Qutab Minar, Delhi

The Tomb of Iltumish is part of the Qutb Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Monument, which along with other monuments, tombs, and mosques make up the Qutb Minar Complex, all of which are located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park.

Built in 1235 the ornate tomb lies in the northwest of the complex, midway along the wall of the Quwwatu'l-Islam Mosque. The tomb sits on a raised platform in the center of a square chamber of red sandstone. It is the first surviving tomb of a Muslim ruler in India.

Hindus, who had been practicing cremation since 400BC found the idea of a tomb quite alien. Blending both Muslim and Hindu styles, the exterior - with 3 arched and decorated doorways - is very plain. Inside is a marble mihrab (prayer niche) and beautiful Islamic carvings cover the lower part of the interior.

Allow a couple of hours to explore the Qutb Complex.

Open: Sunrise to Sunset

Admission: Indians Rs 10, Foreigners Rs 250, Children 15 and under free

Video Filming Fee: Rs 25 (Non-commercial)

The Iron Pillar stands in the Qutb Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Monument, which along with other monuments, tombs, and mosques make up the Qutb Minar Complex, all of which are located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park.

The Iron Pillar is 7m high with almost 1m below ground. It was fashioned sometime in the 4th century as a flagstaff in Vishnu's honor and was topped with an image of the Hindu bird god, Garuda. It is said that the pillar is from one of temples that was destroyed (and used to build Quwwatu'l-Islam).

What is most unusual about the pillar is that it is still extraordinarily rust-free. It was made of 98% pure iron. Iron that pure could not be replicated until the end of the 19th century. This has puzzled metallurgists for centuries. There are many theories as to why the pillar has not rusted. My favorite is that it was frequently annointed with ghee (clairified butter).

There is a theory that anyone who can encircle the pillar with their hands behind their back will have their wishes granted. Unfortunately since the pillar is enclosed by a small fence, we were not able to test that out!

Allow a couple of hours to explore the Qutb Complex.

Open: Sunrise to Sunset

Admission: Indians Rs 10, Foreigners Rs 250, Children 15 and under free

Video Filming Fee: Rs 25 (Non-commercial)

3 more images

The Quwwatul-Islam (Might of Islam) Masjid is one of the Qutb Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Monument, which along with other monuments, tombs, and mosques make up the Qutb Minar Complex, all of which are located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park.

Quwwatul-Islam Masjid is the ealiest surviving mosque in India. Construction began in 1193 and was complete in 1197. It was built with materials from 27 Hindu and Jain temples. It has a 43m x 32m courtyard, cloisters, and a prayer hall. The five arches in front of the prayer hall give the bulding its Islamic character. But I thought it was the carved columns that were the most fanstastic feature of the mosque.

Allow a couple of hours to explore the Qutb Complex.

Open: Sunrise to Sunset

Admission: Indians Rs 10, Foreigners Rs 250, Children 15 and under free

Video Filming Fee: Rs 25 (Non-commercial)

2 more images

The Qutb Minar (Qutb Group of Monuments) is a UNESCO World Heritage Monument, which along with other monuments, tombs, and mosques make up the Qutb Minar Complex, all of which are located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park.

At five storeys and just over 72m high, the Qutb Minar is India's highest single tower. It has a diameter of 14.4m at its base and tapers to 2.7m in diameter at the top. The fluted red and buff sandstone tower is covered with intricate carvings and inscribed verses from the Koran.

Work was begun around 1200. It was considered Qutb-ud-din-Aibak's victory tower signifying the advent of Muslim dominance of Delhi - and much of India. Different sources credit Qutb-ud-din-Aibak with being responsible for either 1 or 3 of the 5 storeys. Either 3 or 1 were/was built by his son-in-law and successor, Iltutmish.

The tower was damaged by lightning twice; the first time in 1326 and the second time in 1368. It was during repairs the second time that Firoz Shah Tughlug added the fifth storey. He also added marble to face the sandstone. Using contrasting colors decoratively in this way would later become a feature of Mughal buildings.

Today the tower/complex is one of Delhi's most famous landmarks with millions of visitors each year. The Minar has wonderful colors and beautiful carvings. I really loved exploring the complex. Allow a couple of hours to wander the complex.

Open: Sunrise to Sunset

Admission: Indians Rs 10, Foreigners Rs 250, Children 15 and under free

Video Filming Fee: Rs 25 (Non-commercial)

1 more image

Though, it is believed that the Qutab Minar was built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the Sultan of Delhi from The Slave Dynasty, but Archeologists have found it's presence much before the Invaders from Persia and Central Asia came to Delhi. The Iron Pillar in the courtyard proves this theory.

The Iron Pillar in the courtyard bears an inscription in Sanskrit in Brahmi script of 4th century AD, according to which the pillar was set up as a Vishnudhvaja (standard of Lord Vishnu) on the hill known as Vishnupada in memory of a mighty king named Chandra. A deep socket on the top of the ornate capital indicates that probably an image of Garuda was fixed into it.

It is also a popular belief that if you are able to encircle the pillar from back with your hands, you will have happiness of the world. I tried and failed as my hands are shorter, may be our Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan has succeeded , he is 6'2" and perhaps have all the happiness the world can give. He is becoming grandpa soon!

3 more images

The Qutub Minar is a tower located in Delhi, India. It is the world's tallest brick minaret with a height of 72.5 meters (237.8 ft). Construction commenced by Qutb-ud-din Aibak ( of Slave Dynasty, who was also the first Moslem Ruler of Delhi) who won Delhi from Prithviraj under Muhammad Ghori as his commander in chief, and finished by Iltutmish. The Qutub Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, collectively known as Qutub complex.

many rich and famous also have their farm houses near the Qutab complex.

4 more images

This large complex was my introduction to Mughal architecture, and Indian history. Fortunately we had an excellent guide who didn't fill us with dry facts, but brought the site alive. The site has several distinct parts, but I'll deal first with the one which gives the site its name.
Qubt -ud-din Aibak built the stone tower in about 1193-99. The tower has five distinct storeys, each with a projecting balcony. The diameter at the base is 15 metres, and the top 2.5 metres. The tower is 72 metres high. It was probably a minaret.

Entry is 250 rupees, cameras free but video camera 25 rupee

2 more images

This religious acropolis was commissioned by Qutb al-Din Aibak in 1193, soon after he conquered the Delhi area. He chose the existing Rajput citadel Lal Kot, which he renamed Qila Rai Pithora and made it his base and the capital of the Delhi Sultanate when it was established in 1206. This was the first of the eight iterations of the city of Delhi in the centuries to come and the Qutb Minar complex was its religious and political centre. Its most famous feature is the magnificent triumphal tower, known as Qutb Minar, which was the nominal minaret of the grand mosque of the city, Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid. Initially, materials from pre-existing Hindu and Jain temples were used in the construction, thus creating a sort of synthesis between two different styles, but later expansions were more Islamic in character, albeit enhanced by Hindu workmanship. The complex began to decline in importance in 1303 when the capital of the Delhi Sultanate was moved a short distance further north by the Aladdin Khilji, who built the second iteration of Delhi, known as Siri. Despite the move, Qutb Minar retained its religious importance for several following centuries. As the earliest example of Islamic architecture in Delhi, one which saw a stunning fusion of Hindu with Islamic architectural concepts and which laid the foundation for the blossoming of Islamic architecture later in India, the Qutb Minar complex has been inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. If visiting with plenty of time, there are numerous other noteworthy historic tombs and mosques in the vicinity of the complex and in the village of Mehrauli.