PK movie was featuring popular haunted Agrasen Ki Baoli and that got huge attraction
The Agrasen ki Baoli was visited by many people due to the haunted stories but it gained few international followers after it was used for Rajkumar Hirani’ s movie PK, staring Amir Khan and Anushka Sharma. Many movie makers including famous director and producer now got creative ideas to get new famous assets of India to show in movies. Baoli’s featured in other movies also but did not get noticed. Many people clicked their selfie and shared in social site after but it is again losing attraction due to covid restrictions and change in trend.
What is a Baoli?
Water is a vital component of life, and water collecting and storage has been practised since the dawn of civilization. For centuries, humans have devised a variety of methods for storing rainfall and groundwater for survival and farming. One of the most historic techniques was the construction of Baolis (step wells).
Baolis became popular during the Middle Ages. They not only held water, but they also held stories. Let’s have a look at a few Delhi baolis and some of the legends behind them.
Top 3 popular Baoli’s in Delhi
Hazrat Nizamuddin Shrine’s Baoli
This gorgeous baoli, which is surrounded by springs, is considered to have mystical properties. By immersing themselves in it, the Hazrat’s disciples heal themselves. This ASI-protected monument gets its water from underground streams.
In 2009, the Aga Khan Trust, which looks after it, cleaned it for the first time in hundreds of years. This is sacred to the Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya’s followers. The Baoli is reported to have been constructed at the same time as Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq was building the Tuglaqabad fort, and the latter had barred employees from constructing elsewhere. The industrious labourers toiled at Baoli at night. They were unable to work when the emperor forbade the selling of oil. It is reported that the employees used the Baoli’s water as an oil substitute.
Gandhak ki Baoli is a Hindu temple in Gandhak, India.
It is thought to have been built during the reign of Iltutmish 1211-36, the Sultan of Delhi, and is named after the overpowering stench of sulphur (gandhak) in its water. There are five tiers to it, as well as a circular hole at the southern end known as the diving well. Divers frequently dive into it from the top decks for the guests’ entertainment. The Rajaon-ki-Bain, a four-tiered stair built during the reign of Sikander Lodhi, located 400 metres south (1489-1517). Gandak Ki Baoli is said to be Delhi’s oldest baoli. It was built in 1210 by Iltutmish. The baoli has a particular odour due to the presence of sulphur in the water.
Agrasen Ki Baoli is a village in Agrasen
It is located on Connaught Place’s Hailey Road; however, the exact date of construction of this baoli is unknown. Its architectural features indicate that it was constructed during the Tughlaq period. It has a large courtyard and appears to be one of the most majestic baolis. This nearly 600-year-old baoli has four flights of steps, one hundred of which lead down to the well. It has five arches and a small mosque built by Humayun that is not open to the public for offering namaaz. The structure is home to a more than 100-year-old lush neem tree. A hidden well behind the baoli is also protected by an iron grill.
Many stories of supernatural activities surround the baoli, which have not been proved. The Agrasen ki Baoli was visited by many people due to the haunted stories but it gained few international followers after it was used for Rajkumar Hirani’ s movie PK, staring Amir Khan and Anushka Sharma.
One the source of nature and underground water and now an exemplary of finest engineering and design, baolis played an important role in the rich cultural and archeological history of Delhi. They are now considered for upcoming movies and can be huge attraction of viewers in cinemas. It can help me huge box office collection if presented well in movies.
