Baolis (Step Wells) of Delhi

A compilation of Baolis (Step Wells) of Delhi

Monsoon in India has a very short duration and moreover it has always been very unpredictable, this gave rise to the necessity of water conservation. Over the centuries Indians have constructed artificial lakes and dug wells to hold the water supplied by the monsoon rains.

Baolis of Delhi. Top Left: Rajon ki Baoli, Top Centre: Gandhak ki Baoli, Top Right: Loharheri Baoli, Bottom Left: Hindu rao hospital Baoli, Bottom Centre: Purana Kella Baoli, Bottom Right: Tuglagabad Baoli

It is often said that “Necessity is the Mother of Invention” and the necessity of conservation of water, for the dry season, led to the construction of step wells. Stepwells are wells or ponds in which the water is reached by descending a set of steps. They are often multi storied in structure and are found in Western India and in the other more arid regions of South Asia, extending into Pakistan.

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Ghiyas-ud-din Balban’s Tomb, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi

Giyas-ud-din Balban’s Tomb

Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

Ghiyas-ud-din Balban was the ninth and the last major ruler of the famed slave dynasty. A Turk by origin Balban had a humble beginning as a water carrier boy, who was captured by the Mongols and sold as a slave in the bazars of Ghazni, Afghanistan.

Ghiyas-ud-din Balban’s Tomb, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi

The word “slave” is actually a misnomer, as the slave traders provided education and imparted military training to these slaves, because an educated slave with military training would fetch a higher price.

Quli Khan’s Tomb, Mehrauli, Delhi

Quli Khan’s Tomb

Mehrauli, Delhi

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

As I walked out of the Qutab complex, two strange looking pyramid like structures attracted my attention. In a bid to explore I took the footpath between the two and reached an open area marked as Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Straight ahead was an octagonal structure.

Mohammad Quli Khan’s Tomb, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi

Suddenly a few lines from Willam Dalrymple’s famous novel The Last Mughal flashed into my mind “To the south of Delhi, Metcalfe established a second country house, “Dilkusha” (Delight of the Heart), in a converted octagonal Mughal tomb near Mehrauli ….a Mughal garden – a four part charbagh – was laid out in the front of the tomb.”

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.

Rajon Ki Baoli, Mehrauli Archeological Park, Delhi

Rajon Ki Baoli

Mehrauli Archeological Park, Delhi

Also see: Monuments of Mehrauli

Monsoon in India has a very short duration and moreover it has always been very unpredictable, this gave rise to the necessity of water conservation.

Rajon Ki Baoli, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Mehrauli, Delhi

Over the centuries Indians have constructed artificial lakes and dug wells to hold the water supplied by the monsoon rains.