Baolis

Baolis, or stepwells, were an integral part of communication, administration, and social life in the past. Almost all major roads in South Asia had baolis along them to facilitate travellers by fulfilling their need for water, as well as that of their animals. The GT Road, being the most important highway in the region, was…

It was the third baoli I visited during my journey along the GT Road on 10th November 2025. The previous two were located at Khukha and near Sarai Alamgir, both situated in open fields. In contrast, the baoli at Kharian lies right in the heart of the city, nestled within a congested residential area. Its…

While travelling on the historic GT Road on November 10, 2025, I visited three baolis, and one more the next day. This is the second one; I hope you have already read about the first baoli near Khukha in the district of Jhelum. This article is about an obscure baoli located at 32°53’12.00″N, 73°47’25.04″E, a…

GT Road, or the Grand Trunk Road, is also called the Great Road and sometimes referred to as the Kings’ Road. It is considered one of the most important roads in the world, connecting the entire northern plain of India since the time of Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka. In later periods, especially during the Delhi…

Baolis, or stepwells, were a common feature of South Asian social life. Even today, thousands of baolis exist in India, some of them architectural wonders. In Pakistan, too, at least around two dozen baolis still exist. I have visited seven of them so far, and this baoli is the eighth one. You can find the…

I was vaguely aware of the existence of a Baoli (a stepwell) along the GT Road somewhere around Jehangira for a long time. Gradually, the picture became clearer, and I found its location on Google Earth and marked it on the map for my visit. The chance to visit it came on July 30, 2025….

Baolis are stepwells that once dotted the entire length and breadth of the Indian subcontinent, especially along the main highways. A large number of them still exist, and many are architectural marvels. In Pakistan, too, several have been preserved and remain in good condition. Unfortunately, however, the vast majority are utterly neglected and either lost…

The Grand Trunk Road is one of the most important highways in South Asia. It stretched from Bengal in the east to Kabul in the west, a distance of almost 2,400 kilometers. Its history is as long as its length, going back to the times of Chandragupta Maurya, who first built it along an ancient…

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….