Mehrauli
Archaeological Park is an archaeological area spread over 200 acre of land in
Mehrauli, Delhi adjacent to Qutub Minar. It has some magnificent and
fascinating buildings which attracts lot of tourist every year.
Let’s explore some of the well known buildings and know their past.
Let’s explore some of the well known buildings and know their past.
Baolis:
Baoli also known as Bawdi
(in Hindi), vaav (in Gujrati) are stepped wells where people can reach to water
by descending a set of steps. They can also be multi-storied.
Since ancient times, although Delhi is situated on the bank of river Yamuna, there had always been an acute crisis of water supply. In the medieval times these Baolis were constructed to cope up with the blistering Indian summers and fluctuating ground water levels. These Baolis, have meticulous architectural concepts for water conservation. Along with a technique of water conservation they also used to serve as a gathering place for gossips and retreat for the locals from blazing summer in the evenings. Let's have a visit to the famous baolis of this area.
Rajon ki Baoli (Rajon ki Bain)
Rajon ki Baoli also known as Rajon ki Bain is a splendid example of stepped well, in the Mehrauli archaeological park. This is one of the beautiful baoli, in Delhi. ‘Rajon’, in the instance, does not refer to the Kings but ‘Masons’. The adjacent to this Baoli there is a mosque and a tomb.
The Baoli dates from the
Lodi period and is a large one, but not one of the deepest baolis. It was
constructed in the year of 1516 by Daulat Khan, the governor of Punjab during
the reign of Sikander Lodhi of Lodhi dynasty. Three long flights of broad steps
leading down to water which spreads out in a pool at the bottom. There is also
a conventional well opening at the far end. The name of the Baoli was given on
the name of Mansons(also known as ‘Raj’ in Hindi) who used it for some time.
Since ancient times, although Delhi is situated on the bank of river Yamuna, there had always been an acute crisis of water supply. In the medieval times these Baolis were constructed to cope up with the blistering Indian summers and fluctuating ground water levels. These Baolis, have meticulous architectural concepts for water conservation. Along with a technique of water conservation they also used to serve as a gathering place for gossips and retreat for the locals from blazing summer in the evenings. Let's have a visit to the famous baolis of this area.
Rajon ki Baoli (Rajon ki Bain)
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| Panorama view of Rajon ki Baoli/Bain |
Rajon ki Baoli also known as Rajon ki Bain is a splendid example of stepped well, in the Mehrauli archaeological park. This is one of the beautiful baoli, in Delhi. ‘Rajon’, in the instance, does not refer to the Kings but ‘Masons’. The adjacent to this Baoli there is a mosque and a tomb.
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| Rajon ki Baoli |
A unique feature of this
Baoli, is one cannot see the flight of the steps until he stands on the first
step. There are rest rooms surrounding the well. The beautiful symmetrical
buildings on the side of the Baoli add to its beauty. In those olden days, it
is believed to be a favourite halt for the travellers and businessman, where
they can take rest in the rest room, pray to Allah and enjoy the pleasant
weather in hot sunny days.
Some exquisite pieces of
plaster decoration can also be seen on the mosque adjacent to this tomb.
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| Plaster Decoration on the walls of Mosque at Rajon ki Baoli |
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| Inside the Mosque at Rajon ki Baoli |
Gandhak ki Baoli (Diving Well)
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| Gandhak ki Baoli |
Gandhak Ki Baoli is also a
famous visiting place in Mehrauli village, within a fenced enclosure. It was
constructed by Emperor Illtutmish, one of the Turkish ‘slave sultans’. This is
believed to be one of the oldest stepped wells in Delhi.
This was a well that was
fed by a natural sulphur spring. Sulphur also know as ‘Gandhak’ in Hindi, from
where this Baoli got its name. This Baoli is having the shape of huge five
tiered structure. It is having a circular well towards the southern side. This
is also known as ‘Diving Well’ as this well was famous amongst the local
inhabitants and used as a sport venue for diving and swimming. Moreover the
water of this well is believed to having healing properties because of presence
of Sulphur
Nature’s beauty photography @Archaeological garden
Just entering in the Archaeological Park we can see the Rose Garden. Beside the Rose garden there is a nursery where different variety of flowers can be seen. The beauty of flower will definitely attract you and is a amazing place for photography.
Jamali Kamali Masjid
The Jamali Kamali Masjid
was built in 1528 by a famous Sufi saint and poet called Shaikh Fazlullah also
known as Jalal Khan, better known by his pen name ‘Jamali’. He lived under the
Lodhi and Mughal dynasty and was given equal respect by both the emperors.
It is built in Red stone and its architecture reflects the transition between Lodhi and Mughal architecture. The arched door way is set in the large central arch and above this, is a small, arched opening with a base supported on carved stone brackets. This type of architecture can be easily seen on the monuments and buildings constructed during that period. There are five arches whose size gets increased towards the center.
Maulana Jamali died in 1536 in Gujrat and it is said that his body was brought back to Delhi and he was buried in the room in which he had lived. The grave in the center of the room is that of Jamali. There is another grave of an unknown person to the east of Jamali’s grave. Probably just because of rhyme with Jamali rather than any historical reason he was given the name ‘Kamali’ The Tomb and often the whole area is properly known as Jamali Kamali.
Nature’s beauty photography @Archaeological garden
Just entering in the Archaeological Park we can see the Rose Garden. Beside the Rose garden there is a nursery where different variety of flowers can be seen. The beauty of flower will definitely attract you and is a amazing place for photography.
Jamali Kamali Masjid
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| Jamali Kamali Mosque |
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| Information about Jamali Kamali |
It is built in Red stone and its architecture reflects the transition between Lodhi and Mughal architecture. The arched door way is set in the large central arch and above this, is a small, arched opening with a base supported on carved stone brackets. This type of architecture can be easily seen on the monuments and buildings constructed during that period. There are five arches whose size gets increased towards the center.
Maulana Jamali died in 1536 in Gujrat and it is said that his body was brought back to Delhi and he was buried in the room in which he had lived. The grave in the center of the room is that of Jamali. There is another grave of an unknown person to the east of Jamali’s grave. Probably just because of rhyme with Jamali rather than any historical reason he was given the name ‘Kamali’ The Tomb and often the whole area is properly known as Jamali Kamali.
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| Main Largest Central arch of Jamali Kamali Mosque |
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| Inside Jamali Kamali Mosque |
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