Qutub Minar, Delhi

Qutb Minar is a 73-metre-high tower of victory, built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak soon after the defeat of the last Hindu kingdom of Delhi in 1193. The tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from 15 meters in diameter at the base to just 2.5 meters at the top. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone; The fourth and fifth floors are of marble and sandstone. At the bottom of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. The origin of Qutub Minar is shrouded in controversy. Some believe that it was built as a victory tower to signal the beginning of Muslim rule in India.

The peak of the enchanting Qutub Minar is 73 meters. Its base diameter is 14.3 m which narrows to 2.7 m at the summit. The size also includes a spiral staircase of 379 steps. The minaret consists of several different historical buildings, which together with the primary minaret, shape the Qutub Minar complex. At the same time the first 3 attests are built in pale purple sandstone, the fourth being a product of purely marble, and the 5th being a mixture of marble and sandstone.

1. The Iron Pillar located in Delhi, India, is a 7 m column in the Qutb complex.Contrary to popular belief, the Qutub Minar is not a standalone minaret. In fact, the Qutub Minar is surrounded by several great historical monuments
2. The iron pillar has stood the test of time and resisted rust since the last 2000 years. The pillar has attracted the attention of archaeologists and materials scientists.
3. Before 1974, the general public was allowed to access the top of the Minar. On December 4 1981, 45 people were killed in a stampede that followed an electricity failure that plunged the tower’s staircase into darkness.
4. Just near Qutub Minar stands the first ever mosque to be built in India. The name of this mosque translates to “The Might of Islam Mosque” in English.

📅 Last update: 2024-06-11 || ✍ Author: Sandhya Chauhan

Meet Sandhya, exploring India with curiosity and wonder. She shares info and tips in simple language, inviting you to join the journey. She is graduated in tourism and writes about the places of India.