Indian Monuments built by Women<\/h2>\nMaharani Temple, Gulmarg<\/h3>\n![\"Maharani](\"https:\/\/www.inditales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/gulmarg-maharani-shankar-temple.jpg\")
Maharani Shankar Temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Maharani Shankar Temple stands proudly on a small hill in the middle of Gulmarg Town in Kashmir valley. It is also known as Rani Ji temple or Maharani Shankar Temple. Although its official name is Shri Mohinishwara Shivalay.<\/p>\n
This temple was built in 1915 by Maharani Mohini Bai Sisodia who was the wife of the then king of Kashmir Raja Hari Singh. She was the daughter of Maharana Mohan Dev. Sisodia surname indicates that she came from the region of Mewar. And the fact that she continued to carry the legacy of her parental home. I assume the name of the temple also comes from the name of the queen.<\/p>\n
Take a flight of stairs to reach the small temple with a perfect backdrop of snow-clad mountains. Temple is rather small for a temple built by a royal queen. But then one must not forget the small population of Kashmir. And the minimal needs of the people living in harsh climates.<\/p>\n
Rani ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat<\/h3>\n![\"Rani](\"https:\/\/www.inditales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rani-2BKi-2BVav-2B1.jpg\")
Rani ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Rani ki Vav in Patan is my favorite Indian monument built by a woman. Rani Udaymati built this highly ornate step well in late 11th<\/sup>\u00a0CE in memory of her husband King Bhimadeva I of Solanki dynasty. She probably wanted to build something that would not only serve as a memorial to her departed husband but something that would solve the water problem for the kingdom. Maybe she wanted her husband to be remembered every time someone came to Rani Ki Vav for water.<\/p>\nThe step well goes several levels below the ground level. With each level, the ornamentation of the walls gets more intricate. There are sculptures of Vishnu\u2019s Dashavatar and of women doing Shringar. There is Vishnu on Shesh Shaiyya. When you look down the well at the end of the well, you are overwhelmed by the sculpted stones and the stories it tells.<\/p>\n
Mahim Causeway, Mumbai<\/h3>\n![\"Bandra](\"https:\/\/www.inditales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/bandra-worli-sea-link-from-bandra-fort.jpg\")
Bandra-Worli Sea Link at Dusk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAvabai was the wife of famous Parsi businessman\u00a0Jamshetjee Jejeebhoy<\/a>\u00a0who ruled the business circles of Bombay of mid 19th<\/sup>\u00a0CE. She was the mother of many sons and wanted a daughter. She was told that if she asked for her wish at Mount Mary Church located on Bandra Island, it would come true. So she took a boat and arrived at the church. However the boat journey was very difficult and she promised that if her wish comes true, no one would ever have to take a boat to reach the church. Her wish came true and she commissioned the linking of\u00a0Bandra\u00a0<\/a>Island to mainland Bombay through a causeway.<\/p>\nThis is how Mahim Causeway in Bombay came into being \u2013 which is now a lifeline of the city of Mumbai. Not sure if it can be counted among monuments of India but to me, it is something that many generations to come would thank Lady Avabai for.<\/p>\n
One intriguing fact in this story is that Avabai wished for a daughter and not a son. Given our attitudes towards daughters, it seems incredible.<\/p>\n
Virupaksha & Mallikarjuna Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka<\/h3>\n![\"Virupaksha](\"https:\/\/www.inditales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/pattadakal-Virupaksha.jpg\")
Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPattadakal in Karnataka is often referred as the laboratory of Indian Temple Architecture. Located almost in the center of Karnataka, you can find both North Indian Nagar Style and South Indian Dravidian style of temple architecture here. Pattadakal is a group of Indian monuments most of which are the temple that has been built by the Chalukyan kings between 7-9th<\/sup>\u00a0CE. However, two important temples here \u2013 Mallikarjuna temple and Virupaksha temple were built by the two queens of Vikramaditya II.<\/p>\n
The Maharani Shankar Temple stands proudly on a small hill in the middle of Gulmarg Town in Kashmir valley. It is also known as Rani Ji temple or Maharani Shankar Temple. Although its official name is Shri Mohinishwara Shivalay.<\/p>\n
This temple was built in 1915 by Maharani Mohini Bai Sisodia who was the wife of the then king of Kashmir Raja Hari Singh. She was the daughter of Maharana Mohan Dev. Sisodia surname indicates that she came from the region of Mewar. And the fact that she continued to carry the legacy of her parental home. I assume the name of the temple also comes from the name of the queen.<\/p>\n
Take a flight of stairs to reach the small temple with a perfect backdrop of snow-clad mountains. Temple is rather small for a temple built by a royal queen. But then one must not forget the small population of Kashmir. And the minimal needs of the people living in harsh climates.<\/p>\n
