Shahi Baoli

Shahi Baoli is one of the old monuments of Lucknow. It was the creation of the fourth Nawab of Awadh, Asaf- Ud - Daulah. It was built during the years 1784 - 1794.

The main motive to built this Baoli was to serve as a water reservoir. It was built around a large well, along with the other units of the Bada Imambara.

The well known to be a perennial source of water, as it has connections with the underground water streams of river Gomti.

The Shahi Baoli is extensively favorite for its exceptional architectural design. The most impressive feature of this Baoli is the secret view of the visitors that it offers, its unique alignment of one of the windows, and it is entrance pathway in which one can see the colorful shadow of the visitors standing at the entrance of this structure in the well.

The building is a seven-storeyed palace, and three-storeyed of this palace submerged into the water. Moreover, a water supply of hot as well as cold was also available in the Baoli.

The entry to this palace was from the east, and the exit was from the west. There is also a tale related to this Baoli that is very popular and widespread among the peoples, of throwing a secret treasure map and the key to the treasure into the well of the Baoli.

If you visit the Imambara, you will only see the gateway of the Shahi Baoli, other portions of this monument are submerged in water and have faded with time.

It is also seen that if someone throws a coin, it gets vanished immediately without making a noise into well. Hence you can see the unique architectural diversity of the Shahi Baoli that is a sign of Indo-Mughal architecture.