Qutub Minar and its Monuments, Delhi

Qutub Minar, with a height of about 72.5m and a diameter of 14.32m at the base and 2.75m at the top, stands as the highest tower in India. The distinguishing colour of red sandstone and its astonishing height makes it visible from a distance. The initial foundation of Qutub Minar was laid down by Qutub u’d Din Aibak in the year of 1199. However Qutub u’d-Din Aibak could only complete the first floor in his lifetime and the remaining three floors were built by his son-in law, who was also his successor, Shamsu’d-Din Iltutmish (AD 1211-36). Qutub Minar was built with the sole purpose of helping the mu’azzin in giving the prayer calls for Namaz. On all the floors projecting balconies are encircling the Minar which adds to its beauty.

One could get to know of the significant history of the Minar from the inscription on the walls of the minar. These inscriptions are primarily in two characters that is Arabic and Nagari. The inscriptions reveal that the frayed surface of the Minar was renovated by Firoz Shah Tughlaq along with Sikandar Lodi. In addition to them some credit of the restorations of the Minar also goes to Major R. Smith in the year of 1829. There are many prominent monuments in close proximity to the tallest Minar of the country like Quwwat-ul-islam Mosque, The Iron Pillar, the Tomb of Iltutmish, Ala’i-Darwaza and the Ala’i Minar. There are many other remains in the complex of Qutub Minar like graves, mosque, tombs and madrasa and these add to the prominence of the Minar.

Each of these structures in the Qutab Minar complex is marked by their distinguishing architectural features and their individual stories that are found in the inscriptions. Qutub Minar each year attracts huge flocks of tourists. It was rightly declared as a World Heritage Site in the year of 1993.