The stepwell has been revamped through the centuries by numerous rulers practicing various faiths. The first iteration was Hindu, built around 800 CE by Raja Chand possibly in conjunction with the nearby Harshat Mata temple. At the twelfth level down, the remains of structure are remarkably well preserved with shrines retaining the deities who overlook the water. The Mughal structure is a complex of rooms, galleries, arches and flat terraces. The stepwell is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

 

Lautman, Victoria, The Vanishing Stepwells of India, 2017, 40

The construction of the Dada Harir Stepwell fell in the reign of Sultan Mahmud Begada. This stepwell derived its name from the patroness Dada Hariri. In an early account, this stepwell was called ‘Nurse’s Well’ by literal translation of patroness’ title given in the inscription.

This stepwell bears two inscriptions, one in Sanskrit and the other in Arabic. The stepwell has five storeys and five pavilion-towers. In the inside world of the world at each story, one small niche is introduced at the center of the back wall. Inside the niches, there are intricately designed scroll-motifs. At the top most storey, and arch supports a platform, were formerly the device for hauling by buckets had been installed.

The stepwell displays various elements of the prevailing Hindu tradition and Islamic elements of decoration. Animals appear on the horizontal bands inside the back word of the well in between the floral scroll. Islamic decorative elements are rosette-medallions, the ‘tree of life’ or a huge lotus-rosette in a vase which seems to be an alteration of the classical motif of purnaghata, the vase of plenty.

Reference: Jain-Neubauer, Jutta. The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective, 2003.