Travelling exhibition to teach about baolis

In the times of 'eco clubs' in almost all schools where students are told about various rain-water harvesting measures, not many are aware about the age-old heritage structures --- baolis (step wells). Nivedita Khandekar reports.

In the times of 'eco clubs' in almost all schools where students are told about various rain-water harvesting measures, not many are aware about the age-old heritage structures --- baolis (step wells).

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For instance, not many are aware that deep inside the northern end of the famed World Heritage Site of Red Fort is a centuries old baoli with a unique architecture. Similarly, scores of people working in Connaught Place are hardly aware of the Ugrasen Ki Baoli off Hailey Road.

There are 12 such baolis in Delhi under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

With an aim to bridge this gap, especially to sensitise students, the ASI plans to carry a travelling exhibition to various schools and colleges across the city. The panels have photos of the different baolis before and after conservation along with information and statistics about each water body on flex boards.

This is the same exhibition that the ASI had put up at the Red Fort since Monday as part of the World Heritage Day celebrations. The theme for this year's World Heritage Day was the Cultural Heritage of Water, hence the idea to showcase Delhi's rich tradition of water conservation.

The panels include photos and information about Rajon Ki Baoli and Gandhak Ki Baoli (Mehrauli); Ugrasen Ki Baoli (Connaught Place); two baolis inside Tughlakabad Fort; one each inside the Red Fort, Kotla Feroz Shah and Purana Qila; those at Hindu Rao hospital in north Delhi, Wazirabad complex in RK Puram, and at the dargah and Arab Ki Sarai in Nizamuddin, apart from two lakes in south Delhi, Shamshi Talab and Anang Tal.

"We already have a tie-up with Indraprastha College for Women, Vasant Valley School and Tagore International School. We would start with these institutions and then take the exhibition to other schools and colleges," said a senior ASI official.

Along with the exhibition, there would be some interactive session for the students. However, it would depend on the schools/colleges whether or not they want to take their students to the actual site, the official said.