Qutab Minar, the 239ft sandstone tower is an Indo-Islamic architectural wonder of ancient India. This magnificent tower of victory stands in the Qutab Complex located at Aurabindo Marg, near Mehrauli, 14 Km south of Connaught place in Delhi, India.
Qutubuddin Aibak laid the foundation of Qutab Minar, as a victory tower, in 1199 AD. Originally, it rose to a height of 72.5 m. It is undoubtedly one of the finest stone towers in India and one of the most important landmarks of Delhi. Iltutmish, the son-in-law and successor of Qutubuddin, completed its construction. Nearby, one can also see the ruins of the Tomb of Iltutmish. He built it in 1235 AD, during his own lifetime, and decorated the interiors profusely, using calligraphy. The tower tapers from a base of 14.32 m to 2.75 m at its top and took 20 years to complete.
Built in red sandstone, this tower sports the inscriptions of verses of Holy Quran and some intricate carvings. We can also see the ruins of the embattlements of the city called 'Siri' here. It was established in 1303 AD by Ala-ud-Din, who dug a vast reservoir in Hauz Khas to supply water to his city. Though nothing much of the city remains to be seen, it has been described by the contemporary historians as the 'envy of Baghdad, the rival of Cairo and equal to Constantinople'. Besides these, one can also see the tomb of Adham Khan and Zafar Mahal within Qutub complex and the tomb of Jamali-Kamali behind it.
The southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque was constructed by Ala-ud-Din Khalji in AD 1311. The gateway is the example of the use of horseshoe arch and true dome for the first time. This is the first building, which employed Islamic principles of construction and ornamentation.
Situated in the courtyard of the Quwwatu'l-Islam, the famous Iron Pillar belongs to 4th century. It is enclosed in the Qutub Minar complex of New Delhi. The Sanskrit inscription in Gupta script and the peculiar style of its 'Amalaka' capital confirms the date.
Qutub Minar Legends
There a number of legends related to the Qutub Minar of New Delhi. Some people believe that the monument was actually built by Prithviraj Chauhan, so that his daughter could behold the sacred river Yamuna from its top as part of her daily worship.
Qutub Minar Blues According to the inscriptions on Qutub Minar, it was twice struck by the lightning and was damaged. The first incidence occurred in 1326, during the reign of Muhammed Tughluq.
The mosque known as Quwwatu'l-Islam Masjid is located adjacent to Qutub Minar in Delhi. It is believed to have been built using the carved stone slabs and materials of the remains of Hindu Temples. Delicate brocade designs and Islamic inscription adorn this structure.
Tomb of Iltutmish
Built by Shamsu'd-Din Iltutmish himself in 1235, the tomb of Iltutmish lies to the northwest of the Quwwatu'l Islam Mosque of New Delhi. Though, there was a gap of only five years between the constructions of Sultan Ghauri's tomb and this tomb.
During the summers the average maximum temperature is 40°C and minimum temperature is 25ºC. The monsoon arrives the city in early July and continues till the end of September.
The temperature in winters varies between 21°C to 5°C. January is the coldest month when the temerature drops to a minimum of 0 °C.
For Sightseeing, the best season to visit Delhi is between October to March. Summers in Delhi are very hot and it is not recommended to visit it during May, June or July.
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