History of Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar was built in 1192 by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate to mark his victory against the last Hindu empire of Delhi. It is not sure whether the minaret was a dedication to a Sufi saint, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki or not. Aibak built only the basement of the monument, and three more storeys were added by his successor, Iltutmish. Unfortunately, this historical monument faced a few natural disasters. In 1369 AD, a severe lightning struck the top storey of the minaret, damaging it completely. Then, Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq rebuilt the monument and added another storey made of marble and red sandstone.
Again, in 1505, an earthquake ruined the minaret. Sikandar Lodi, who was the Sultan at that time reconstructed the top two storeys of the minaret with marbles. That was not the end. The monument was hit yet again by a major earthquake on September 1, 1803. It was reduced to wreck after which Major Robert Smith of the British Indian Army rebuilt it in 1828. He also installed a cupola atop the tower. However, in 1848, it was uninstalled on the command of the then Governor General of India, Henry Hardinge. Today, that cupola is on the ground floor to the east of Qutub Minar.
Architecture of Qutub Minar
The incredible Qutub Minar soars to a height of 240 ft. with a diameter of 14.3 m at the base and 2.7 m at the top. The spiral staircase consisting of 379 stairs takes one to the top of the monument. It also tilts a little from 65 m above the ground level. The five-storey building has been built with red sandstone and marble. Every floor has a protruding balcony surrounding the minaret and supported by corbels.
It is a classic example of Indo-Islamic architecture. With the difference in the architectural styles and the materials used in construction, it is apparent that the tower was constructed over the years by different rulers. The first three storeys are made of red stone and are relatively pale. The fourth one is white as it is made up of marble. The last storey is made of sandstone. Verses from Quran can be seen engraved on the minaret with other inscriptions of Parso-Arabic and Nagari characters.
Qutub Complex
The Qutub Complex is located in Mehrauli, Delhi. It consists of various historical structures built decades ago depicting the rich history of Delhi. If you are visiting Qutub Minar, the other monuments you should definitely explore are-
1.Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque-Built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, founder of the Mamluk or Slave dynasty, this was the first mosque of India. It was constructed from the parts of the Hindu and Jain temples which were destroyed under the Islamic rule.
2. Alai Darwaza-It is the main gateway from the southern side of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. Built by the second Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1311 AD, it is an important structure of Delhi. It has domes decorated with red sandstones and white marbles.
3. Iron Pillar-The pillar was constructed by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya. It is 7.21-metre high and weighs more than six tonnes. The fascinating fact about the Iron Pillar is that it has not been rusted since the day it was erected. Another striking feature of the Qutub Complex is the Tomb of Iltutmish who was the second Sultan of Delhi. In the centre of the tomb, the main cenotaph of white marble is placed on a raised platform. It has awe-inspiring Islamic architecture.
4. Alai Minar-Alauddin Khilji started building the Alai Minar and wanted it to be two times higher than Qutub Minar. However, after his death in 1316, the monument was never completed by his successors.The first storey of the Alai Minar still stands today at Qutub Complex.
Besides these structures, you will find other captivating monuments like the Tomb of Adham Khan, Moti Masjid and Zafar Mahal.
Qutub Festival
The Qutub Festival, held in Qutub Minar in November- December is a three-day festival to celebrate the magnificence of the monument and flaunt its past glory to the entire world. It is organized jointly by the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation and the Sahitya Kala Parishad.
The festival includes cultural shows and art forms that allure people from all over the world. It brings together some fine folk and classical musicians. In this festival, Qutub Minar gets both national and international attention that it deserves. The three days of music and dance revitalize and bring life to the monument.
The food stalls offering scrumptious regional delicacies add to the razzmatazz of the event.
Qutub Minar Timings and Entry Fees
Qutub Minar remains open for tourists all days except Sunday. The timings are- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The entry fees for Indians is INR 10 while for foreigners, it is INR 250.
Best time to visit Qutub Minar
Since Delhi witnesses scorching temperature in summers, it is wise to explore and unveil the city in winters. October to March is the perfect time to visit Delhi. The maximum time tourists generally take to explore Qutub Minar is 2 hours.
How to Reach Qutub Minar
Once you are in Delhi, it is very easy to reach Qutub Minar. Autorickshaws and cabs are readily available to take you there. The nearest metro station from Qutub Minar is the Qutub Minar Metro Station which falls on the Yellow Line. It is approximately 3 Km away from the monument.
There are many parking lots available around Qutub Minar. Tourists are able to park their cars hassle-free. The official car parking area of Qutub Minar is just 800 metres away from the Minar.
Top Tourist Places in New Delhi
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Red Fort
Qutub Minar
India Gate
National Zoological Park
Chandni Chowk
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Did you know?
1. Qutb Minar means pole or axis in Arabic.2. Earlier, the general public was allowed to access the top of the tower but on December 4, 1981, due to electricity failure, 45 people were killed in a stampede. Therefore, the public was denied to enter into Qutub Minar.3. Popular Bollywood actor, Dev Anand wanted to shoot one of the songs of his film inside the minaret. However, the cameras did not fit inside the tower. So, the song was shot in the replica of Qutub Minar.
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