The Rajon Ki Baoli is a part of the Baolis of Mehrauli and is a well known stepwell in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park of Delhi. The Rajon Ki Baoli is located in the south west district of Delhi and is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
History of Rajon Ki Baoli
Named after the rajmistries or masons who used it, the Rajon Ki Baoli was built during the 16th century by Daulat Khan Lodi of the Lodi Dynasty during the rule of Sikander Lodi. The Rajon Ki Baoli is situated near the tomb of Adham Khan about 200 m away from the Gandhak Ki Baoli.
Description of Rajon Ki Baoli
Out of the three baolis in Mehrauli, the Rajon Ki Baoli is the largest and most ornamented. It is rectangular in shape. The structure has 4 stages, each connected by a series of steps and with floors at each stage. There are rooms at each floor which once provided a cool resting place for weary travellers. Each of the stages is in descending size, which leads to the water level from the surrounding ground level.
Resembling a courtyard of the medieval period, the architecture of the baoli is in North- Indian style marked by stylized carved symmetrical arches spanning the columns. With its incised plaster work, the Rajon Ki Baoli is an elegant architectural edifice. The baoli was built in such a way that the water could reach up to the third stage but over the centuries the well got silted up. It has since been de-silted like in the year 2004-05; the Archaeological Survey of India has carried out de-silting operations of the well which was silted to a depth of 20 feet. Unfortunately, despite restoration and conservation work in the recent past, the Rajon ki Baoli is now mostly dry.
Visiting Information on Rajon Ki Baoli
The Rajon Ki Baoli is a popular tourist attraction and is closest to the New Delhi railway station at a distance of about 18 km. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is the nearest at a distance of 15 km from the stepwell.
