QUTAB MINAR/ QUTUB MINAR DELHI Location : Mehrauli in South Delhi Named After : Qutab-ud-din Aibak Famous As : Highest brick tower in the world Listed In : World Heritage Site

Where The Head Is Held High In Proud

Qutub Minar

Monuments in Delhi Jantar Mantar India Gate

Art & Architecture Rashtrapati Bhawan

Parliament House Jama Masjid

The soaring tower of the brick tiled magic, called Qutab Minar, has become synonymous with the colonial capital of Delhi. The majestic placard of sandstone pride is ubiquitous in Delhi, and you might find it everywhere; billboards, pamphlets, tatoos, tea stalls, truck tail pieces, and apparently, in the hearts of Delhites. Nestling in the southern quarters of lush Delhi, the 237.8 ft stately tower is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afgan architecture. The architectural wonder is surrounded by a lush green manicured garden, which is a much favoured leisure pad for Delhites, and you can see people lazing out their afternoons here and there. Interestingly, the construction was acknowleged as a heriditary raison d'etre by the Slave Dynasty, as the five storeyed tower was intiated by Qutab-ud-din Aibak and was later finished by his son-in-law and successor Iltutmish. Today, Qutub Minar, an eminent member of the World Heritage Site community, leans about 60 cm off the vertical, but otherwise it has survived the ravages of time impressively.

What Makes Qutub Minar Majestic

Enter through the colossal Alai Darwaza, the erstwhile main entrance to the whole complex nestling in the south east of Qutab Minar. Look for the richly decorated facades, built in white marble and embellished with intricate geometric patterns and Arabic inscriptions. Although you will find it hard to take your eyes off this stately monument, but there are other attractions strewned all over the alluring precincts that may catch your attention. At the foot of the Qutab Minar stands the first mosque to be built in India, the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid. Referred to as the Might of Islam Mosque, this sacred relic is a fruit of successive additions and extensions over the centuries.

Walk over to the east gate and you can see an inscription over there that expounds that the original mosque was built on the foundations of a Hindu temple and the materials obtained by demolishing 27 idolatrous temples! Walk over to the west of this mosque and you will overwhelmed to see the spectacularly decorated tomb of Iltutmish, portraying an enigmatic array of exquisite carvings which virtually cover the entire interior of the 9 sq m tomb.

However, the most curious of all that dominates the Qutub Minar complex is undoubtedly, the mysterious Iron Pillar, situated in the voluminous courtyard of the mosque. Remember to see the Sanskrit inscription that indicates that the pillar was originally present outside a Vishnu temple, possibly in Bihar. A deep hole on the top of the pillar indicates that an additional member, perhaps an image of 'Garuda', was fitted into it to answer to its description as a standard of Vishnu. What the inscription does not tell is how it was made, for the iron in the pillar is of quite exceptional purity (98%). Scientists have never discovered how iron that is so pure that it has not rusted even after 1600 years could be cast with the technology of the time. It is a popular myth that if you encircle the pillar with your hands while standing with your back to it, your wish will be fulfilled. However, you won't be able to try it, for the pillar is now protected by a fence. But still, thanks to Delhi Tourism, when the whole premise glows up with ambrosial lights, it surely casts a mesmerising spell.

Drive Your Way To The Highest Minar of India

Qutub Minar

This magnificent tower of victory stands in the Qutab Complex located at Aurobindo Marg, near Mehrauli, 14 Km south of Connaught place in Delhi. Tourists can avail intra-state bus services of DTC, or can hire auto-ricckshaws or pre-paid taxis to reach south Delhi. The Tourist Department in collaboration with Delhi Government has also initiated several sightseeing tour packages, and Qutab Minar is apparently included in every itinerary. The Qutub complex is open for public viewing from 9 am to 9 pm, and is flamboyantly illuminated in the evening, that brings back the erstwhile royal era to life.