CAPTURING THE CUTIE

As every aspiring photographer, I am also crazy to photograph birds.

Luck favoured me to capture every moment of bird life in my house itself, instead of travelling length and breadth to quest for the nests.

As my residential locality is blessed with lot of trees (but now-a-days many of them vanishing!), it makes a haven for bird life.

I have often watched one variety of sun bird coming to my house garden to get some feeds.

This tiny bird can be spotted in the foothills of the Western Ghats, but it is difficult to photograph as its movements are very sharp and swift and flies in a flash of a second.

One day, serendipitously I noticed that it was starting to build a nest. Both the male and the female birds enthusiastically collected straw pieces, leaves, fine fiber and completed  the nest in our backyard adjacent to the garden.

The nest was hanging on a thin climbing stem of money plant in the roof of the backyard. I wondered whether the nest will rest on a thin stem!.

Also I was more anxious about the safety of the birds due to the frequent visits of cats which are always wandering at our locality.

But nature's creatures are more perceptive than human in many aspects. The nest was in the middle of the backyard roof not accessible even when the cat jumps.

It was really a memorable lifetime experience for me to closely watch and capture the moments of bird life naturally through my house window itself.

I am always aware of ethics on photographing nesting birds. So, I took every care to not to disturb their activities in anyway.

Here is the collection of Photographs.

Mother bird brings some feed for the baby

One early morning, the mother bird accidentally entered into the dining hall through the back door and sat on the fan. I was lucky to get these shots at the bird's eye level itself. Thanks to the dining table, which provided me an elevated platform

It was totally confused by the new surrounding. Myself and the Bird - both were terribly confused. I could not find ways to send the bird out.  Even after my sons' loud shouting, the bird just went and sit on another blade of the fan.

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At last an idea flashed. I switched off all lights. By looking at the sunlight outside the door, the bird flew away to its nest

All my family members eagerly waited for the new born in the bird family. First sight of the baby bird!

Baby bird sits on the wall and enjoys the morning sun

It was the father bird which tirelessly flew all the time and collected food for its baby.

It was really amazing for me to see how the father bird bends and adjusts its position to feed its young one

The sharp beaks of the father bird will never hurt the tender throat of the baby

Looking curiously for what?

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Baby cries to its mother for food. No mother will never allow her baby crying for food. Mother bird starts immediately to collect food for its baby

Both the baby bird and myself were eagerly awaiting for the Mother bird's return.  After almost half an hour, mother came and feed the food.

The mother bird sends the feed deep into the young one's mouth

After the food, the baby relaxed for some time and cleaned its feathers

And finally it posed for me with a cute look. 

After capturing this photograph, along with its father, the baby bird flew away from my house.

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ADALAJ STEP WELL – STEPPING BACK THRU HISTORY

In this contemporary era of reverse osmosis water purifiers and people waging war for waters,  this ancient architectural step well will definitely quench the thirst with an interesting legend. The farsightedness of our ancestors in preserving the sources of water is commendable.

Serene & Symmetrical 

STEP WELLS

Most of the kings of Gujarat have constructed specialized step wells for conserving water during rainy season that can be utilized during severe summer or drought. 

This step well “Adalaj Ni Vav” (In Guarati, ‘Vav’ means a step well accessible through many steps) is an architectural and engineering marvel.

View of the Vav – thru rains

THE NEED & PURPOSE

This step well at Adalaj was built by (or for?)  the Queen Rudabai  of  Vaghela dynasty  in 1498-1499 AD.   lt not only served utilitarian purpose but also as a cool resting place for travelers, pilgrims and caravans as stopovers along trade routes. 

It was an edifice for social, cultural and spiritual interaction for the villagers who came every morning at the well to procure water, offer prayers to the deities carved on the walls.

The octagonal pavilion at the entrance. I was welcomed with strong showers

HISTORY

The legend behind the origin of this step-well is as alluring as its architecture and camouflaged with   passion and tragedy.

In 1499,  the construction of the five-storied step well was started by Rana Vir Singh of the Vaghela dynasty  who was the ruler of ‘Dandai Desh’ - the area around Adalaj.

