Hadi Rani ka Kund, Toda Rai Singh, Tonk district, Rajasthan, India [1]
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [2]
Pic HaRa 01 View of Pavilion and Steps on three sides of Hadi Rani Ka Kund
1. Information Common to all Baoris (Stepwells) [3]
Baoli or Baori or Bawri or Bawdi (Stepwell), called Barav or Baav in Marathi, Vav in Gujarati and Kalyani in Kannada, are unique architectural marvels found in arid areas/states of India – Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and in parts of Pakistan, and despite being popular amongst select tourists, are still largely unexplored. A visit to these temples of water, which support life, [4] offer a wonderful experience and an opportunity to share the same (experience) alongwith pictures. A stepwell tour should be high on priority of aesthetic art lovers and those with interest in history. Baoris have been an inspiration for/and filming location for Bollywood and Hollywood films.
Baoris have steps to reach the bottom of the well to access water. [5] These structures constructed with the main purpose of addressing water storage, also worked as air cooling systems. Each step well, a work of aesthetic architecture, art, sculpting mainly/largely on stone, displaying scientific and geometrical excellence and technology, embodying an ancient tradition of water management, is unique and/or dis-similar to other step wells. Stepwells were/are a part of social, religious and ceremonial activities of the community.
There are several mysteries related to Baoris. Are Baoris only for collecting and storing rainwater? or to augment the water table and/or replenish it, when there are no rains; or connected to an aquifer; a cooler temperature significantly lower than in the surrounding areas suggests a favourable air circulation system; brilliant precision symmetry; bhoot (ghost) and many more mysteries. Several of these Baoris have tunnels leading to different locations in the near/distant neighbourhood, with stories of people disappearing.
2. Hadi Rani ka Kund, Toda Rai Singh, Tonk district, Rajasthan, India
Hadi Rani ka Kund (Kund is a reservoir distinct from a stepwell), is another architectural marvel, associated with a tale of sacrifice, which is well-maintained. Starting from the main road which has a signage giving direction to Hadi Rani Ka Kund, there are signs of superior maintenance and upkeep of the Kund, a rare experience. The Kund is located in a well maintained enclosure of garden with manicured lawns, with an entrance from the Northern side. The garden is stated to be maintained by the local municipal authority.
Pic HaRa 02 ASI signage of the Hadi Rani Ka Kund, Northern direction
Pic HaRa 03 Red Oleanders along entrance to the Hadi Rani Ka Kund, Northern direction
3. Valour and Sacrifice of Queen Hadi Rani
The Kund built in honour of Queen Hadi Rani, daughter of Hada Rajput, wife of Ratan Chundawat of Salumbar in Mewar, who was Commander-in-Chief of the Mewar army, and her tale of legendary sacrifice, during a battle fought between Maharaja of Mewar and Aurangzeb (1653-1680).
Pic HaRa 04 Steps of Hadi Rani Ka Kund, Eastern direction
Ratan Chundawat showed some reluctance to go to the battle field, as he did not want to leave his beloved bride, whom he had married only a few days ago.
Pic HaRa 05 Steps of Hadi Rani Ka Kund, North Western direction
Hadi Rani inspired her husband, who was in a dilemma between his duty to save Mewar and to his newly wed wife, by sacrificing her head as a token gift for him. Ratan Chundawat tied the decapitated head of his wife to his own hair and fought fiercely till he attained victory. In the end, he severed his head, to join his wife in the next world.
Pic HaRa 06 Upward flight of Steps of Hadi Rani Ka Kund, Northern direction
Rajputana is full of stories of sacrifices by women and men, to defend their honour and/or to fulfill their duty towards their clan and motherland, at the cost of their personal interests/desires.
Pic HaRa 07 Family performing Puja at the Northern entrance to the Kund
Paying respects to the Rajput tradition of sacrifice, this author was witness to three generations of a family performing Puja on the Northern entrance.
Pic HaRa 08 Span of flight of Steps of Hadi Rani Ka Kund, Northern direction
4. Excellent craftsmanship on display
The legend associated with this stepwell is memorably captured by excellent craftsmanship as the Kund. A visitor can climb down all the steps in the Hadi Rani Kund and get a magnificent view of the Kund. The Kund has also been a location for shooting famous Bollywood movies.
Pic HaRa 09 Three sides of the rectangular Hadi Rani Ka Kund, facing Eastern direction
Hadi Rani ka kund is a rectangular shaped stepwell not very deep, two stories of which are above water and visible. A co-visitor volunteered to share, that there were two more stories inside water. Blogs and other post have stated that the Kund has a total of three stories.
Pic HaRa 10 Span of flight of Steps of Hadi Rani Ka Kund, Eastern direction
There is precision geometrical symmetry, in the design of the stepwell, which is difficult to find today.
Pic HaRa 11 Flight of Steps reversing at each landing, Hadi Rani Ka Kund
Hadi Rani Ka Kund is a rectangular kund with double-storeyed corridors. It is stated that in the lower storey, there are images of Brahma, Ganesa and Mahishasuramardini.
On the three sides of the Kund, attractively constructed steps are arranged in sets of thirteen each at higher levels and five each at lower levels, to access water.
Pic HaRa 12 Flight of Steps North West Direction, Hadi Rani Ka Kund
There is a flight of six/eight pairs [6] of twin-steps on each landing, on three sides of the Kund. Each of these flight of twin-steps of stone masonry, is two-three feet wide and reverses at each landing.
Pic HaRa 13 Grand view of Steps Western Direction, Hadi Rani Ka Kund
In addition to being a visual delight in a diamond formation, the reversing of steps on each landing, offers safety while ascending or descending the Kund.
Pic HaRa 14 View of Northern and Eastern Steps, Pavilion and stagnant water, Hadi Rani Ka Kund
Water in the Hadi Rani Ka Kund, as also in other step wells, needs to be continuously cleaned by pumping it through a filter/cleaning system. A thin wire net on the top would also help in keeping the Baori clean.
Pic HaRa 15 Covered Steps leading to the Pavillion, Hadi Rani Ka Kund, Southern direction
Three sides of the Kund have open flight of twin steps reversing at each landing to access the water. However, access to the Pavillion, which is on the Southern side, is through covered steps leading to rooms on the lower floors of Hadi Rani Ka Kund.
Pic HaRa 16 Grand view of Steps with Aravalli mountain in the background, Hadi Rani Ka Kund
From the Kund, one gets a beautiful view of the Aravalli mountain range of Dhangadmau Khurd, Rajasthan, on the North Eastern side
Pic HaRa 17 View of Steps and run-offs on the pavilion, Hadi Rani Ka Kund
On the pavilion side, there are sliding sun/shade, functioning as run-offs for water in the dire
END NOTES
[1] This is second in the series of articles covering Stepwells in Rajasthan based on travel in October 2021. The first on Chand Baori, Abhaneri is at https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site/post/chand-baori-stepwell-abhaneri-rajasthan-india-rohit-kumar-parmar [2] Author has in posts on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site), twitter (https://twitter.com/rohitkparmar?s=09), facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rohit.parmar.5268750/), linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-kumar-parmar-841b4724) been writing on diverse topics including historical sites and can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com. [3] The first part is largely the same in all articles in the series. [4] The author was informed of shortage of drinking water in Abhaneri, on his visit on October 12, 2021, immediately after a good but delayed monsoon. [5] Stepwells are different from Kunds or reservoirs, which may have steps but are only storage tanks. [6] Depending on whether the Kund has three or four storeys. This author on his visit could view only two storeys above water. of the well.
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