Rani ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat<\/h3>\nRani ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Rani ki Vav in Patan is my favorite Indian monument built by a woman. Rani Udaymati built this highly ornate step well in late 11th<\/sup>\u00a0CE in memory of her husband King Bhimadeva I of Solanki dynasty. She probably wanted to build something that would not only serve as a memorial to her departed husband but something that would solve the water problem for the kingdom. Maybe she wanted her husband to be remembered every time someone came to Rani Ki Vav for water.<\/p>\nThe step well goes several levels below the ground level. With each level, the ornamentation of the walls gets more intricate. There are sculptures of Vishnu\u2019s Dashavatar and of women doing Shringar. There is Vishnu on Shesh Shaiyya. When you look down the well at the end of the well, you are overwhelmed by the sculpted stones and the stories it tells.<\/p>\n
Mahim Causeway, Mumbai<\/h3>\nBandra-Worli Sea Link at Dusk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAvabai was the wife of famous Parsi businessman\u00a0Jamshetjee Jejeebhoy<\/a>\u00a0who ruled the business circles of Bombay of mid 19th<\/sup>\u00a0CE. She was the mother of many sons and wanted a daughter. She was told that if she asked for her wish at Mount Mary Church located on Bandra Island, it would come true. So she took a boat and arrived at the church. However the boat journey was very difficult and she promised that if her wish comes true, no one would ever have to take a boat to reach the church. Her wish came true and she commissioned the linking of\u00a0Bandra\u00a0<\/a>Island to mainland Bombay through a causeway.<\/p>\nThis is how Mahim Causeway in Bombay came into being \u2013 which is now a lifeline of the city of Mumbai. Not sure if it can be counted among monuments of India but to me, it is something that many generations to come would thank Lady Avabai for.<\/p>\n
One intriguing fact in this story is that Avabai wished for a daughter and not a son. Given our attitudes towards daughters, it seems incredible.<\/p>\n
Virupaksha & Mallikarjuna Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka<\/h3>\nVirupaksha Temple, Pattadakal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPattadakal in Karnataka is often referred as the laboratory of Indian Temple Architecture. Located almost in the center of Karnataka, you can find both North Indian Nagar Style and South Indian Dravidian style of temple architecture here. Pattadakal is a group of Indian monuments most of which are the temple that has been built by the Chalukyan kings between 7-9th<\/sup>\u00a0CE. However, two important temples here \u2013 Mallikarjuna temple and Virupaksha temple were built by the two queens of Vikramaditya II.<\/p>\n
The Rani ki Vav in Patan is my favorite Indian monument built by a woman. Rani Udaymati built this highly ornate step well in late 11th<\/sup>\u00a0CE in memory of her husband King Bhimadeva I of Solanki dynasty. She probably wanted to build something that would not only serve as a memorial to her departed husband but something that would solve the water problem for the kingdom. Maybe she wanted her husband to be remembered every time someone came to Rani Ki Vav for water.<\/p>\n The step well goes several levels below the ground level. With each level, the ornamentation of the walls gets more intricate. There are sculptures of Vishnu\u2019s Dashavatar and of women doing Shringar. There is Vishnu on Shesh Shaiyya. When you look down the well at the end of the well, you are overwhelmed by the sculpted stones and the stories it tells.<\/p>\n Avabai was the wife of famous Parsi businessman\u00a0Jamshetjee Jejeebhoy<\/a>\u00a0who ruled the business circles of Bombay of mid 19th<\/sup>\u00a0CE. She was the mother of many sons and wanted a daughter. She was told that if she asked for her wish at Mount Mary Church located on Bandra Island, it would come true. So she took a boat and arrived at the church. However the boat journey was very difficult and she promised that if her wish comes true, no one would ever have to take a boat to reach the church. Her wish came true and she commissioned the linking of\u00a0Bandra\u00a0<\/a>Island to mainland Bombay through a causeway.<\/p>\n This is how Mahim Causeway in Bombay came into being \u2013 which is now a lifeline of the city of Mumbai. Not sure if it can be counted among monuments of India but to me, it is something that many generations to come would thank Lady Avabai for.<\/p>\n One intriguing fact in this story is that Avabai wished for a daughter and not a son. Given our attitudes towards daughters, it seems incredible.<\/p>\n Pattadakal in Karnataka is often referred as the laboratory of Indian Temple Architecture. Located almost in the center of Karnataka, you can find both North Indian Nagar Style and South Indian Dravidian style of temple architecture here. Pattadakal is a group of Indian monuments most of which are the temple that has been built by the Chalukyan kings between 7-9th<\/sup>\u00a0CE. However, two important temples here \u2013 Mallikarjuna temple and Virupaksha temple were built by the two queens of Vikramaditya II.<\/p>\nMahim Causeway, Mumbai<\/h3>\n
Virupaksha & Mallikarjuna Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka<\/h3>\n