Agrasen ki Baoli -Delhi

Designated as protected monument by Archeological Survey of India, Agrasen ki Baoli in Connaught Place is a 60 meter long and 15 meter wide historical step well on Hailey Road near Connaught Place. To get it there you have can reach Jantar Mantar (at Connaught Place) and from there it’s short walk from there towards Kasturba Gandhi Marg. Agrasen ki Baoli is a 14th Century Structure nested between the multi-storey buildings in Connaught Place. It is believed that this Baoli was originally built by the legendary king Agrasen during the Mahabharat epic era. Baoli is a Hindi word and it means a step well. Agrasen ki Baoli is being made to provide constant water supply to the city and a resting place for the travellers. 

Agrasen ki Baoli is also a water reservoir that is known for its heritage value. The shape of Agrasen ki baoli is very interesting. The reason for this is its unique structure which is quite different from the traditional round shape. The Agar Sain ki baoli has three levels where each level has an arched area, which was used as a resting place. The center of the well has water and the water is also linked to a well dug in a covered platform. The gallery and chambers surrounded walls of Agarsen ki baoli are carved profusely. These chambers used to become cool, quiet retreats during summers. Such structures definitely are among the many things that tourists would like to admire if for nothing but the novelty of the concept. The visiting hours for the Agarsen ki Baoli is between 9 AM and 5 PM.

Humayun's tomb-Delhi

Humayun’s Tomb is one of the most beautiful monuments in Delhi but you don’t see it as often as you see India gate or Qutub Minar. It is located right in the heart of the city but the spacious compound surrounding the monument hid it away from the glare of public eyes. Sandwiched between Yamuna River and Nizamuddin Dargah, Humayun’s Tomb was the first garden tomb on the Indian Subcontinent. It is the Tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun and it was commissioned by his wife Hamida Banu Begum in 1562 AD.

I've no difficulty admitting that it is one of the most beautiful Tombs, only next to Taj Mahal. Designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyath a Persian architect and built by Indian and Persian workers, this monument is one of the first to employ Persian architecture and also the first to use Red sand stone and White marble in such a huge quantity. In 1993 it was declared a UNESCO World heritage Site.

The garden tomb is some hundredmeters walk from the main road. The place is quite spacious and refreshing. The place is undergoing lots of renovations right from the outer gate to the main tomb. An outer gate and an inner gate surround the main tomb. Near the outer gate which is also known as the Bu Halima, there’s another gate known as the Arab Serai Gate. It is a 14 m high structure which led to the walled enclosure which hosted the Persian Craftsmen who came to work on Humayun’s Tomb. The main entrance or the inner Gate is also known as West Gate. It is a 16 m high structure with rooms on each side of the passage. Now it housed the museum.

This red and white building is an example of Persian influence on Indian architecture. Humayun was the first to be buried in the Tomb when he died in 1556 but the tomb has now within it over 100 graves, earning the name, ‘Dormitory of The Mughals’. Steep steps lead up to the Sanctum of the tomb. The Central chamber looks quite plain now but it was remarkably decorated in the past. William Finch an English Merchant who visited it in 1611 unforgettably describes the presence of expensive carpets, and other rich items including Humayun’s sword, turban and shoes.

The 13 acres land surrounding the tomb became difficult to maintain when the Mughals shifted the capital to Agra. Things got worsened when the British captured Bahadur Shah II in 1857. They replaced the original garden with British like garden. Archaeological Survey of India has tried to restore it to the glorious past. The vast open spaces and cool shades surrounding the tomb are a treat for city dwellers.

Though the monument we see now is only a shadow of the glorious past, the red Sandstone tomb sparks when the golden evening sun shines over it. The magic of that moment makes everything new again.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib-Delhi

An ideal consummation of Sikh values bequeathing the human race with a beacon of hope for a better future, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib located in New Delhi is one of the most prominent Sikh Gurdwara. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib holds a special meaning in the heart of thousands of devotes who visit the premises with a belief to get closer to a complacent lifestyle.

Originally a bungalow of Raja Jai Singh, an Indian ruler, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib came into existence in 1783 as a symbol of benignant of Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji, eighth guru of Sikhs, who served the downtrodden during the epidemic of 1664.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is situated in the Delhi City. Built in the sacred visit of SHRI GURU HARKARISHAN JI to Delhi. At the request of Mughal King Aurangzeb and through the persuasion of Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber, GURU SAHIB agreed to come to Delhi. Raja Jai Singh invited GURU SAHIB to the present site which originally belonged to Raja Jai Singh. Raja's wife thought of testing the spiritual powers of the GURU SAHIB and disguised herself as maid servant and sat among the attendants. GURU SAHIB at the age of 8 years identified the RANI and sat in her lap. Thus convincing her of the the spiritual powers of GURU NANAK and his True Disciples. In those days small pox was raging in the city of Delhi on an epidemic form. The citizens of Delhi suffered grief and death As a result of clamity that had befallen there. GURU SAHIB out of love and compassion for suffering humanity dipped his holy feet in water and poured charan amrit into small chaubacha (tank). All those who took water from caubacha were cured from the disease. Thus the people of Delhi were saved from that epidemic. Devotees with faith and devotion come from far and near and get rid of suffering by taking a dip in the holy water.