History

Qutub Minar was built by three Sultans. King of Slave dynasty Qutubuddin Aibak laid the foundation of this towering minaret in 1199 AD as a symbol of victory of Islam after defeating the last Hindu kingdom in Delhi. Last Hindu king Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated by Md. Ghori but soon he left to Afghanistan leaving Qutuddin Aibak as his viceroy. After the death of Qutubuddin Aibak in 1206 AD, Aibak coronated himself as the Sultan of Delhi.



Work on Qutub Minar was started in 1199. For Qutub -ud-di-Aibak who died four years after gaining power, the minaret marked the eastern extremity of the Islamic faith. Only the first storey has been ascribed to Qutub-ud-din's short reign; the other four were built by his successor Iltutmish, and the top was restored in 1369 by Feroz Shah, who used marble to face the red sandstone. The minar had undergone series of lightening and earthquakes in past centuries but survived steadily. In 1368 when lightening destroyed the top two floors, it was replaced by the then Sultan Feroz Shah Tuglaq. In the later years further construction done by Sikander Lodhi. In 1803 a major earthquake demolished the cupola on the top. Major R. Smith of the royal engineer restored the cupola by replacing with Bengal style chattri. In 1848, Lord Hardings removed the chattri because it was not matched with the architectural style of minaret. It stands on the left of the entry path and known as Smith's folly.

Not To Miss

Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid
Inside the Qutub Minar complex there are fine examples of early Afghan architecture. the monument are surrounded by a pleasant garden. The complex is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Adjacent to Qutub Minar lie the ruins of India's first mosque, Quwwat-ul-Islam built by Qutub-ud-din using the remains of 27 Hindu and Jain temples and from the help of Hindu artisans. Ironically all the pillars were carved of decorative figures as it they were built of ruins of Hindu temples and Islams forbidden any iconic worship. Sultan removed all the faces of the decorative figures carved on the pillars. Iltutmish and his successor extended the building, enlarging the prayer hall and the cloisters and introducing geometric designs, calligraphy, glazed tiles set in brick and squinches.

Iron Pillar
According to Sanskrit inscription on the pillar it indicates that it was erected outside a Vishnu temple possibly in Bihar and was raised in memory of Gupta King Chandragupta II. This 7m -high pillar stands in the courtyards of the mosque. The iron in the pillar is made up of wrought iron (98% iron). The most surprising fact is it has not rusted after 1600 years.

Alai Minar
The incomplete tower is 27m high and twice higher than Qutub Minar. Ala-ud-din made a over ambitious project to subdue Qutub Minar by built a second victory tower. However, when he was died no one was willing to to continue his over ambitious project.

Alai Darwaza
Ala -ud- Din's fantastic Alai Darwaza gateway, south east of the Qutub Minar, was the main entrance tot he whole complex. Built of red sandstone, richly decorated with geometric patterns and bands of inscriptions in white marble.

Tomb Of Iltutmish
Just west to Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid tomb of Iltutmish lies. The tomb is spectacular decorated and show less Hindu impression from other structures in the complex, as the reliance on Hindu stone- massons and materials from Hindu temples had lessened. The highlight of the tomb is amazing carving that almost cover the interior of the tomb.