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