The largest step-well - Gandhak-ki-Baoli
WildFilmsIndia
2014-08-13
Views 26
About 100 meters south of Adham Khan's tomb in Mehrauli village, Gandhak-ki-Baoli is one of the largest step-wells or baolis in and around Mehrauli. It was built during the reign of Emperor Iltutmish, the founder of the Slave dynasty. The baoli is known as Gandhak ki Baoli because of its waters smell like gandhak, which means sulphur. Also known as diving well, the baoli has a five-tiered structure with a circular well at its southern end. The well was earlier used by the local residents for sporting activity, such as diving for amusement. However, at present, the well along with the Baoli has dried up and is in state of neglect.
Visitors need to be careful while viewing the well at the southern end, as it is very deep and the ground is uneven.
Nearby Tourist Attractions: Dargah Qutb-Sahib, Hathi Gate & Zafar, Jamali Kamali Mosque, Adham Khan's tomb, Qutab Minar, Rajon-ki-Bain & mosque.
Nearby Places to Eat: Thai Wok Ambavata Complex, Osaka Aurobindo Marg, Red Snapper Aurobindo Marg and a number of roadside food stalls are there nearby to the Qutb complex.
Nearby Shopping Venues: Ambavata Shopping Complex, Mehrauli, Hauz Khas Village, Sahara Mall and DT Mall in Gurgaon.
Source - http://www.indfy.com/
According to a write-up by Alokparna Das in The Indian Express:
Tourists almost always miss these two medieval stepwells, which once served as cool retreats in Delhi's scorching summer but now lie dried up
Its name suggests a strong smell of sulphur. But as one approaches Gandhak ki baoli from Mehrauli bus depot and past Adham Khan's tomb, the only strong smell one gets is that of freshly baked tandoori rotis from the adjacent Pehelwan Dhaba. The stepwell built by 13th-century Slave dynasty ruler Iltutmish is, in all probability, Delhi's oldest surviving baoli. Simple in its design, with slim pillars and narrow walkways at each of its five tiers that lead to the well and back, it has no trace of water. Local residents, however, say that till some years ago, this was also known as the 'diving well'.
Ironically, the baoli is hardly 250 metres away from South district's water emergency service station. The structure, though not dilapidated, does need repair and conservation, and, most importantly, a prominent signage. Located at walking distance from the Qutab Minar and on the road that leads to the dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki and Gurdwara Banda Bahadur, it's definitely due to lack of awareness that tourists skip this medieval monument.
Behind Gandhak ki baoli is yet another stepwellÂbigger and much more ornate. The 16th-century Rajon ki baoli is so named because it was meant to be used by the rajmistries or masons. Located at one end of the Archaeological Park, the greenery and solitude gives the stepwell and the adjoining 12-pillared mosque a perfect ambience. The inscription on the mosque says that these monuments were built by Daulat Khan in 1506 during the reign of Sikandar Lodhi. Obviously, Daulat Khan had built this stepwell keeping in mind the welfare of local people and the mosque for his own spiritual well-being.
This footage is part of the professionally-shot broadcast stock footage archive of Wilderness Films India Ltd., the largest collection of imagery from South Asia. The Wilderness Films India collection comprises of thousands of hours of high quality broadcast imagery, mostly shot on HDCAM 1080i High Definition, HDV and XDCAM. Write to us for licensing this footage on a broadcast format, for use in your production! We are happy to be commissioned to film for you or else provide you with broadcast crewing and production solutions across South Asia. We pride ourselves in bringing the best of India and South Asia to the world... Reach us at wfi @ vsnl.com and [email protected].
License at http://www.paya.com/videos/810063
Visitors need to be careful while viewing the well at the southern end, as it is very deep and the ground is uneven.
Nearby Tourist Attractions: Dargah Qutb-Sahib, Hathi Gate & Zafar, Jamali Kamali Mosque, Adham Khan's tomb, Qutab Minar, Rajon-ki-Bain & mosque.
Nearby Places to Eat: Thai Wok Ambavata Complex, Osaka Aurobindo Marg, Red Snapper Aurobindo Marg and a number of roadside food stalls are there nearby to the Qutb complex.
Nearby Shopping Venues: Ambavata Shopping Complex, Mehrauli, Hauz Khas Village, Sahara Mall and DT Mall in Gurgaon.
Source - http://www.indfy.com/
According to a write-up by Alokparna Das in The Indian Express:
Tourists almost always miss these two medieval stepwells, which once served as cool retreats in Delhi's scorching summer but now lie dried up
Its name suggests a strong smell of sulphur. But as one approaches Gandhak ki baoli from Mehrauli bus depot and past Adham Khan's tomb, the only strong smell one gets is that of freshly baked tandoori rotis from the adjacent Pehelwan Dhaba. The stepwell built by 13th-century Slave dynasty ruler Iltutmish is, in all probability, Delhi's oldest surviving baoli. Simple in its design, with slim pillars and narrow walkways at each of its five tiers that lead to the well and back, it has no trace of water. Local residents, however, say that till some years ago, this was also known as the 'diving well'.
Ironically, the baoli is hardly 250 metres away from South district's water emergency service station. The structure, though not dilapidated, does need repair and conservation, and, most importantly, a prominent signage. Located at walking distance from the Qutab Minar and on the road that leads to the dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki and Gurdwara Banda Bahadur, it's definitely due to lack of awareness that tourists skip this medieval monument.
Behind Gandhak ki baoli is yet another stepwellÂbigger and much more ornate. The 16th-century Rajon ki baoli is so named because it was meant to be used by the rajmistries or masons. Located at one end of the Archaeological Park, the greenery and solitude gives the stepwell and the adjoining 12-pillared mosque a perfect ambience. The inscription on the mosque says that these monuments were built by Daulat Khan in 1506 during the reign of Sikandar Lodhi. Obviously, Daulat Khan had built this stepwell keeping in mind the welfare of local people and the mosque for his own spiritual well-being.
This footage is part of the professionally-shot broadcast stock footage archive of Wilderness Films India Ltd., the largest collection of imagery from South Asia. The Wilderness Films India collection comprises of thousands of hours of high quality broadcast imagery, mostly shot on HDCAM 1080i High Definition, HDV and XDCAM. Write to us for licensing this footage on a broadcast format, for use in your production! We are happy to be commissioned to film for you or else provide you with broadcast crewing and production solutions across South Asia. We pride ourselves in bringing the best of India and South Asia to the world... Reach us at wfi @ vsnl.com and [email protected].
License at http://www.paya.com/videos/810063
Report form
RELATED VIDEOS
