Revamp of Rajon ki Baoli complete, ASI takes over

As one steps into the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, the city's din fades, replaced by the hush of history.

- Aheli Das

NEW DELHI: Down a winding path framed by trees and ruins lies the quiet presence of Rajon ki Baoli — a 16th-century stepwell nestled on the park's western edge. At first glance, it appears like any other relic of Delhi's past. But approach the northern gateway, and a grand space of symmetry and silence slowly unfolds.

Restoration work on the baoli, which began in July 2024, is now completed. It had been handed back to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on May 16, an ASI official said.

While the larger Mehrauli Archaeological Park falls under the Delhi Development Authority, the baoli is maintained by ASI. Its northern entrance opens into a serene courtyard and a descending flight of 66 stone steps that lead to the water's edge. Surrounded on three sides by high walls and open to the north, the stepwell remains partially filled with natural groundwater—an oasis amid ruins.