Baoli Ghaus Ali Shah, also known as Ghaus Khan ki Baoli, is an 18th-century stepwell located in Farrukhnagar, Gurugram district, Haryana, India. [1] Constructed during the reign of Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar, it was commissioned by Ghaus Ali Shah, a local chief who served under the emperor. [2]
The baoli was built to be a high point for surveying the area and also served as a perennial source of fresh water away from the access of the enemy who might poison or spoil it. [3] The central water tank is approximately 6.5 meters deep, with an arched verandah overlooking the inner core and a well wall for a pulley system on one side. [2] The structure also includes chambers on the upper storeys intended for relaxation and recreation. [4] The lower level houses a small central circular well surrounded by 21 colonnades. [2] Built from stone, lime plaster, and bricks, its construction wears some resemblance with the Turkish hammam and reflects the Mughal architectural style prevalent during the 18th century. [4]
Historically, the baoli was used as a water tank catering to the Sheesh Mahal and may have served as a bathing space for women, as evidenced by hidden passages at both ends. [5] The structure stands as a testament to the rich heritage and architectural ingenuity of the Mughal era.
In recent years, efforts have been made to preserve and protect Baoli Ghaus Ali Shah, ensuring that future generations can continue to experience its beauty and tranquility. Restoration projects and heritage awareness initiatives have been launched to safeguard this architectural marvel from the ravages of time and urbanization. [6]
Gurgaon, officially named Gurugram, is a tier-2 satellite city of Delhi and administrative headquarters of Gurgaon district, located in the northern Indian state of Haryana. It is situated near the Delhi–Haryana border, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) southwest of the national capital New Delhi and 268 km (167 mi) south of Chandigarh, the state capital. It is one of the major satellite cities of Delhi and is part of the National Capital Region of India. As of 2011, Gurgaon had a population of 876,969.
Rohtas Fort is a 16th-century citadel located near the city of Dina in Jhelum district of the Punjab, Pakistan. Todar Mal, the minister of the Sur king Sher Shah Suri, supervised the construction of the fort which is now one of the largest and most formidable in Punjab.
The Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila is a historic Mughal fort in Delhi, India, that served as the primary residence of the Mughal emperors. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the construction of the Red Fort on 12 May 1639, following his decision to relocate the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi. Originally adorned in red and white, the fort's design is attributed to Ustad Ahmad Lahori, the architect behind the Taj Mahal. The Red Fort represents the pinnacle of Mughal architecture during Shah Jahan's reign, blending Persian palace influences with indigenous Indian architectural traditions.
Mehrauli is a neighbourhood in South Delhi, Delhi, India. It represents a constituency in the legislative assembly of Delhi. The area is close to Gurugram and next to Vasant Kunj.
Old Delhi is an area in the Central Delhi district of Delhi, India. It was founded as a walled city and officially named Shahjahanabad in 1648, when Shah Jahan decided to shift the Mughal capital from Agra. The construction of the city was completed in 1648, and it remained the capital of Mughal India until its fall in 1857, when the British Empire took over as paramount power in the Indian subcontinent.
Gurgaon district, officially known as Gurugram district, is one of the 22 districts of Haryana in northern India. The city of Gurgaon is the administrative headquarters of the district. The population is 1,514,432. It is one of the southern districts of Haryana. On its north, it is bounded by the district of Jhajjar and the Union Territory of Delhi. Faridabad district lies to its east. To its south lie the districts of Palwal and Nuh. To the west lies Rewari district.
Stepwells are wells, cisterns or ponds with a long corridor of steps that descend to the water level. Stepwells played a significant role in defining subterranean architecture in western India from the 7th to the 19th century. Some stepwells are multi-storeyed and can be accessed by a Persian wheel which is pulled by a bull to bring water to the first or second floor. They are most common in western India and are also found in the other more arid regions of the Indian subcontinent, extending into Pakistan. The construction of stepwells is mainly utilitarian, though they may include embellishments of architectural significance, and be temple tanks.
Farrukhnagar is a small town and municipality in Farrukhnagar tehsil of Gurugram district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is situated 21 kilometres (13 mi) from Gurgaon and shares its border with Jhajjar district. It was established in 1732 by Faujdar Khan, the first Nawab of Farrukhnagar and a governor of the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar. Farrukhnagar flourished due to its salt trade until the late 19th century, and was abandoned in the early 20th century, during the British Raj. Today monuments such as Sheesh Mahal, Baoli and Jama Masjid built by Faujdar Khan are popular visitor attractions. The town is connected to Garhi Harsaru, south of Gurugram, by the railway line. The Sultanpur National Park is situated in Farrukhnagar tehsil on the road to Gurgaon. Pataudi Palace, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the town, is the nearest palace.