During  that time, Dandai Desh  was attacked by Mohammed Begda, a Muslim ruler of the adjoining state and Rana Vir Singh was killed in the battle.  Infatuted by the beauty of the slain king's widow  Rani Rudabai, Mohammed Begda sent her a matrimonial proposal.

The grief-stricken, but earnest queen imposed a condition that he should finish the remaining portion of the five-storied step-well started by her late husband. Cajoled by the charm of the queen, Begda readily agreed to the resume the project.

After the completion within a short time span, Mohammed Begda renewed his marriage proposal to Rani Rudabai. The Queen demanded to visit the step well. The next day, she came to the well, took a round at the dome, after reciting her final prayer,  plunged into the  well and got watery grave.

Samadhi for Rani Rudabai was built at the step well entrance.

It is worth to see the interplay of light with darkness inside the structure

PLANNING OF THE STEP WELL

The step well is located on the North and its entrance is from the south.   The total length of the structure is around 240 feet.

The Adalaj Ni Vav stands as the only step well, with three entrance stairs leading to a stepped corridor. These three entrances converge at the first storey with a huge square platform underground. The openings in the ceilings provide good ventilation and lighting for the octagonal well.

Construction of these types of step wells with lots of creativity – without the use of established engineering practices in the ancient times is always astonishing

THE STRUCTURE

The entire platform of this five storied well is designed to rest on 16 pillars, eight on the corners, and two in front of each main entrance. In each of four corners of the platform, shrines with doors and balconies are constructed. This square platform marks the beginning of the stepped corridor which is fully surrounded by 3 feet high parapet wall.

Looking up the top stories from the vav’s bottom – as rains pour as lines

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ENTERING THE STEP WELL

Some damp smell of bats and doves   welcome when entering the well.

While getting  down the step well, one might get an impression of entering a delphic location and extreme caution must be taken due to the slippery condition of the steps. Since it was raining during our visit, it was really a bizarre experience for us.

Entering into the earth – in silence

INSIDE THE STEPWELL

By getting down through 344 steps, the well water can be reached.

The step well is constructed in such a way that the direct sunlight does not touch reach either the flight of steps or the landing except during noon which makes the temperatures inside the step well up to six degrees cooler than outside.

The water level inside the well may vary  upon the season and the amount of rainfall

ARCHITECTURE

Although the step well was intended for a specific usage, its pragmatic creativity makes more than its purpose. Rich ornamentation blended on the walls and pillars and intricate carvings in the sculptures are veritable showcases of marvel in craftsmanship.

Innovation in designing and breathtaking ornamental carvings will put today’s architects to infamy

The  walls and pillars are engraved with aesthetic designs of leaves, floral patterns, rows of birds, fish, animals, motifs of mythological scenes  and even the natural elements like sky, clouds.

A closer look in to walls of the Octagonal pavilion

Craftly carved panels

Shrines with doors in each of the corners

Intricately carved pillars

Pillars enriched with engravings & carvings

A Balcony with exquisite carvings

A Motif with elephants, horses and soldiers

Though  it  was  difficult for me to keep away the photographic gears from rain drops,  I was lucky get some shots in the midst of  drizzles inside the Vav

Some where in the middle of the carvings on pillars and walls, mythological scenes and gods can be spotted.

View of the Stretch of the Vav Structure from top

Entry to the platform corridor in all stories & spiral steps in the east and  west are closed by ASI

It is believed that the architects who built this magnificent structure were sent to their graves by Mohammed Begda who did not want them to replicate this master piece anywhere else again

HOW TO REACH

The Architectural Adalaj step-well is just 18 km. north of Ahmedabad and can be driven within at the most half an hour from the  glitter and glamour of the malls and multiplexes of the city.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit is between the months of October and March as the weather in this season is quite pleasant in Ahmedabad.

TIMING

The step well is open on all the days and to relish the interiors of the step well, it is advisable to plan your visit when the sun is up you are at the bottom of the step well.

Today the step well is a heritage site maintained by Archeological Survey of India, inviting visitors from all over the globe for its gorgeous architecture and engineering excellence.

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