Apologies for being a tad late to the party. We have been planning to put up a post on Agrasen ki Baoli for a while. But it took a friend’s itinerary to bring us to this place.

What is a Baoli?

Baolis are reservoirs for saving water during monsoons and storing that for use throughout the year. North and western parts of India get less rain that the southern and eastern parts of the country. Hence, such stepwells are common in the western state of Gujarat, the Northern state of Rajasthan, and Delhi. Baolis are typically one or multiple wells deep at the bottom with an array of steps to reach the water.

The primary purpose is to collect drinking water as we saw at Adalaj step well in Ahmedabad. However, the UNESCO Heritage stepwell Rani ki Vav had canals to irrigate the fields.

Agrasen ki Baoli

Delhi is a dry region with a very short monsoon. Hence water harvesting is an old phenomenon in this part of India. There are many stepwells across Delhi NCR. However, the one that friends visiting from abroad or other parts of India show you a picture of and want to visit is the Agrasen ki Baoli.

It is a multilevel stone structure with a well deep at the bottom. 108 broad stairs lead to the well. Stepwells not only served as a water reservoir but were also a popular spot for womenfolk to socialize when they would come to fetch water. The steps of the Agrasen ki Baoli would have provided a cool zone to sit, relax and catch up. The deep niches on the walls of the well would offer respite from the hot sun. With the stone steps and the niches and the depth of vision inside the well, this place is a photographer’s delight. Agrasen ki Baoli is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India or ASI.

Who built Agrasen ki Baoli?

From the name Agrasen, it appears that the Baoli would have been built by a Hindu ruler. However, the sides of the well have niches carved that arch in Islamic style. There is a small mosque at one corner as well. So, there is some Islamic intervention as well.

Through research, we realize that the history of Agrasen ki Baoli is not very clear. It is credited to Maharaja Agrasen, the legendary king who started the Agrawal business community of North India. The Tughlaq dynasty would have rebuilt the well in about the 14th century. This explains the arches and the mosque that we saw at Agrasen ki Baoli.

Where is Agrasen ki Baoli?

You may be under the impression that Agrasen ki Baoli is somewhere tucked in Old Delhi. Be ready to be surprised like us. Agrasen ki Baoli is located in the heart of Delhi, on Hailey Road, off Connaught Place. It is behind Mandi House and adjacent to Banga Bhavan.

How to reach Agrasen ki Baoli?

Given that Agrasen ki Baoli is in the heart of Delhi, reaching this place is very convenient. The nearest metro station to Agrasen ki Baoli is Barakhamba Metro Station. Mandi House Metro Station is not far too. It is barely 10 minute walk from either of these metro stations.

Radio taxis or autorickshaws would also bring you here. If you wish to drive, there is ample parking in the area.

Ticket and Timing – Agrasen ki Baoli

Agrasen ki Baoli is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the week.

There is a ticket of Rs 30 per Indian adult for visiting the monument. Ticket prices are higher for foreign visitors.

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Pro-tip: You can queue up at the ticket window at the entry gate and buy the ticket. But if you just enter the gate before the entrance to the Baoli, you would find a scanner. We used the scanner and purchased e-tickets. We were spared from queuing up and also saved some nominal amount on the ticket.

Agrasen ki Baoli is haunted

There is an urban legend that Agrasen ki Baoli is haunted. We really doubt that. Especially with the quantum of the noisy crowd that we encountered here, it is most likely that any spirit would simply vanish out of sheer disturbance 🙂

Agrasen ki Baoli in Bollywood Movies

It is a bit of a surprise why is Agrasen ki Baoli one of the most popular mausoleums in Delhi when Delhi has so much more history to offer. This monument has been featured in many Bollywood movies such as PK, Sultan, and Mom. We believe this is the primary reason why Agrasen ki Baoli beats many other monuments in Delhi in terms of tourist reputation.

The Role of Baolis in India

What impresses us is the philosophy behind baolis in India. We have seen mythological carvings in the many stepwells we have visited in other parts of India. The presence of the mosque as well as the sturdy elaborate architecture at Agrasen ki Baoli is a clear indication that water was considered worthy of worship here as well.

Water is a commodity that we often take lightly. Many often forget to close the washbasin tap and need reminders. The stepwells in India are built like a divine structure in an ode to the importance of water in human lives. Indian societies were aware of the importance of water and worshipped that like God and preservation way before ecology and sustainability became buzzwords.

Our visit to the Agrasen ki Baoli was a reminder that we owe it to ourselves and our coming generations to preserve every drop of water.

Best Time to visit the Baoli

Agrasen ki Baoli sees huge footfall. If you are looking for peace and quiet here or good photographs of the monument, you should reach early in the morning.

Since it’s an open area, winter afternoons are the best time to visit Agrasen ki Baoli. In summer you can experience the baoli best before noon.