Qutub Minar

Raised as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque by Qutub-ud-Din , Qutub Minar is one of the finest piece of Islamic architecture. From its base of 14.32m this convex shaped structure is stretched up to a height of 72.5m providing a legitimate ground of answering, why it took two decades to complete this monument?

This red sandstone tower is beaded with aesthetic and spectacular sculptures and inscribed on it are the verses from the holy book Quran is still considered as the highest stone tower in India and is an important landmark in Indian history and heritage. The tower was completed by Qutub-ud-Din's heir and son-in-law, Iltutmis in 1303. It is enclosed by various other ancient and chivalric structures and ruins, collectively known as Qutub Complex The complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the most favorite tourist spots in Delhi. Present-day historians depict the city of that era as the "envy of Baghdad, the rival of Cairo and equal to Constantinople". For the purpose of suitability, tourists visiting the Qutub Complex could also see the Tomb of Adham Khan and Zafar Mahal in Mehrauli and the Tomb of Jamali-Kamali which are located near Qutub Minar. These however, belong to a later date.

The Alteration & Repair of Qutub Minar
From the diverse Arabic letterings on the Minar, it can be said that the twice lightning, in 1326 and 1368 damaged it. The first damage took place during Muhammad Tughluq's sovereignty (1325-51), and was fixed by him seemingly in 1332. The second damage occurred during the reign of Feroze Tughluq (1351-88), he too took out the repairing process during his rule. In 1503, Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517) also carried out some renovation in the upper floors, he replaced the top floor which was damaged during the rule of Feroze Tughluq by two storeys, blanketed with marble but leaving the lower part of the fourth storey built with sandstone in its underived master condition. The avant-garde three storeys of the monument are each set on a unlike plan, the lowest with cyclic angular and circular grooves, the second with round ones and the third with angular ones only, with the same placement of flutings, however, being carried through them all. Its jutting balconies with cylindrical type of brackets and sacred decorative sculptures on different storeys enhance its beauty.

Quwwatu'l-Islam Mosque
Just next to the tower is the mosque of Quwwatu'l-Islam Masjid, which can become a unclear experience for those who are not acquainted with its history. It was intended to have been built using the materials and structural remains of Hindu Temples and buildings. On one side there is the aesthetic, especial Islamic handwritten and adorned designs. Then on the other side there are pillars with distinctly pre-Islamic Hindu figures. The explanation to this is that the pillars were taken from the 27 different temples of Qila Rai Pithora, the city of the Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan. This in fact has been listed by Qutub-ud-Din in his writings, which call it the Jami Masjid (Friday Mosque) in his inscriptions. Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty started the construction of the mosque in 1192 which was finished four years later.


The Iron Pillar
The renowned iron pillar positioned in the middle/courtyard of the Quwwatu'l-Islam mosque which is inscribed of Sanskrit lettering in Gupta orthography, archaeologically assigned to the 4th century, a date which is also confirmed by the unusual style of its 'Alameda-capital.

The writing records that the pillar was built as a modular of god Vishnu on the hill known as 'Vishnupada', in remembrance of a powerful king, named 'Chandra', who is now considered as similar with Chandragupta II (375-413) of the majestic Gupta dynasty. A big hole on the top of the pillar points that an additive member, possibly a picture of 'Garuda', was suited into it to answer to its statement as a standard of Vishnu. There is a beefed-up talk that it was brought here by Anangpal, the Tomar king who is attributable with the foundation of Delhi.

Alai Minar
An aspirant debris, Alai Minar construction was started by Alauddin Khalji but the sultan lived to see it only to the height of 24.5m and no one was ready to complete his over-ambitious project. The sultan wanted to built it to contest the expanded Quwwatu'l-Islam Masjid but never though suceeded in it.

Tomb of Shamsu'd-Din Iltutmish
To the northwest of the Quwwatu'l Islam mosque lies the tomb of Shamsu'd-Din Iltutmish, son-in-law and heir of Qutub-ud-Din Aibak. Iltutmish himself assembled it in about 1235. It is different from the other structures present out there and exemplifies that stage in the evolution of Indo-Islamic architecture, when the constructor had discontinued to depend for material on the demolition of temples, although the arches and semi-domes below the squints were still arranged in the native corbeled fashion.

Ala-ud-Din's tomb and college
Some areas and halls in ruins to the southwest of the Quwwatu'l-Islam mosque are believed to represent Ala-ud-Din's tomb and college, which was started by himself to unwrap teachings in Islamic divinity and sacred scriptures. For the first time the conception of a combined college and tomb appears here in India and is perhaps inspired by 'Suljuqian' customs.

Jogmaya Temple
Driving across Qutub-Mehrauli road you will come to see the Jogmaya temple, built over a hundred years ago during the sovereignty of Akbar II (1806-37), at the location acknowledged to be that of an old temple of the yogis or female semi-divine beings. It is probably from which Delhi derived an alternate name of Yoginipura.

Some Important Facts About Qutub Minar
Date of foundation - 1193 A.D.
Height - 72.5 meters with 399 Steps
Base - 14.3 meters wide
Top Floor - 2.75 meters wide

Must see/visit
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
Tomb of Iltutmish
Plain Square Chamber of Red Sandstone
Iron Pillar - Never Got Rusted since Erected
Carved inscriptions on the Minaret
Alai-Darwaza

Adventure
Secret tracts used as an escapade by the Kings, that are believed to lead up to the Red Fort.
Architecture inspirations
Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan