Gandhak Ki Baoli, Mehrauli, Delhi

The Step Well with Sulphur Rich Water

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

As monsoon in India has always been erratic, the necessity of water conservation has been an integral part of Indian culture from time immortal.

Gandhak Ki Baoli, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Mehrauli, Delhi

Over centuries lakes have been dug and wells drilled to save the water, which was available during the brief period of monsoon.

Gandhak Ki Baoli (L: During Monsoon, R: During Dry Season) R: Photo Courtesy Wikipedia Commons

Step wells also known as baoli in Delhi, vaav in Gujarat and barab in Maharashtra, is a unique form of architecture combining the necessity of water conservation along with the aesthetics of design.

Delhi, although located on the banks of Yamuna River, suffers from long period of severe water shortage. No wonder Delhi houses a number of step wells, which the Delhiwalls call Baoli (Also see: Baolis of Delhi).

The Jump!!! Gandhak Ki Baoli

Gandhak Ki Baoli is part of the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, which is located next to the Qutb Minar Complex. To visit Gandhak Ki Baoli it is best to approach from the other side of the Qutb Minar Complex. It is best visited from the Adam Khan’s Tomb located near the Mehrauli Bus Terminal.

From the bus terminus walk towards the Dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. A few yards on the right is the health centre, containing a World War I Plaque on its boundary wall, a few steps ahead, on the left is the Gandhak Ki Baoli.

Gandhak Ki Baoli was constructed during the reign of Sultan Samshuddin Iltutmish (1296 – 1316) and legend has it during a visit to Sufi saint Hazarat Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki Iltutmish found that the Mehurali area suffered from acute water shortage and the saint was not able to have regular baths.

This led to the construction of the step well, which came to be known as Gandhak Ki Baoli. The name originated for the presence of sulpher (gandhak) in the water, and the sulpher rich water is said to be beneficial for several skin diseases.

Jump continues!!!! Gandhak Ki Baoli

At first glance Gandhak Ki Baoli looks simple, a sharp contrast with the elaborately decorated neighboring step well of Rajon Ki Baoli.

Devoid of any ornamentation the Gandhak Ki Baoli descends to five stages bellow the ground level.

Unlike Rajon Ki Baoli, which is often known as sukha baoli (dry step well), Gandhak Ki Baoli contains water almost through out the year.

At the time of my visit, during the height of monsoon, the lower four stages of Gandhak Ki Baoli was filled with water, in the process covering up most of its architectural details.

Gandhak Ki Baoli, The Jumping Well

The sparkling waters of Gandhak Ki Baoli is a welcome sight in the heavily congested Mehruli neighborhood of South Delhi.

The sulpher water is used as a swimming pool for the local boys and the extended platforms often acts as diving pools for the more adventurous kids.

Elders are often seen gossiping on the steps and sipping on cups of tea. They frequently warns the boys for their over enthusiastic and dangerous stunts and mildly scolding them when they are drenched with a plash of water from the diving boys. So in spit of being surrounded by modernity the step well of Gandhak Ki Baloi still provides a glimpses of medieval Delhi.

Special Thanks: A special thanks to fellow blogger Sahil Ahuja, for accompanying me to Gandhak Ki Baoli and also for guiding me to the lesser known monuments of Mehrauli. Do have a look at Sahil’s blog post on Gandhak Ki Baoli.