Ramkund is a well-preserved stepwell or ‘baori’ located off the beaten path in Bhuj, Gujarat. I’d been to Bhuj a few times before, and in 2019 I wanted to get away from the tourist traps like the Aina Mahal and the Kutch Museum.
On the invitation of the Gujarat Tourism Board, I visited Gujarat in 2019. Our media group had a driver who agreed to drop me off at the Kutch Museum while the rest of the group went to the Aina Mahal. Ramkund is close to the Kutch Museum, which is where I began my journey.
Our guide, Anant, dropped us off at the start of the Ramkund route. I found the baori after just a short distance of walking! There were only two couples seated when I arrived. There wasn’t a single other tourist in sight!
There are larger and more ornate baoris in Gujarat, such as Rani Ki Vav near Patan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, I adore all types of stepwells and had a great time visiting Ramkund in Bhuj.
The stepwell is described as follows on the Incredible India website. Aside from that, nothing is known about the stepwell’s origins.
Ramkund is a square stepwell with carved miniature idols depicting Lord Vishnu’s ten incarnations and sculptures of Lord Rama, Devi Sita, Lord Lakshmana, and Lord Hanuman on one side and sculptures of Lord Rama, Devi Sita, Lord Lakshmana, and Lord Hanuman on the other. The stepwell’s architecture is geometrical, and it leaves one in awe of the talent of the period. Ramkund is situated behind the Ram Dhun Temple, across from the Kutch Museum.
The Ramkund Stepwell in #Bhuj #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/o8sINZ3Ubp
— Mridula Dwivedi (@mridulablog) December 8, 2020
I took my time wandering around, marvelling at the symmetry and the ancient thought process behind water conservation! I enjoy taking photographs, so I focused all of my attention on that after a while. For impact, I draped my bright pink shawl (purchased in Kutch) across the stairwell.
The whole time I was there, I was struck by how quiet it was. My presence did not annoy the local couples, and I was amused by their youth and need to meet away from prying eyes! I recall kindly asking them to get out of the picture frame once, and they complied.
