A Baoli is a stepwell, where steps lead to the water level, so man or beast can reach the water directly without using any mechanism to draw the water to the surface. Stepwells are found almost all over the world, especially in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, but are most popular in South Asia. Mr. Philip Earis manages a wonderful website on this subject, which shows not only the pictures of Baolis but also their exact location on a Google map. You can visit this website at the following link: http://stepwells.org/atlas.php?cmbm=1
According to this website, more than two thousand stepwells exist in the world, an overwhelming number of them in India. Mr. Earis has included step ponds as well in this category. In Pakistan, around two dozen such wells are located. According to my knowledge, most of them are stepwells and in reasonably good condition. Excluding ponds, the number of actual stepwells in Pakistan would be around fifteen. I have seen those at Jandiala Sher Khan, Rohtas Fort, Wah Cantt, and Wan Bhachran. Except for the last one, the others are in good condition and well preserved.
My fifth Baoli was an unexpected discovery. My cousin, Sahibzada Shah Sultan, one day told me of a Baoli near his maternal grandfather's village, Khura. He had just heard about it vaguely. Despite going frequently to that area, he had never seen it or met someone who could confirm its existence. So I was skeptical about this information.
We reached Khura at noon, and the heat and humidity were unbearable. First, we took a local friend with us as our guide. Despite being a resident of Khura, he too had only heard about the Baoli, less than a kilometre away from his home, which, obviously, diminished any chances of making a substantial discovery in my eyes. Anyway, a pleasant surprise was waiting for us. We not only discovered a big stepwell, but contrary to my expectations, its condition was also very good.
We also found water in this well-preserved Baoli. However, it was evident that it is not frequently used. The walls and stairs are made of hewn stones, and lime has probably been used as mortar. It is situated in a small valley, with a stream passing through it. Due to its natural beauty, the place itself is worth visiting. The baoli is located at: 32°31'54.32"N, 72°12'53.10"E.
A baoli, in some Indian dialects, is also called baori or baodi. In Pakistan, in some areas, it is called Wan, like Wan Bhachran and Wan Tarap. These two places, in District Mianwali and District Attock, respectively, are named after the baolis that exist there.
The Government of Punjab is trying to promote tourism in the Soon Valley, exploiting its natural beauty. Indeed, it can be a popular tourist destination due to its beautiful lakes, lush green valleys, and gardens. It is a paradise for hiking and trekking. Along with these attractions, the Soon Valley has many historically important places, such as the ancient temples at Amb, the ruins of an ancient city at Tulaja, a fortified place at Akrand, Buddhist sites, and, not to forget, this little baoli. All these places, along with the natural wonders of this valley, can make it a popular tourist destination.
Tariq Amir
September 4. 2019.
Doha - Qatar.
AOA Tariq Sb,
ReplyDeleteThat was a fantastic discovery at Khura. However, you didn't post any coordinates or pointers on how to reach the Khura Baoli. Can you please update the post or share with me the route to the Baoli. The map on the post points to the village and from the pictures, the baoli appears to be outside the village.
Warm Regards,
Zia
Dear Zia sahib,
DeleteThank you very much for drawing my attention to the missing coordinates of the baoli. I have just added the coordinates and have also updated the map. Now it is not just showing the place of the baoli but also a path leading to it.
Regards.
Tariq