Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
What is Dal Bati/Dal Bhati
By now, Niru and Desheret were hungry and asked if they could stop at a roadside Dhaba
(local restaurant) to eat a fast lunch. This particular area of Gujarat specializes in Dal Bati/
Dal Bhati.
Dal Bati/Dal Bhati is made from a mixture of wheat flour, oil, and water which is formed
into big chunks and fried. Small pieces of white radish and lemon, to squeeze over the
radish, was placed on the table. At least 3-4 wheat chunks was served on a plate which Niru
broke into small pieces. Ghee (clarified butter) was drizzled over the wheat pieces followed
by ladles of Dal (a thick stew of lentils, peas or beans) over the entire plate. The beyond
reasonable cost was 55 Rupees (a little over $1 U.S.) for a huge and nourishing plate of Dal
Bati/Dal Bhati.
The owner of this small Dhaba was so thrilled that Travels With Sheila was photograph-
ing and videoing, he kept offering free soft drinks. If we hadn't been so full from our usu-
al gigantic breakfast, I would have loved to eat a plate of Dal Bati myself. It looked and
smelled wonderful.
The Adalaj Step Well
The Adalaj Step Well is close to Ahmedabad and easy to visit on a day tour. This step
well was built in 1488 by Ruda, wife of Vaghela chief, Virsinh. Another intricately carved
step well that descended five stories below the ground. (The fabulous Raniki Vav Step Well
was seven stories in depth.) The chronology of events that resulted in building this step well
is depicted on the walls of the well.
Step Wells were important in the semi arid regions of Gujarat as they provided basic wa-
ter needs for drinking, washing and bathing. Step Wells also hosted festivals, sacred rituals
and were frequented by travelers and caravans as stopovers along trade routes. The State of
Gujarat has the biggest number of step wells (over 120) in India. There are several legends
attached to the Adalaj step well. One concerns the six masons who built this well. Construc-
tion was started by Rana Veer Singh who was killed in a war. Subsequently, Muslim King
Mohammed Begda of a neighboring state continued construction in Indo-Islamic architec-
tural style. When he asked the masons if they could ever build a similar well, they answered,
"Yes." That was
not
the right answer and Begda put them to death.
The Adalaj Step Well is octagonal at the top, built on intricately carved pillars, and each
floor is spacious enough to allow people to congregate. There are air and light vents in the
roofs on various floors and at the landing level, as large openings. The dominant carvings
on the upper floors are elephants, each with a different design. Other important motifs of
flowers, symbols of Hindu and Jain gods, women performing daily chores, and even erotic
carvings covered every available surface.
