Dada Hari Wav

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A man-made stepwell (note 1) or Moghul well with subterranean retreats (BROSSET 1962b: 26, 45) in Ahmedabad City, about 200 m south of –>Mata Bhavani Vav, lined with blocks of cross-bedded sandstone, and built in 1501 (LONELY PLANET 1997: 697, 2001: 631, 2003: 645) or 1499 (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 489; 1993: 639; 2005: 645; 2009: 731) by a women of Sultan Begara's harem, has steps to lower platforms, terminating at a small, octagonal well. The depths are cool, even on the hottest day. Neglected and often bone dry , it's fascinatingly eerie … APPROACH 2009: Bus 34 and 111 (Rs 5) to Asarwa stops nearby (LONELY PLANET, India 2009: 732). APPROACH 2003-2005: Bus No 111 (Rs 5) to Asarwa goes nearby (LONELY PLANET, India 2003: 645, 2005: 645). DESCRIPTION 1990: Dada Harini Vav (Step Well) ¬ Step wells, or baolis, are strange constructions, unique to northern India and this is one of the best. The curious well has a series of steps leading down to lower and lower platforms, eventually erminating in a small octagonal well. The depths of the well are cool, even on the hottest day and it must once have been quite beautiful. Today it is completely neglected and often bone dry, but it's a fascinatingly eerie place with galleries above the well and a small portico at ground level. There is a second step well, that of Mata Bhawani, a couple of hundred metres north of Dada Harini's (LONELY PLANET, India 2009: 489). CAVE LIFE - bats (Chiroptera): BROSSET (1961: 121) … retrouvé les Rhinopomes [Rhinopoma hardwickei Gray 1831] dans les fameux puits de Gujerat. … On y trouve en nombre des Taphozous [Eballonuridae: Taphozous perforatus Geoffroy 1818], des Rhinopomes, des Pipistrelles, des Scotophilus et de Roussettes. C'est dans le -Dada Hari Well- d'Amedabad, que fut rencontrée la plus grande concentration de Rhinopomes. Soixante-dix individus se trouvaient groupés dans la partie encaissée d'un plafond en novembre 1960. BROSSET (1962b: 26 table, 35, 45) reports a coloy (70 or 80 in November, and 25 or 30 in June) of Rhinopoma hardwickei Gray 1831 (Lesser Mouse-tailed bat) along with four Taphozous longimanus. BROSSET (1962b: 26 table, 35, 45) Brother A. Navarro has seen 20 years ago (circa 1940) in November, December and June: A few individuals of Eballonuridae: Taphozous perforatus Geoffroy 1818 in the Dada Hari Well. BROSSET (1962b: 45 table): Noticied in November (1960?) four individuals of Taphozous longimanus Hardwicke 1821.y (70 or 80 in November, and 25 or 30 in June) of Rhinopoma hardwickei Gray 1831 (Lesser Mouse-tailed bat) along with four Taphozous longimanus. BROSSET (1962b: 26 table, 35, 45) Brother A. Navarro has seen 20 years ago (circa 1940) in November, December and June: A few individuals of Eballonuridae: Taphozous perforatus Geoffroy 1818 in the Dada Hari Well. BROSSET (1962b: 45 table): Noticied in November (1960?) four individuals of Taphozous longimanus Hardwicke 1821.