Raja Nahar Singh was the Raja of the princely state of Ballabhgarh in Faridabad District of Haryana, India. He fought against The East India Company in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The small kingdom of Ballabhgarh is only 20 miles from Delhi. Nahar Singh Stadium in Faridabad is named after him. The Raja Nahar Singh metro station in Violet line is also named after him.
Temple tanks are wells or reservoirs built as part of the temple complex near Indian temples. They are called pushkarini, kalyani, kunda, sarovara, tirtha, talab, pukhuri, ambalakkuḷam, etc. in different languages and regions of India. Some tanks are said to cure various diseases and maladies when bathed in. It is possible that these are cultural remnants of structures such as the Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro or Dholavira, which was part of the Indus Valley civilization. Some are stepwells with many steps at the sides.
Khari Baoli is a street in Delhi, India known for its wholesale grocery and Asia's largest wholesale spice market selling a variety of spices, nuts, herbs and food products like rice and tea. Operating since the 17th century, the market is situated near the historic Delhi Red Fort, on the Khari Baoli Road adjacent to Fatehpuri Masjid at the western end of the Chandni Chowk, and over the years has remained a tourist attraction, especially those in the heritage circuit of Old Delhi.
Badshapur is one of the 4 sub-division of Gurugram district of Haryana state, situated on the Gurugram-Sohna road (NH-248A). It is named after the Badshahpur Fort, which in turn was the abode of the wife of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Shah Allah Ditta is a centuries-old village and a union council located at the foothills of the Margalla Hills in the Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan. It s located adjacent to Sector D-12 of Islamabad.
The Feroz Shah Kotla or Kotla was a fortress built circa 1354 by Feroz Shah Tughlaq to house his version of Delhi called Firozabad.
The Mehrauli Archaeological Park is an archaeological area spread over 81 hectares in the Mehrauli neighbourhood of the South Delhi district of Delhi, India. The park is located adjacent to the World Heritage-listed Qutub Minar and the Qutb complex.
Persian Inscriptions on Indian Monuments is a book written in Persian by Dr Ali Asghar Hekmat E Shirazi and published in 1956 and 1958 and 2013. New edition contains the Persian texts of more than 200 epigraphical inscriptions found on historical monuments in India, many of which are currently listed as national heritage sites or registered as UNESCO world heritage, published in Persian; an English edition is also being printed.
Madhogarh Fort is a fort located on top of Madhogarh Hill in the Aravalli mountain range, near Madhogarh village, in the Mahendragarh district of Haryana state in India. It is located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Mahendragarh's Satnali Chowk on SH27 Mahendragarh-Satnali-Loharu State Highway. In the Madhogarh village, there are several old havelis of interest to tourists, built in the vernacular Hindu architecture in the style of Shekhawato havelis.
Tourism in Haryana relates to tourism in the state of Haryana, India. There are 22 tourism hubs created by Haryana Tourism Corporation (HTC), which are located in Ambala, Bhiwani, Faridabad, Fatehabad, Gurgaon, Hisar, Jhajjar, Jind, Kaithal, Karnal, Kaimla, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, Sirsa, Sonipat, Panipat, Rewari, Rohtak, Yamunanagar, Palwal and Mahendergarh.
The Baolis of Mehrauli are four stepwells approached through single stage or three stage steps, located in Mehrauli in Delhi, India, in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park mainlined by the Archaeological Survey of India. These are the Anangtal Baoli, the Gandhak Ki Baoli, and the Rajon Ki Baoli. These were built below the ground level as ground water edifices and were built near shrines in medieval times.
The Shahjahan ki baoli, more commonly known as the Choron ki baoli, is a baoli in Maham, Haryana, India. The structure, which was built during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan, collects and holds rainwater for use by the nearby town of Maham. While no longer in mainstay use, the baoli has been persevered as a tourist attraction.
Gurgaon district topics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities and towns |  | |
| Monuments | ||
| Transport | ||
| Lok Sabha constituencies | ||
| Education | ||
| Economy | ||
