Today morning, proceed towards Patan (140 kms/ 3 hours). Visit:
Rani Ki Vav: One of the most magnificent structures in India, Rani Ki Vav, a UNESCO World Heritage Site has been considered as the Queen among the stepwells in India. The Stepwell was constructed by Queen Udayamati in memory of his husbanad Bhimadev I of the Solanki Dynasty. Constructed primarily for storing water for the locals, the stepwell was submerged with silt and sand due to the floods in the nearby Saraswati River in the 13th Century which was then excavated in 1960s by the ASI when they found more the 500 God sculptors in Pristine Condition. The statues of Dashavatars, Yoginis and various Gods and Goddesses adore the walls of the Stepwell. It surely will leave the tourists in awe with the kind of workmanship on the stepwell. The length of these historic stepwell is about 64 m, width about 20 m and the depth is about 27 m. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage site list in 2014 and also has been inscribed on the new Rs. 100 Currency Note in India. Rani ki Vav will certainly impress the visitors not only for its architectural craftsmanship but also for its sculptural decoration that reflects the true artistic mastery of the nation during medieval period. The sculptures and the figurative motifs along with proportion of empty and filled spaces provide genuine aesthetic character of the stepwell.
Sun Temple: Sun Temple of Modhera is a beautiful intricately carved temple constructed by King Bhimadev I in 1026. A perfect example of Solanki Architecture, Sun temple of Modhera lies exactly on the Tropic of Cancer and has been constructed in such a way that the first rays of the Sun on the two equinoxes of the year fell exactly on the crown on the head of the deity’s idol in the Garbha Griha. The Crown was stolen and the temple was destroyed considerably during the invasion of Alauddin Khilji in the 12th Century. The temple has 3 Parts: Surya Kund, Sabha Mandapa and the Maha Mandapa. The walls of the temple has beautiful statues of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses primarily Sun God as he is the presiding deity there. There are 52 pillars in the sabha mandapa symbolizing 52 weeks of the year each having stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata carved out on it. The temple revives the comparison with that of Konark Sun Temple of Odisha in terms of architectural styles and influence. The place where the temple has come up found its reference in scriptures of Brahma Purana and Skanda Purana. A perfect day excursion from Ahmedabad, the Sun Temple of Modhera has been attracting tourists with the majestic Rani Ki Vav as a complement.
Return back to Ahmedabad and overnight at Ahmedabad.