lord Mahadev, Shri Ganeshji, and what appears to be Shivaji Maharaj.
This four-storey stepwell was started on February 17, 1891, after the Mahajan Samuh invited the Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III for the Ishwar Stuti Festival (prayer festival) to celebrate his recovery and good health. To ensure that “day of great joy” was forever remembered, Govindrao Vishnu Vakil donated an initial amount of Rs 3,500 for this public charity work. The well was built to wish the Maharaja a long life, dedicated to Lord Mahadev, and named “Amrut Vav.” By its completion on May 27, 1892, the total construction cost reached Rs 5,755.8.
Below is Gujarati text as written on marble plaque on top of step-wells entrance:
ઈશ્વર કૃપા થી શ્રીમંત સરકાર સયાજીરાવ મહારાજા સાહેબ ને થયેલી આરોગ્યતા માટે તારીખ ૧૭ માહે ફેબ્રુઆરી સન ૧૮૯૧ ઈસ્વી ના રોજ વડોદરાના મહાજન સમૂહ તરફથી શ્રીમંત સરકાર ને આમંત્રણ કરી ઈશ્વર સ્તુતિ કરવાનો મહોત્સવ થયો, તે અત્યાનંદનો દિવસ હંમેશ યાદ રહે તેને માટે ગોવિંદરાવ વિષ્ણુ દેવ વકીલ એમને લોકોપયોગી ધર્માદા કામ કરવા ૩૫૦૦ ની રકમ અર્પણ કરેલી. તે રકમથી આ વાવ શ્રીમંત સરકારનું દીર્ધાયુષ્ય થવા બાંધી મહાદેવને અર્પણ કરી છે. આ વાવનું નામ અમૃત વાવ પાડ્યું છે. વાવ બંધાવતા કુલ ખર્ચ રૂ. ૫૭૫૫-૮ થયો છે. તારીખ ૨૭ માહે મે સન ૧૮૯૨ ઈસ્વી.
Translation
By the grace of God, on the 17th of February 1891, the Mahajan community of Vadodara hosted a grand celebration to offer prayers of gratitude for the recovery and good health of Shrimant Sarkar Sayajirao Maharaja Saheb.
To ensure that this day of supreme joy remains forever in memory, Govindrao Vishnu Dev (Vakil) donated a sum of 3,500 for a charitable work of public utility. Using that amount, this stepwell (Vav) was constructed and dedicated to Lord Mahadev, with the wish for a long life for Shrimant Sarkar.
This stepwell has been named Amrit Vav. The total cost of constructing the stepwell was Rs. 5,755-8.
Dated: 27th May 1892.
Today, the front of the Vav has become a Amba Mataji Temple. To see the actual step-well, you have to go around the left side and walk behind the temple. Although the Vav is in bad shape right now, a group of volunteers from RAMDOOT RESTORES is working hard to clean it up and light it back up so that future generations can still see it.
The Structure for Eating and Resting
Nearby the Temple & just next to Amrut Vav, stands a small room style structure, named ‘Govind Bhojan Gruh’ which was used by public to eat & or to rest, which was made by Shri G. V. Vakil. It features a marble plaque with the title ‘શ્રીમંત સરકાર સયાજીરાવ મહારાજા સાહેબની યુરોપખંડમાં ત્રીજી સવારી,’ dated ‘સન ૧૮૯૨-૯૩,’ and also displays the monogram of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III with his face engraved. Below it, there is a description written as:
વડોદરા રાજ્યના પાછલા રાજ્યકર્તાઓમાં તેમજ બ્રિટિશ ઇન્ડિયાના સ્વસ્થાનિકોમાં પ્રથમના મહારાજા આ જ છે કે જે સ્વરાજના તથા હિન્દુસ્તાનના હિત માટે ત્રણ વખત યુરોપખંડમાં ગયાને તે ખંડના દેશોની રચના , વિદ્યા, વેપાર, કળા, રાજ્ય કારભાર, દોલત, હિંમત સારી રીતે તપાસી આવ્યા. વળી કેસરી હિન્દ મહારાણી વિકટોરીઆનો ત્યાં ઇંગ્લેંડ દેશનું બહુમાન પોતાની રાજપત્ની સાથે મેળવી આવ્યા.
ગો.વી.દે.વકીલ
Translation
“Among the former rulers of the Baroda State and the eminent figures of British India, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III is the only one who undertook three tours of Europe for the benefit of Swaraj and Hindustan. He thoroughly examined the formation, education, trade, arts, administration, and wealth of the countries in that continent. Additionally, he brought back great honor from England, including a personal audience with Queen Victoria and the honor of his wife.”
G. V. Vakil
No Comments