Quick Facts
Location - Mehrauli in South Delhi.
Named After- Qutub-ud-din-Aibak
Famous As - Highest brick tower in the world
Architecture - Indo -Islamic
Visiting Time - Sunrise to Sunset
How To Reach - Mehrauli is located extreme south of Delhi and it is
well linked to rest of Delhi. Mehrauli has bus terminal.
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.
