Rajon Ki Baoli
Mehrauli Archaeological Park
Introduction:
Water has always played an important role in the day-to-day life of every person. The need to
tap ground water, store rain water, and to make it accessible to the human population has led to
the construction of several tanks, wells and baolis, which also became an epitome of the art and
architecture of the local people. Back in the day, people used to use Baolis as a way to store
water. Recently, our class went to the Mehrauli Archaeological park, which is home to an
important monument, Rajon ki Baoli.
Rajon Ki Baoli (also known as Rajon ki Bain) was a significant historical stepwell located in
south Delhi’s Mehrauli Archaeological Park. It was built in 1506 CE by Daulat Khan during the
reign of Sikander Lodi. I chose this artifact because I was interested in it the most. Its story, its
usage interested me so I decided to create this essay about its significance, geography, etc.
Historical significance:
This monument was a very important building in the Lodhi dynasty, it stands as a testament to
Lodhi-era architecture and traditional water engineering. This four-tiered stepwell was
thoughtfully designed not only to store water but also to offer shade and rest to travellers. It is a
fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture, featuring stone carvings, ornate arches, and a
functional design that provides shade from the heat.
Named after the masons (rajmistries) who worked there, its structure is built in four levels,
each narrowing down as one approaches the well in the bottom. This baoli is home to
colonnaded symmetric arcades with internal rooms that served as a retreat in the past. The
structure of the rooms hints that the baoli may have also served as a venue for social and
cultural gatherings.
Geographical context:
The Baoli is located in the Mehrauli Archeological Park, about 400 m away from the Gandhak ki
Baoli. Built as a four rectangular tank with steps at one end and a circular well at the other.
Rajon Ki Baoli follows the conventional U shaped pattern and has long covered corridors or
‘dalans.
This baoli is used to hold the water supplied by the monsoon rains. And during the time our
class visited, it was raining very heavily (so that’s why I think the Rajon ki Baoli was built here).
Now the Baoli is dried up, only about 0.5-1 feet of water left. But before it was so deep, about 5
feet! Showing that back then, the amount of water supplied by the monsoon rains was a lot!
Personal connection:
As I have said before, this monument was very captivating and beautiful, and it’s story was even
better. Researching about this monument gave me more insight on its story which captivated me
more.
Water is a necessity, humans cannot live without it. Nowadays, we have taps and filters that
provide us with water. I asked myself, how did people in the olden times be provided water to
drink and bathe? This research project answered that question, it showed me the importance of
baolis in the past. Even though it is just a small shallow pond of water now, before it was
beautiful. The water came until 5-7 feet, becoming an important building back then.
So, that is why I wanted to research about this monument, it is first of all beautiful, not to
mention very important for kings and queens (as this was their water source).
Preservation plan:
Sadly the water in the Rajon Ki Baoli has long dried up and has come to be known as the sukha
baoli or the dray well. Even in the height of monsoon we can only find traces of black greasy
water at the very bottom. The government has started a project WMFI’s Historic Water Systems
of India initiative, funded by the TCS Foundation, aligning with the World Monuments Fund’s
Climate Heritage Initiative.
Even though the government has already taken an initiative to protect and preserve the
monument, we citizens should also contribute to this project too. Funding to this project would
really help them clean and maintain the baoli.
Actually, a few years ago, the restoration work happened. It included cleaning, desilting,
structural repair, and water quality improvements, using traditional materials and techniques. We
should fund for this project so the government can continue this for the coming years so the
monument can be maintained so the future generations can also see and learn about this
monument.
I feel that these types of projects should be done every year or else the monument will decay and
not be safe for people to go inside it. To preserve this monument, maintenance should be
conducted every year.
Cites:
1.​ https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2129120
2.​ https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/rajon-ki-baoli/
3.​ https://delhitourism.gov.in/dt/unexplored_delhi/rajon_ki_baoli.html#:~:text=Dating
%20back%20to%201506%20AD,for%20social%20and%20cultural%20gatherings.
4.​ https://indiacinehub.gov.in/location/rajon-ki-baoli#:~:text=The%20Baoli%20is%20l
ocated%20in,some%20pristine%20backdrops%20for%20shootings.
5.​ https://artsandculture.google.com/story/baolis-of-delhi-indian-national-trust-for-artand-cultural-heritage/8gVRBQUicQcA8A?hl=en
6.​