India has a vast culture, interesting facts and its revelations are marvelous. Delhi is a city that defies a one-line description as the capital of India or as the capital of the world’s largest democracy. It offers a multitude of interesting places and attractions to the visitor, so much so that it becomes difficult to decide from where to begin exploring the city.
Delhi has some of the finest museums in the country. It is the central point of India’s rich tradition and historical grandeur. Delhi has a long tradition of hospitality and offers various attractions as a multi faceted tourist destination.
Located in south Delhi, Qutab Minar is one of the city’s most recognizable monuments, and a must-see attraction. It is located at a small village called Mehrauli in South Delhi and is easily accessible from all parts of Delhi.

Qutab Minar (Urdu: قطب منار) is the world’s tallest brick minaret. Soaring over 70 metres into the hazy sky, it is one of the country’s most important examples of Indo-Islamic architecture, with verses from the Quran carved into its red sandstone exterior.

History

The meaning of the word Qutab Minar is axis minaret. Considered to be the tallest tower of India, the history of Qutab Minar is quite interesting as its height. It is the highest stone tower in India and is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory.

Built by Qutabuddin Aibak; it was constructed in early 12th century and was completed by Firoz Shah Tughluq in 1368. Qutab-ud-din Aibak was the first Muslim ruler of Delhi. He commenced the construction of the Qutab Minar in 1200 AD, but could only finish the basement.
Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. The high standing tower has shafts and balconies and the walls are adorned with inscribed verses from Quran.

Tower

The Qutab Minar was built on the ruins of Lal Kot, the Red Citadel in the city of Dhillika, the capital of the Tomar and Chauhana Rajputs, the last Hindu rulers of Delhi. There are many other remarkable buildings and structures in the Qutab Minar complex, including the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the first mosque built in India.

You can even 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!

Architecture

The Qutab Minar is not only an important tourist spot in Delhi, it is also an excellent example of early Islamic architecture in India. The 238 feet Qutab Minar is 47 feet at the base and tapers to nine feet at the apex. The architectural wonder is surrounded by a lush green manicured garden.

The tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony. The first three storeys of the tower are made of red sandstone by Qutabuddin Aibak and Iltutmish and the last two storeys are made of marble by Firoz Shah Tughluq.
Qutab Minar is a red sandstone monument. At the base of Qutab Minar is an iron pillar that inexplicitly stays rust-free for the past 2000 years! The stark differences in architecture of different periods and different dynasties can be noticed in Qutab Minar. It is an Indo-Islamic architectural wonder of ancient India. It bears intricate carvings and cantos from the Holy Koran. The decoration and carvings of Qutab Minar is basically Islamic but somewhat hybrid style was visible in the later additions of Firoz Shah.
The tower was built in three stages. The staircase inside the tower to the balconies has been closed following an accident in early 1980’s when a party of school girls panicked when the lights failed and a stampede led to a number of deaths.
Heritage

The Qutab Minar is a World Heritage Site. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi. The Qutab Minar is identified with Delhi, as the Leaning Tower is associated with the city of Pisa or the Eiffel Tower with Paris. In many ways, the Qutab Minar, the first monument of Muslim rule in India, heralded the beginning of a new style of art and architecture that came to be known as the Indo-Islamic style.