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Gujarat

Patan (Rani ki Vav)

The stepwell off the 100-rupee note, plus patola looms

HeritageCulture

Best time to visit Patan (Rani ki Vav)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and September to October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to June

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Patan (Rani ki Vav) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb at 10-28 °C suits the seven carved storeys of Rani ki Vav and a patola weaving demo in the old town.

Summer March to May Shoulder

Apr-Jun is 43 °C above ground; the stepwell itself stays cool but the walk in from the gate does not.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Jul-Sep is humid and grey with damp stone underfoot, but you get the seven tiers of sculpture without a queue.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct-Nov is clean and mild: do the vav at opening, Sahastralinga Talav after, Modhera the same afternoon.

What Patan (Rani ki Vav) is actually like

Quiet small town with Salvi family patola workshops, simple lodges and almost no visitors midweek

Things to do in Patan

The local places worth your time in and around Patan, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Sahastralinga Talav

    Heritage · 2 km out

    Ruined Solanki tank and sluice gates ten minutes from the vav; bare and unshaded, so take it in the first light

  • Patan Patola Heritage

    Museum · 2 km out

    The Salvi family's double ikat looms and museum; a weaving demonstration runs through the day, one saree takes months

  • Panchasara Parshwanath Derasar

    Temple · 1 km out

    The main Jain temple of a town with a hundred derasars; carved marble, all leather left at the step

  • Khan Sarovar

    Lake · 2 km out

    Big stone lined Mughal era tank on the town edge with steps down all four sides; walkers at dusk, nothing to pay

  • Siddhpur Bohra Havelis

    Heritage · 25 km out

    Pastel Dawoodi Bohra streets and the ruined Rudra Mahalaya nearby; buses every half hour, two hours is enough

Getting to Patan (Rani ki Vav)

Mehsana railhead 55 km or Ahmedabad 125 km by ST bus; the vav is 2 km from Patan bus stand

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
1 day
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
79 m
State
Gujarat
Coordinates
23.8589, 72.1017

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Patan (Rani ki Vav)?

November to February is peak season in Patan (Rani ki Vav). March and September to October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to June. Oct-Nov is clean and mild: do the vav at opening, Sahastralinga Talav after, Modhera the same afternoon.

How many days do you need in Patan (Rani ki Vav)?

1 day is the usual stay. Quiet small town with Salvi family patola workshops, simple lodges and almost no visitors midweek.

How do you get to Patan (Rani ki Vav)?

Mehsana railhead 55 km or Ahmedabad 125 km by ST bus; the vav is 2 km from Patan bus stand. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Patan (Rani ki Vav) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

What are the best things to do in Patan?

Sahastralinga Talav, Patan Patola Heritage, Panchasara Parshwanath Derasar, Khan Sarovar and Siddhpur Bohra Havelis. Ruined Solanki tank and sluice gates ten minutes from the vav; bare and unshaded, so take it in the first light.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Gujarat

All 32 destinations in Gujarat