PAVAN MICKEY: Agrasen ki Baoli, New Delhi

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Agrasen ki Baoli, New Delhi

Agrasen ki Baoli on Hailey Road, near Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India. One of the protected monument by the Archeological Survey of India. The word Baoli is use for step well including more words like - baoli, bavadi, vav, vavdi and vavadi. The legend says it was built by Maharaja Agrasen during the Mahabharat in epic era, almost more than 5000 year, but there is no any historical records to prove it. It was rebuilt by Agrawal community in the 14th century. This huge size step well is a 60 meter long and 15 meter wide with ancient step, made up of a series of superimposed arches supported on piers or columns. The step well includes about 103 steps leading towards the base that once stored water and consists of five different levels, The red stone walls of the Baoli arranged with inventive designs with a series of arched structure are grim and desolate, but still beautiful.

Photo credit Karan Kapoor

The Baoli had water till recent times, but now it has dried up and one can see the bottom of the reservoir, full of bird feathers and droppings. It is well known for the pigeons and bats residing in the loafty places of the dry reservoir, and the presence of birds as well as "love birds" will make you realize that the Baoli is not a secluded place at all. It is a cool and silent place in the heart of the capital. The silence deepens as one moves to the bottom of the stairs, the magnificent view of the skyline disappers gradually, and the light of the day starts fading, assuring the fact that it is considered on of the spooky haunted places in Delhi. The gradual increase in the gurgling sound of pigeons, and squeaky chatter of bats echoing off the stone walls makes this place creepy.

The scuttlebutt about being followed by something or sombody invisible, the intensity of which increases if you increase your pace, makes the Baoli feels mystic. There are rumors of evil sprits in this ancient architecture since quite some time. As per the claims, the Baoli was earlier fill with filthy Black water which attracted mostly disheartened, discouraged and depressed admirers with magnetic effects. The fatal attraction of the mystic waters hypnotized people to their death by alluring them to jump in the waters. It is believed that the "Baoli of the unseen", used to call for people to offer their lives and raise its water levels.