Almost as old because the history of the Delhi Sultanate, the long-lasting Qutub Minar, the world’s tallest brick minaret, dominates the skyline of the town . Standing 73 foot tall, this five-storeyed tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remains one among the foremost magnificent buildings of India from the medieval era. the primary three storeys of the tower are inbuilt red sandstone while the fourth and fifth are made from marble and sandstone. All the five floors are adorned with projecting balconies.
Located in Delhi’s Mehrauli area, the Qutub Minar was commissioned by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, who laid the inspiration of Mamluk dynasty (1206-1290) in India. Inspired by the victory tower at Ghazni, Afghanistan, its construction began in 1192 AD but, unfortunately, Qutub-ud-din-Aibak, didn’t live long enough to witness its completion. The tower was finally completed by his successors Iltutmish and Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
Another attraction here is that the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque that stands right next to the minaret. Constructed by Qutub-ud-din-Aibak, the mosque is taken into account to be the primary building within the Qutub complex that houses variety of monuments. one among the foremost popular among these is that the Iron Pillar, also referred to as the Ashoka Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century. Standing around 24 ft high and weighing quite six tonne, the pillar is legendary for its high resistance to corrosion. it’s a well-liked belief among tourists visiting the complex that if you’ll encircle the pillar together with your |along with your”> together with your arms while standing with your back thereto , any wish you create are going to be fulfilled. An example of this will be seen during a scene from Hindi movie Cheeni Kum, which starred legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan.
Tourists also can visit the Alai Darwaza, which may be a domed gateway built with red sandstone and adorned with white marble inlays. Built by Allauddin Khalji, this grand monument stands as a testament to the craftsmanship of the skilled Turkish artisans who built it. In close proximity stands the Alai Minar, commissioned by Alauddin Khalji, who wanted it to be twice as high because the Qutub Minar. Unfortunately, the development of the tower was stalled following the death of Khalji in 1316. Today, an enormous rubble masonry of the tower’s first storey are often seen at the spot, which was intended to be covered with a layer of stone. The tomb of Iltutmish was built by the emperor himself and was one among the primary tombs to be inbuilt Delhi.
Tourists also can head to the Mehrauli Archaeological Park that houses the ultimate resting place of Ghiyas-ud-din Balban, who was once the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. within the Qutub complex lies the Jamali Kamali Mosque and a tomb of a Sufi saint. The three-day Qutub Festival, held within the months of November and December, features classical dance and music, and is real crowd puller.