About

Agrasen-ki-Baori is a step-well located in the heart of Delhi, less than a mile north of India Gate.

The three-level step-well has one hundred and eight steps leading down 60m to the edge of the water, with three landings corresponding to the three levels of the arched walls. There are niches, chambers, and arches on three sides, with open access on the south. Agrasen-ki-Baori is unusual in having a rectangular shape, where most of the others are square or circular in shape.

It is largely made of rubble masonry with a mixture of rocks. The steps are flanked on both sides by thick walls with a series of arched corridors.

Historic records say, the stepwell was rebuilt over the old one in the 14th century, by Raja Agrasen, the patriarch of the rich Agarwal family.

A small Mosque stands to the southwest of the stepwell. It has no roof, but a number of pillars and columns with elaborate decorative elements can be seen in the corridors of the mosque. It is based on a solid platform with underground dalans on the sides. It has a 'whale-back' roof and four pillared columns of red sandstone, carved with chaitya motifs and stucco medallions in spandrels, which makes it a unique structure.