NAVAGHAN KUVA
21.524400,70.471700
Description
The largest and most voluminous (note 1) stepwell in Gujarat or, for that matter, in the known world, is situated east of the Jama Masjid (mosque) inside the Uparkot (citadel) in the eastern side of Junagadh town. ETYMOLOGY: Named for Navghan 1st (circa 1060) of the Chudasama dynasty (WARD 1988: 228) and reported as Naughan [baoli] LONELY PLANET, India (1993: 670; 1997: 726) Naughan [well] LONELY PLANET, India (1990: 518) Navaghan Kuva LONELY PLANET, India (2001: 657-658; 2003: 671; 2005: 673; 2009: 759); LONELY PLANET, North India (2001: 809). A square opening (circa 10 by 10 m) to a more than 60 m deep well in addition to a lateral daylight shaft and a 3 m wide passage spiralling down seven flights of steps, altogether offering some circa 6000 cubic metres of enclosed space. The main shaft cuts through the entire local series of miliolithic limestone and an underlying marly mudstone into a semi-consolidated sandstone. DESCRIPTION 1993: »The Naughan is reached by a magnificent circular staircase« (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 518; 1993: 670; 1997: 726). DESCRIPTION 2001: »The Navaghan Kuva is reached by a magnificent winding staircase cut into the rock« (LONELY PLANET, India 2001: 658; 2003: 671; LONELY PLANET, North India 2001: 809). DESCRIPTION 2005: »… Navaghan Kuva, dramatically deep and reached by a magnificent staircase cut into the rock« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 673; 2009: 759). Noted by the LONELY PLANET (1999: 776).According to the IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 14: 238) the two fine vavs (–>Adi Chadi Kuva) were built in olden times by slave girls of Chudasama rulers. R. Baskara Narayan on geocities.com/desvanbhaskar/history_saurashtra.htm (accessed 2008.12.07): »Navghan Kuvo (1026 AD) is hewn from the soft rock and is 52 m deep, reached by a circular staircase winding around the shaft. … built by the Chudasama Rajputs … [and a] unique water structures among the numerous step wells of Gujarat.«
NOTE 1: »The Naughan is reached by a magnificent circular staircase« (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 726). »Navaghan Kuva, dramatically deep and reached by a magnificent staircase cut into rock« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 673).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | KHAPARA KHODIA | ||
| 4.0 | BHIMKUND, Girnar | ||
| 13.3 | BUDDHIST CAVES | ||
| 112.2 | BHOIRA KA BHOIRU | ||
| 164.5 | Ebnath Mahal | ||
| 164.5 | KHODIA DEVI CAVE | ||
| 236.4 | JHINJHUWADA STEPWELL | ||
| 237.5 | KHAMBHAT CAVE | ||
| 274.5 | Dada Hari Wav |