Qutub Minar

If Paris has its Eiffel Tower, Italy has Leaning Tower of Pisa we Indian boast of our Qutab Minar which is situated at a small village in south Delhi, Mehurali. The soaring 237.8 feet high tower was built by Qutab-ud-din Aibak as an Epitome of victory and grandeur in 1199 AD after he defeated the last Hindu king of Delhi. The five distinct stories of the minar is marked by projected balconies which changes from 49.2 feet at the base to 8.2 feet meter at the top.

Qutab-ud-din Aibak, Delhi’s first Muslim ruler, commenced the construction of the Qutab Minar with red sand stone in 1200 AD, but could finish the basement. His successor, Iltutmush, added two storey with red sand stone and forth with marble. Firoz Shah Tughlak in 1338 completed the minar with last marble storey making it the world's tallest brick minaret.

Much of India’s reputation as a nation rich in architectural heritage would have gone unnoticed if Qutub Minar had been absent. The Qutub complex is also blessed with a number of other architectural marvels which includes the Iron Pillar (which has miraculously never got rusted ever since it was built), Tomb of Iltutmish & Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque (the first mosque to be built in India) which displays fine Indo-Islamic architecture specimen.

The architectural styles and even the materials used for construction since Aibak to Tughlak and quite evident in the minar. Both Iltutmush and Alla-ud-din Khilji made additions to Qutub Complex with shafts and pillars. An inscription over its eastern gate defiantly informs that 27 Hindu temples were plundered and the ruins of those temples were used to construct the mosque and therefore, not surprising that the Muslim mosque has typical Hindu ornamentation. The Qutub Minar is constructed on the ruins of Lal Kot, known as the Red Citadel in the city of Dhillika.

It is highly debated topic till today about the purpose behind building Qutub Minar. Most historians are certain that the sky touching tower was built as victory epitomizing the might of Islam but many other are also certain that this monument acted as a tower inviting people for prayer in the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. The name of the tower has also been in some controversy as some historians believe Qutub Minar got its name from Qutb-ud-din Aibak, while some are of the belief that the monument was named after Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a saint who was highly respected by Qutab-ud-din Aibak’s son Iltutmish.

Location: Mehrauli, South Delhi

Nearest Metro Station: Qutab Minar

Open: All days

Entry Fee: Rs. 10 (Indians), Rs. 250 (foreigners)

Guide: Multilingual audio guide services available at nominal charge