Probashi- City
Probashi- City
historians , when the fortress was being built in the 14th century , it was divided into various sections , including those for the commoners , the villagers
, traders and military . ' A baoli was the most frequently used source of water in that period and each territory had one to cater to the needs of the inhabitants . The baoli in the royal complex of the fortress was only for the Tughlaq rulers and their immediate family members . It was out of bounds for the locals Here red sandstone slabs have been excavated with inscriptions . ASI excavations have also revealed hidden steps , frames of arched doorways and other old structures in the royal baoli . The well is not grand but a very functional structure comprising essentlially a square shaped well with steps leading to the water level .
Another outstanding specimen of Tuglaq period Baoli can be found inside the Red fort . This 14 century Baoli predates the 17 century Red fort indicative that the Red fort was built over the ruins of a Tuglaq fort . This Baoli structure has an ominous history‐ members of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose ' s Indiann National Army were imprisoned here by the British . Before that in the late Mughal times , this Boali structure located at a remote part of Red fort was used as a prison for rebel princes . Sadly the most able candidate for the Mughal throne , the learned and liberal Dara Shikoh , was also imprisoned at this Baoli by Aurangzeb before being assassinated
. Currently this Baoli is out of bound for visitors . The Baolis near Press Enclave Saket and the well at Lal Kuan in Old Delhi also have Tuglaq period antecedents .
The two significant Baolis of the Tuglaq period were built by Feroz Shah Tuglaq the last major king of
The Baoli at Feroz Shah Kotla built by Feroz Shah Tuglaq Photo courtesy : Simon de Trey‐Whitee
the Tuglaq dynasty . He is known to have given a big push to infrastructure development across his kingdom and is credited with constructing many step‐wellof water for drinking
needs and also for the several gardens he laid . The Baoli at Kotla Feroz Shah the site of his capital has one such
Baoli built to water the gardens and as a retreat for the royal family . The Baoli at the Hindu Rao Hospital besides the Pir Gharib ( hunting lodge ) was for
the supply also
Baolis of Delhi- Wells Well Dug
Baolis under ASI Protection i . Rajon ki Bain ( Mehrauli ) ii . Gandhak ki baoli ( Mehrauli ) iii . Wazirpur baoli ( R . K . Puram ) iv . Nizamuddin
Dargah v . Arab ki Sarai ( Nizamuddin
) vi . Purana Qila vii . Ugrasen ki baoli ( Hailey Road ) viii . Ferozeshahh Kotla ix . Lal Qila x . Bara Hindu Rao
built by Firoz Shah and was intended for supplying water to the Kushk‐i‐Shikar or Jahan‐ Numa palace . Much later in its history the
The 500 year old Lodi period baoli at Sector
5 RK Puram . Now completely dry