I guess, at least the Delhiites or the people who are fond of bollywood movies should be well aware of this place. To spit out straight, this place gained its popularity upon the release of Aamir Khan's Indian satirical comedy drama PK which was a huge hit not only in India but also in East Asian countries (no wonder!) and in North America as well.
In my case, I thank Google Maps! I was out in Delhi just before my trip to Manali and I was like, where do I go? The scorching sun out in the sky and me out in the roads afternoon - I know, I should have not been. But still I was looking for some place I have not been to. Me and my friends were somewhere around the Mehrauli area and we could see the Qutub Minar standing tall and handsome (We couldn't look at the whole monument since the sun was in our eyes, but who dares to question the architecture!). After seeing the Minar itself, all my friends had a quick scan of their history books and thought 'പടത്തിൽ കാണുന്നത് പോലെ തന്നെ', as good as seen in pictures. But I was a bit mean I should say. I did not want to go there at a time between 2 and 3 in the afternoon and yes, because I have already been there (the real reason). I tried persuading them to go to some place where I have not visited with all possible excuses one can ever think of! I don't think they actually fell for my excuses. It was the sun! And they agreed :)
Then I googled for places to visit near me and then it came up. I should say I liked it the moment I saw it. I was like, I really want to go there. I again persuaded my friends but this time I did not have to think even a bit to find an excuse so lame! Interestingly one of my friend had already bookmarked this place! And here we go...
It took approximately 45 minutes to reach this place from where we had stood. In front there was a board on which it was inscribed Ugrasen ki Baoli. We looked at eachother and asked wasn't it Agrasen ki Baoli? Two of us took out our cell phones and googled it straight away. And that is when we came to know that Agrasen ki Baoli is believed to be named after King Agrasen which is derived from Ugrasen - Ugrasen was a legendary king in Hindu Mythology. There is no historical record as such as who built this well; however, it is believed to be built by King Agrasen during the Mahabharat epic era. So for all out there wondering what is Baoli? Baoli otherwise called stepwells were one of the many structures that were built in ancient India especially as part of temples.
When we got inside for once I could only match what I saw in the pictures to what I was seeing live. But, I was expecting something more. In fact something huge. Like a palace maybe! Or the remains of an ancient place. I was like - no not again! The day was not very kind to us until then. Like, we had an issue with an OLA cab driver as he dropped us somewhere and we had to walk till Qutub Minar under the sun; stopped in between to serve our hunger & felt cheated (That happens! Especially when you have not had your breakfast and all the running and walking on top of it, nothing is going to suffice one's craving for foooooooood!) and again had a fight with an OLA cab driver. But to our surprise, we had good time there.
Once you enter this place you will find several steps down from where you stand. All leading to somewhere dark as how you see it from such a long distance. I'm a kind of person who is curious to know what, why and how. For that reason I immediately take up my cell phone to read through this place if I have not. So as per what is written in wikipedia there are about 108 steps. It is a three storey water well where all these steps lead to the well. Some steps down and then you can climb up the trail along the wall and walk on it. These trails acts as a demarcation between each storeys of the well.
Climbing the steps down it gets darker as you reach the opening of the well. If you get inside, it becomes even more darker and now you get to know how huge the well really is! But as of now, it is something else that goes through your head. Something weird perhaps! When you look up from the opening you see a lot of bats. I don't know why or is it just me who got an eerie feeling all of a sudden. My friends also tried to scare me a bit by trying to push me inside.
This is it about the place as how you see it. Nothing much to explore. The place now is a good hangout for friends, family and couples. Something different within the city where you may take a time out from the city-work-life hustles and bustles. Not just for us, even birds enjoy this place.
But once the day was over, I was again reading on this. I came to know about some things weird about this place. From various articles I came to know that there is a popular belief that points this place out to be haunted. They claim that the step well was once filled with black water. It was as if some evil spells were casted on people who were hallucinated (of sorts!) and made to jump into it and commit suicide! Still people believe in it; people don't stay post sunset. No wonder the darkness and bats really made me feel spooky. Just think of all the bats and pigeons rattling and making real creepy sounds at night!
Don't make these spookiness to cease your plans! Go ahead. It is just a case of mid day plan and I'm telling you its worth it if you are not expecting more! (Please make sure you find some shade under the trees as the sun out there has got no mercy on anyone underneath him :( )
C'mon share your comments, views and any spooky stories if you have got! 👻