An ancient well, sealed for many years but containing clean water, was recently uncovered at a religious site in the Shahzadi Sarai area in Sambhal UP, officials reported on Monday. According to an administration official, efforts are underway to restore the well, which is located in the city.

Sambhal Sub-divisional Magistrate, Vandana Mishra, confirmed the discovery, stating, “We have received information about the well being found at Kshem Nath Tirtha, and the people there are working to revive it.”

Mahant Bal Yogi Deenanath, the head priest of Kshema Nath Tirth, shared with reporters that the long-buried well had been reopened. “At a depth of about eight feet, we found water. The presence of clean water in this ancient structure is truly a divine blessing,” he said.

Deenanath explained that Kshema Nath Tirth, also known as Neemasar Tirth, is an important pilgrimage site associated with the larger Naimisharanya Tirth in Sitapur district, one of the 68 sacred pilgrimages in India. “This location houses Baba Kshema Nath Ji’s samadhi and is the starting point for the 24 Kos Parikrama. Pilgrims believe that visiting here fulfills their wishes,” he added.

Local devotees were astonished by the reopening of the ancient well, which had remained sealed for decades. A volunteer team, led by Mahant Deenanath, uncovered the well by breaking through a reinforced cement concrete (RCC) cover. The well, which once provided water to pilgrims performing the parikrama, had remained intact due to its depth.

“This well is a historic water source at the pilgrimage site, previously used by visitors to Kshema Nath Tirth,” Deenanath noted.

Additionally, in the Laxman Ganj area of Chandousi, Sambhal, a stepwell approximately 150 years old and covering about 400 square meters was also recently discovered during excavation. Krishna Kumar Sonkar, the executive officer of Chandausi Municipality, described the discovery as significant, noting that excavation work began on Saturday. This finding follows the reopening of the Bhasma Shankar Temple on December 13, which had been closed for over 46 years.

With inputs from PTI