Open Daily 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
- Fort Rd, Toli Chowki, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500008, India
- Visit
The Hammam or bathhouse was modelled on Iranian bath houses. The exquisite bathhouse, possibly pre-dating the necropolis, was provided with its own stepwell to fulfil the water requirements of the elaborate mechanisms for the baths.
The retaining walls at this 25 meters deep baoli are built using local granite stone in random rubble stone masonry with a series of stone steps leading down at the western side.
Documentation of the baoli and surrounding archaeological area using Laser Scanning
Like the other baolis/stepwells at the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, this structure was also found filled in with construction rubble, the retaining walls overgrown with vegetation, and several portions having collapsed. The structure had structural cracks in the stone masonry, sections of projected stone ledge and a major portion of approach steps at northern side were missing. Additionally, the existing aqueduct that connected to stepwell at the northern side was buried under layers of earth and vegetation.
The restoration process involved reinstating the missing granite steps, underpinning and repointing of historic walls, successfully restoring the grand stepwell’s original formal appearance as envisaged by the original builders. Removal of silt and debris, along with clearing the vegetation from both the baoli and its immediate setting, has also helped in increasing the water carrying capacity of the stepwell to 4.7 million litres.
The aqueduct was also cleaned and restored to functionality, now supplying water to the Hammam baoli, which irrigates the lush green spaces at the mausoleum of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah.
Desilting the deep bed of Hammam Baoli
Restoring granite steps
Masonry parapet walls were reconstructed
The once-neglected stepwell at Qutb Shahi Heritage Park was restored to its former glory through extensive repairs and vegetation removal, increasing its water capacity.
With regrading of earth and conservation of the Western Baoli, 3.7 million litres of rainwater was collected during the 2021 monsoons, highlighting the traditional wisdom of traditional Indian craftsmen.
The grandest stepwell amongst all the others at the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park is the Baoli south of the Idgah. The baoli is built with hand dressed granite stones with an archway access to it on the south side. The facades on the archway are decorated with intricate lime stucco.
