University Name: Jamia Millia Islamia

Water Body Name: Gandhak-ki-Baoli, Mehrauli

INO Name: Prof. Shamshad Ahmad
Project Co-Ordinator: Prof. Quamrul Hassan
Period to Report: 1st July to 5th August 2022
 Gandhak - ki - Baoli, Mehrauli
Report - Week – 1

 Firstly, a group of 15 students was created along with an INO - Prof.

Shamshad Ahmad.
 Water body is assigned to each group, we were given “Gandhak - ki
– Baoli”, Mehrauli.
 An orientation session was organized by Prof. Quamrul Hassan,
Prof. Shamshad Ahmad and Prof. Azhar Husain in which they brief
us about the tasks we have to do, all the activities to be performed,
and all the information related to the internship.

Information of students is given below:

Day – 1: History
- It is located at Mehrauli village complex.

- Mehrauli lies in the South district of Delhi at 28°30′57″N 77°10′39″E.

- It was the largest step-well ever built in Delhi.

- Build during the rule of Emperor Iltutmish.

- The word itself means well with stairs which has a smell of sulphur.

- During his reign, Sultan Iltutmish, had the ‘Hauz-i-Shamsi’, a water tank or reservoir built in
1230 AD within the Mehrauli complex just beside the ‘Jahaz Mahal’ extensively used as a
summer retreat by the subsequent Mughal Emperors.

- Sultan Ghari built in 1231 AD and a Tomb for his eldest son, Prince Nasir-ud-din Mahmud
known to be the first Islamic Tomb that was built in Delhi.

- Iltutmish had built ‘Gandhak Ki Baoli’ for Khwaja Sayed Muhammad Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiar
Kaki who was a well renowned Sufi Saint during his reign who had greatly inspired the Sultan
through his Islamic teachings.

- Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiar Kaki was a famous Sufi Saint at that time and inspired the Sultan
through his Islamic teachings.

- He also became an important figure in showcasing Sufism and Islamic teachings through
various Sufi movements in India from the 13th to the 14th Century which attracted
numerous people and gave a different dimension to Islam as a religion in India.

- Every year, the “Festival of flower sellers” is celebrated on the Sufi Saint’s Dargah and the
Yogmaya Hindu Temple to bridge the gap between Islam and Hindu followers Hence,
promote secularism.

Day – 2: Structure and General Information

- Huge five-tiered structure which included a circular shaped well on its southern side.

- Once used for swimming and diving in summers.

- Still the largest well in Delhi.

- Southern point is the deepest.

- No protection barrier.

- Uneven ground surface.

General:
- No entry fees.
- No photography charges.
Day – 3: Present Condition
- The stepwell got silted up over centuries.

- Presently in bad condition.

- Ruined over time.

- Water collected in lower levels during monsoon.

- Major Debris collection.

- Moss and algae present.

- Slippery stones.

Day – 4: Information Collected from Internet

Location on the map

 Gandhak - ki - Baoli, Mehrauli

Day – 5: Discussion and Meetings

 Student -faculty Meeting.
 Work distribution.
 Information gathering.

Day – 6: Spatio-temporal Analysis (Example)

 Different water quality indices including National Sanitation Foundation Method (NSFWQI)
and BIS 10500 (BISWQI) were utilized in determining the indices.
 the overall water quality was categorized to be excellent for both the sampling periods using
the BISWQI.
 water quality indexing is presented through introduction of a Modified Water Quality Index
(MWQI) which utilizes the maximum number of parameters and thereby provides a means
to reduce ambiguity and eclipsing problems of WQI.

1. Measurement and readings.

2. Result and conclusion.

Day – 7: General Information about baoli’s

 Baolis or Stepwells are wells or ponds in which the water may be reached by descending a set of
steps.
 Types – single entrance, L –shaped Stepwells, Circular Stepwells, Stepwells with Two Straight
Stepped Entrances.