In my earlier posts, I have shared photographs of famous and not-so-famous historical monuments in and around the city of Delhi. My earlier post was on the Qutub Minar, built in the 13th century A.D. Today, I will go back around 3 centuries to visit a tank which looks more like a stadium.
Suraj Kund, as this archaeological site is popularly known, is a water tank which resembles a Roman amphitheatre. Believed to have been constructed by the Tomar King, Suraj Pal, this remarkable monument is believed to have been constructed in the 10th century A.D., when sun worship was a common practice. Suraj means Sun in Hindi.
The shape of the kund (tank) resembles the rising sun curving eastwards. This effect is brought about by the semi-circular stepped stone embankments. Ruins of the Sun temple, believed to have stood here, can be seen even today. The bed of the Kund is about 130 metres in diameter.
If you are in Delhi, you might want to visit this beautiful historical site.
Hope you enjoyed the trip. 🙂
Know-All's Box 
Wonderful. And the person on the steps gives the photo a real sense of scale.
Thank you!!! 🙂 Yes indeed, I was fortunate that the man decided to climb down the steps…and the fact that he was wearing blue…which made it easier to spot him… 🙂
Is this still used? There seems to be a fair few of amazing sights in Delhi!
Hmmm….I don’t think it is used as a reservoir anymore…it is more of a tourist spot…and the local government organises the Surajkund Fair in the winter, which is sort of a cultural fair…very nice, I have been told. And you are so right! Delhi is one amazing place…and that’s just one city! 🙂
Enjoyed the trip very much :-D. Awesome photographs.
Thank you Swati Di! Next time you are in India, try and visit…I am sure you will do better justice with your photographs! 🙂
What stands out in the photo are bricks! Did you know the origin of kiln fired bricks?
If not then wait for my next post 🙂
Thank you Mesho! And no, I have no idea about the origin of bricks! And, I can;t wait to see your next post! Hurry! 🙂
I’m so jealous!
Haha…but why girl??? Why indeed? 😀
Your talent. Duh!
Hah!! I don’t buy that…You definitely are not the jealous type! And my real talent is understanding people’s nature! 😀 😛 But, thanks for the unique compliment! 😀
Haha. No, no. I am often envious of people who are more talented than me. I covet their amazing ways. What to do. Manufacturing defect 😉
Liar…and un-convincing at that!! that’s the only manufacturing defect I can detect! 😛 😀
I’m serious. Take a compliment no? Must be your manufacturing defect to not be able to take praise at face value!
Hahaha…I really like people who are no-nonsense( like you) 😀 And you are right…I somehow am very cautious about taking praise…unusual…considering how I love being the center of attention! 😛 But, honestly, I know that your compliment is genuine…I can quickly smoke out the fakers, and you ain’t one! So, thank you! 🙂
YAY! That didn’t take long at all 😉 I do love these odd juxtapositions. Like being the centre of attention but can’t take compliments. Beautiful conundrum!
Wow! I haven’t been here. Not to my memory anyway, unless I went as a small kid.
There’s sooooo much to see in Delhi itself. The more you visit it the more places you discover.
Nice Pictures as always.
Really glad that you enjoyed the photographs…I am trying to post photographs of places which may not be so popular, but are stunning, nonetheless! Thanks for dropping by! 🙂
The first picture is SO beautiful! Love it!
Thank you Thatiana! It was indeed a lucky break, to have the guy go down the steps at that moment! 🙂
And good that you had the camera ready to shoot! 🙂 Great capture!
Ah! yes, that too! Thank you! 😀
That is some of the most beautiful stonework I’ve ever seen. Phenomenal color and design. I bet those steps are worn smooth by the thousands of feet going up and down over the years and age has given them a warm glow. Love the way you captured the light and shadow play from the sun. Fabulous shots! 😀
Thank you Elizabeth!! 🙂 🙂 That’s a very nice observation…the steps are indeed worn smooth…another thing which is not that evident from the photographs….the steps are HUGE…it was more like hopping from one step to another, we did! 🙂
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
Thanks a lot for the re-blog! 🙂
Wow, how do you find such places in India? Best of all, you took these pictures with great depth.
Ah! That’s the advantage of having a brother-in-law who knows Delhi very well! 🙂
Love that first shot, the person really gives a sense of the scale of the place.
Thank you! Glad that you liked it! 🙂
That place is huge! I agree with several others here that mention the tiny blue man. Wonderful shots of a place in Delhi that I haven’t seen 🙂
Ah yes, it is really pretty nice! And, through my blog, I am trying to show places which many people might not have visited while in Delhi even!
The little person on the steps in #1525 gives a great sense of perspective. (For some reason, I think this shot does it for me better than the similar one where he’s further towards the bottom.)
Same for me…I spent a lot of time comparing thse 2…and finally I decided I liked the one with the guy on top of the stairs…better!
I think it’s just the way he seems to be out there in the middle of nowhere. There’s less sense of direction.
Yup…that must be it! 🙂
Beautiful images of Suraj Kund. My favourite is the first one, which is striking. What a marvellous place Suraj Kund must be.
Thanks a lot! It is indeed a wonderful place to visit…if you are in Delhi! 🙂
This place looks huuuuuge! is it? So it’s not an ampitheatre? How is it used as a water tank?
It is big!! But, not verrry big..if it looks like that, you know whom to blame! 😀 And yes, it does look like an amphitheatre out of Gladiator, but isn’t…It used to function as a water tank…not in present times though….the whole basin like area was for water storage….and the steps were useful in summer, when the water level would go down
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This is so cool! Definitely Gladiator style.