Agrasen ki Baoli

Agrasen ki Baoli, Delhi 

Agrasen ki Baoli also referred as Agar Sain ki Baoli or Ugrasen ki Baoli was presumably built during 14th century by King Agrasen. Baoli essentially means a water reservoir or a step well storing rain water. Many civilizations used to dig up deep step-wells due to scarce rainfall.

This historic place protected by Archeological Survey of India can store upto 2 levels of water, but with the deprecating rainfall and ground water levels does not let this Baoli hold water for too long and it dries up in just a few days. The monument with great historical relevance is all wrapped in amazement and mystery and lies in between the concrete jungles of central Delhi.

Since there are no historical records to establish its insight, there are various stories woven to relate it to history. It is believed that Agrasen ki Baoli was built during the times of Mahabharata by King Agrasen and was renewed by Agarwals (rich and significant vendors of their times) in 14th century.Vivudh Sridhar from the Agarwal community, of the times has in one of his poems indicated that the Baoli was redesigned by Nattal Sahu (a rich Agarwal merchant). Nattal Sahu was also a minister of King Anant Pal III.

Haunted Stories about Agrasen ki Baoli

Agrasen ki Baoli is quite famous for urban legends of hauntings and incidents. Many people consider it to be haunted and it has been the centre of many paranormal activities. Legend has it that the reservoir was once filled with mystical dark waters that compelled people to jump in to commit suicide. In the more modern times, it is said that the place casts an evil spell on visitors that stay over at this destination after dusk. The presence of several nocturnal beings such as bats and owls only elevate the bizarre quotient of this place. Haunted or not, these happenings do make up for interesting stories and make this destination even more intriguing.

Architecture of Agrasen ki Baoli

Agrasen ki Baoli is unique in its structure as its shape is quite different from the traditional round shape of reservoirs that existed in Delhi during that time. Built over a series of 103 steps, the baoli gradually descends into the ground. These steps are built over three levels, each of which serves as a landing where people can rest and relax. These levels are in turn akin to arched stone carvings that lie in beautiful symmetry to each other. The style of its architecture indicates that it was rebuilt during the Tughlaq period.

History of Agrasen Ki Baoli

The history of Agrasen ki Baoli is shrouded in mystery, and there are confirmations as to who was behind the construction of the same. However, it is believed that it was built by King Agrasen around the time of Mahabharata, as is suggested by the name itself. It was rebuilt and reconstructed by the Aggarwals in the 14th century which traces its origin to Maharaja Agrasen. This water reservoir is believed to be an important community place where women used to congregate and spend time away from the heat of the summers. The alcoves of the Baoli were also used for rituals and religious ceremonies.

Mosque at Agrasen ki Baoli

Towards the western side of this attraction lies a small mosque above a small flight of stairs. Although the roof of the mosque has fallen in, the columns of the same are still present and have Buddhist-chaitya carvings adorning them. These sandstone pillars stand out in comparison to the general design of the mosque.

How To Reach Agrasen ki Baoli

Bus: One of the best ways of commuting within Delhi is DTC buses. The network has a vast coverage and is widespread. DTC buses number 894, 743Ext, 442, 957 and 522 ply towards the Agrasen Ki Baoli.

Metro: Barakhamba Road metro station on the blue line is the nearest metro station to Agrasen Ki Baoli. It is a distance of 650m from the baoli and one can easily walk from the station towards Baoli.

Rajiv Chowk (yellow and blue lines) and Janpath metro station on the Violet line are other two stations, at a distance of 2km and 800m respectively, close to the Baoli. After getting down from the metro, one can take a bus, an auto or a cab to reach the place.

Auto/Cab/Taxi: Delhi has an amazingly well-connected network of auto rickshaws, taxis, and cabs. For the ones visiting the city for the first time, these vehicles are a great choice. You can order them via apps like Ola, Uber, and Jugnoo or take them while you are on the road.