Probashi- City
Probashi- City
Baolis of Delhi- Wells Well Dug
Mehrauli and Sultanpur. The magnificent Rajon‐ki‐Bain, near Adam Khan
' s tomb, in
Mehrauli was so named because it was used for some time by masons( Raj). It belongs to the Lodi period and was built as a water storage facility. The Kotla Mubarakpur Baoli another Lodi period five story baoli must have been an impressivee structure. However only the south wall remains, the rest has been filled up and built over.
Another Lodi period Baoli at Sector 5 RK Puram is part of the Wazirpur Tomb complex comprising of 8 structures enclosed in a small park which has two wall mosques, 5 tombs and a baoli. The baoli was source of water for travellers as well as those who visited the tomb and mosques and as well for the residents of the nearby Munirka Village.
The Purana Qila Baoli is probably of post Lodi origin and built during the 1540s when the Suri dynasty was in power in Delhi. The baoli has a well attached to it on its north east end. It has 89 steps leading to the bottom. The catchment area of the baoli would have included almost the entiree fort and besides rainwater it would have also been fed from underground sprints. The well is still in use, though water is now pumped out.
The most prominent of the Mughal Baolis is the
Qutub Sahib Ki Baoli located at Mehrauli inside the Dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki( 1173‐1235), a Sufi saint and the spiritual successor of
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Kaki Saheb’ s dargah is the first Sufi Dargah in India. Emperors of Delhi starting from Slave King Illtutmish to the Mughals till Bahadur Shah Zafar have embellished the
Dargah. Though the origin of the well at the Qutub Shahi
Baoli is not known, the
Baoli structure was constructed in 1846 by the loyals of Bahadur Shah Zafar. The Baoli measuress 30 m by 13 m, it is 30 m deep and comprises of three storiess. It is not in use and threatened by encroachment. The access to the staricase of the bowli is kept locked.
While many of the old Baoli’ s have disappeared, newer once are being discovered. The Lahorehri Baoli was discovered in 2011 in
Dwarka Sub City, Delhi. It was constructed for the residents of Loharehri village by the Sultans of the Lodi Dynasty in the early 16th century.
Dwarka now stands where the Loharehri village once stood.
Historical Wells: We have till now discussed the Baolis, the royals amongst wells, let us take some time to discuss the more humble cousin‐ the common well, used by the common people for the day to day needs in the historical times. Most of these wells have disappeared due to disuse and encroachments further exacerbated by the fact that these structures are considered as minor monuments therefore conservation efforts are minimal. Interestingly their memory still remains since many of the neighbourhoods in Delhi have got their names from these ordinary wells.
Let us take the case of Dhaula Kuan, the area gets its name from a 200 year old well situated in a garden on the side of the Old Delhi Gurgaon Road close to the present Dhaula Kuan intersection in Delhi. The well was constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Alam for the thirsty traveller. The well got its name " Dhaula " from the white sand locally called Dhauli found under its water. The well still exists and is used to water the
Donot follow this singage if you are searching for the step well‐ Khari( Salty) Baoli( Water). The well is long gone, buried under the road on which abut Asia’ s largest spice market.
surrounding park maintained by the Delh Development Authority. While Dhaula Kuan the well is forgotten, but
Dhaula Kuan the road intersection and flyover is an important traffic junction of Delhi transport system. Similar is the case of
Lal Kuan neighbourhood of old Delhi which is named after the well made of red Sand Stone probably during Lodi times. The well still exists but is not in use and has been closed with a tin shed. In the same vein the days of glory of
Junglee Kuan in old Delhi is over. Jungli Kuan got its name from being situated in the wilderness and, would quench the thirst of travellers. However now the whole area is built‐up and Junglee Kuan now located near
Jubilee Cinema in old Delhi remains as an indicator of geography of the vicinity.
If you search for Khari Baoli in Delhi you will reach
Asia’ s largest wholesale spice market with no site of the Baoli which once did exist. The market was built in 1650 by Fatehpuri begum one of the wives of
Emperor Shah Jehan and came to be known as Khari Baoli taking its name from a saline( Khara) water step well( Baoli) located on the western end of the marked. The Baoli water was. Khari Baoli now remains buried under the main road