Rajon ki Baoli Restored by ASI in Partnership with WMFI and TCS Foundation.
National
In May 2025, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture (MoC), New Delhi (Delhi), successfully restored the historic 16th-century stepwell ‘Rajon ki Baoli’ located at Mehrauli Archaeological Park, near Jamali Kamali in New Delhi (Delhi).
- The project was carried out in collaboration with the World Monuments Fund India (WMFI) and Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Foundation.
- The restoration was part of WMFI’s Historic Water Systems of India initiative, funded by the TCS Foundation, and aligned with WMF’s global Climate Heritage initiative, highlighting the importance of traditional water systems amid climate change.
- The conservation used traditional methods like cleaning, de-silting, repairs, and water quality improvement, with lime plaster and mortar to preserve the structure’s original character.
Main Point :- (i) Beyond physical restoration, the project actively involved local communities to raise awareness about Rajon ki Baoli’s cultural and ecological significance. Educational initiatives helped reconnect people with traditional water management systems and the heritage value of stepwells.
(ii) Rajon ki Baoli was built around 1506 CE during the Lodhi dynasty by Daulat Khan Lodi, an official under Sultan Sikandar Lodi. It stands as a symbol of Lodhi-era architecture and showcases the period’s advanced water engineering, originally serving as a water source and resting place for travelers.
(iii) This 4-tiered stepwell features elegant arched colonnades, finely carved stonework, and intricate stucco medallions with floral and geometric motifs. It covers 1,610 square meters, is 13.4 meters deep, and its main tank measures 23 by 10 meters at the base.
About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
Director General (DG) : Vadubir Singh Rawat
Headquarters: New Delhi
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