The Qutub Minar fascinates local and foreign tourists as they converge to the ancient ruins as a top sightseeing location of Delhi, and all of India. Years ago it was considered one of the “wonders of the East”, second only to the Taj Mahal.
The background of these first monuments of Muslim India, reads like a school history textbook; Rich with dates, names of rulers and stories of ego and power plays. Today the Qutub Minar is one of many ruins which make up the Mehrauli Archeological Park. Conveniently accessed by car/driver or bus, tourists are smart to come prepared with water and sun screen. The unforgiving sun beats down on visitors who have very little ability to block themselves in shade.
Comfortable shoes are a must here. To properly see the ruins you’ll be walking up and down many flights of stairs, hills, and stepping over uneven ground. Pick up guides are available at the front entrance, an inexpensive way to enhance your understanding of the UNESCO World Heritage Monument.
Open daily, entrance fee Rs 250.
Top Attractions to see at Qutub Minar:
•Alai Darwaza: The gateway to the complex, erected in 1311, bears an elegant mausoleum like architecture. Complete with stone lattice screens and inlaid marble, carved panels show more inscriptions from the Koran.
•Qutub Minar: India’s highest single tower which marks the site of the first Muslin kingdom in North India, est 1193. Minar = Arabic for Pole/Axis. It is a 5 story victory tower made of red sandstone covered in intricate carvings and inscribed verses from the Koran.
•Iron Pillar: The 4th century pillar is a tribute to ancient Indian metallurgy which bears Sanskrit inscriptions. Originally it was made as a flagstaff in Vishnu’s honor and once was topped with an image of the Hindu bird god, Garuda. It is made of 98% pure iron and is rust free.
•Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque: The remains of 27 Hindu and Jain temples were used to construct this, the remains of India’s first mosque. Carved pillars which are noticeably from Hindu temples, have had the faces of all decorative figures removed to abide by strict Islamic law forbidding iconic worship.
•Alai Minar: The first story remains of a tower meant to be even larger than the Qutub Minar.
History
Iron pillar of Qutub Minar
Qutbu’d-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Minar in AD 1199 for the use of the mu’azzin (crier) to give calls for prayer and raised the first story, to which were added three more storeys by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsu’d-Din Iltutmish (AD 1211-36). All the stories are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with honey-comb design, more conspicuously in the first story.
Qutub-Minar in red and buff sandstone is the highest tower in India. It has a diameter of 14.32 m at the base and about 2.75 m on the top with a height of 72.5 m.
Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari characters in different places of the minar reveal the history of Qutub. According to the inscriptions on its surface it was repaired by Firuz Shah Tughlaq (AD 1351-88) and Sikandar Lodi (AD 1489-1517). Major R.Smith also repaired and restored the minar in 1829.
Carved pillars of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, to the north-east of minar was built by Qutbu’d-Din Aibak in AD 1198. It is the earliest extant mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. It consists of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected with the carved columns and architectural members of 27 Hindu and Jain temples which were demolished by Qutbu’d-Din Aibak as recorded in his inscription on the main eastern entrance.
Later, a lofty arched screen was erected and the mosque was enlarged by Shamsu’d-Din Iltutmish (AD 1210-35) and Alau’d-Din Khalji. The Iron Pillar in the courtyard bears an inscription in Sanskrit in Brahmi script of fourth century AD, according to which the pillar was set up as a Vishnudhvaja (standard of god Vishnu) on the hill known as Vishnupada in memory of a mighty king named Chandra. A deep socket on the top of the ornate capital indicates that probably was an image of Garuda was fixed into it.
The tomb of Iltutmish (AD 1211-36) was built in AD 1235. It is a plain square chamber of red sandstone, profusely carved with inscriptions, geometrical and arabesque patterns in Saracenic tradition on the entrances and the whole of interior. Some of the motifs viz., the wheel, tassel etc., are reminiscent of Hindu designs.
Alai Minar sits at one end of the complex
Ala’i-Darwaza, the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque was constructed by Alau’d-Din Khalji in AH 710 (AD 1311) as recorded in the inscriptions engraved on it. This is the first building employing Islamic principles of construction and ornamentation.
Ala’i Minar which stands to the north of Qutub-Minar, was commenced by Alau’d-Din Khalji, with the intention of making it twice the size of earlier Minar. He could complete only the first storey which now has an extant height of 25 m. The other remains in the Qutub complex comprise madrasa, graves, tombs, mosque and architectural members. Source- Archeological Survey of India
