Gangvo Kund

Location : Google Maps (in Dedadara, 10 Km from Wadhwan)

Shared autos are available to Dedadara from GebanShah Naka.

I was offered a lift back by a resident of Wadhwan (thanks, Hitesh). He told me that the water in this kund changes color. And, on the day after Navaratri prayers are held here early morning followed by a mela . He also claimed that on that day early in the morning the water seems to churn. People believe water from the Ganga flows into this kund at that time. He also said that these days the kund is not being cleaned as often as it used to be.

Plenty of turtles in the kund, camera-shy ;-)

The Kund is built like a classic water tank - a deep, rectangular depression in the ground, paved with stone all the way down and surrounded at surface level by a flat stone platform. Accessed by three levels of stone stairs from two sides, with a third side having stone brackets to which pulleys could be attached for heaving a bucket up.

The stone brackets are embellished with human-like stone figures at the end, in a pose that looks as if they are holding up the brackets. Traces of an imaginative artisan from over a thousand years ago. At ground level, the tank is surrounded by four shrines, all in the shikhara style. Two of these are on either side of the tank, at a right angle to it while the other two are in front of the tank, facing each other. A most interesting layout, with Hindu shrines facing varied directions.

One of the many aspects that make Gangvo Kund remarkable is the elegance of the stones used in the tank itself. Even today, the rock is shiny and smooth. The tank still has water though locals could not confirm the source. ...

In the evenings, the Gangvo becomes a place of delight. Village folk come together at this cool spot and discuss worldly matters. Groups of women offer prayers at the shrines around. Peacocks sing in the background. And children have a great deal of fun jumping into the pool. This is how a water body is meant to be. Dedadara shows the way.

From : Dedadara: The Sacred Pond

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