Qutub Minar Tower

The world famous towering Qutub Minar is the most sought after spot by tourist who come to Delhi. It is situated at Mehrauli, New delhi, in India. It is 238 ft. high and one has to climb 379 steps to get to the top. The diameter of the base is 47 ft. metres while the top floor measures 8.86ft in diameter. After an accident some years ago in which many schools children died. So, no one is permitted to go inside the minar. Mohammed Gauri, the invader from Afghanistan, started building it to celebrate his victory over the Rajputs in 1192. His viceroy, Qutub-ud-din Aibak (1192-1198), the first sultan (king) of the slave dynasty continued the construction.

History of Qutub Minar
The construction of Qutab Minar was started by Qutub-ud-udin Aibak in 1199 and it was completed by his son-in-law Iltutmish in 1236. Qutub-ud-din commenced construction of the minar but he could not complete whole construction. He completed only the 1st floor of the Minar and the 2nd and 3rd floor were made by Iltutmish and the 4th and 5th floor were made by Feroz Shah Tughlaq. The Qutub minar is identified with Delhi, as the leaning Tower is associated with the city of Pisa or the Eiffel Tower with Paris. It is not only an important tourist spot in Delhi but also an excellent example of early Islamic architecture in India.

The Qutub Minar is also important because it represents in the history of Indian culture. In many ways, the Qutub Minar the first monument of Muslim rule in India, heralded the beginning of the new style of the art and architecture that came to be known as the Indo-Islamic style. Indo Islamic style is neither a local variant of Islamic art nor a modification of Hindu art. It is an assimilation of both the styles, though not always in equal degree. It is so because each region in India has its own form of Indo Islamic architecture. This architecture varies from place to place and there is no standardization.

Attractions around the Qutub Minar
The area around Qutub Minar has a number of important monuments and together they constitute the Qutub complex.
1) The Quwwat-ul-Islam : The Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque was the first mosque to be built in India. To the west of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque is another remarkable building- the Tomb of Altamash, which was built by the monarch himself in 1235.
2) The Ashokan Pillar : Any write up on the Qutub Minar will be Incomplete without mentioning the 4th century Iron pillar i.e The Ashokan Piller. It is 7.2m high and 37cm in diameter. It stands in the courtyard of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. Another mystifying factor is that despite being exposed to the elements, the pillar has remained rust-free.
3) Alai Darwaza :
Other Monuments in this complex include the Alai Darwaza and the Alai Minar built by Ala-ud-din Khilji (1296-1316). The Alai Darwaza is a magnificent gateway with inlaid marble decoration and latticed stone screens that display the remarkable artistry of the Turkish artisans who warked on it. The Alai Minar was conceived of a greater tower than the Qutub Minar was but its construction was abandoned after the completion of the 24.5 high first stray.

Qutub Minar Tower

Qutub Minar Photo

Qutub Minar Iron Pillar

Alai Darwaza near Qutub Minar