Qutub Minar-History, Complex and tour

Facts about “Qutb Minar” (a minaret), Qutub Complex in Delhi, India, from a tourist point of view.

Qutb Minar is a victory tower started to build by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in the end of 12th century AD. Qutub Minar and Qutub complex is one of the most visited places by tourists today (foreigners and Indians alike). This historical site has been inscribed in the list of World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.

Area of Qutub complex:

Qutub Complex is a smaller complex of few kilometers in area, within the larger Mehrauli Archaeological Park, situated in New Delhi, India. Qutub complex contains many beautiful architectural and monumental structures of historical value, the most prominent being Qutub Minar (a minaret), Quwwatul-Islam Mosque of 12^th Century A D, and Alai Darwaza (a gate) of 14^th century AD.

The structures and monuments in the Qutub Complex, that you can see and visit, are mentioned below:

1. Caravan Sarai (Caravanserai, a temporary lodging for traders)
2. Mughal Masjid (Mosque)
3. Qutb Minar (Qutb Minaret)
4. Alai Darwaza Gate
5. Mausoleum of Imam Zamin
6. Qubbat-ul-Islam Mosque
7. Mausoleum of Alauddin Khalji
8. Madrasa (School and college)
9. Iron Pillar
10. Mausoleum of Iltutmish
11. Alai Minar (Aali Minaret) and the Well
12. Fauna, Flora and parks

#1. Caravanserai (Sarai):

As you enter the gate of Qutub premises, there is a caravanserai on your right side. As per the historians, this part of the complex was built during 17th century by Mughal Emperor. This structure contains beautiful arches of Islamic architecture. This was situated en-route of trade and business in past. It was quite big in size and used to provide temporary night stay for the traders. There were tents for the sleeping and resting purposes of traders with few attendants, providing the services of food to traders and grasses and fodders to their camels, oxen, bulls and horses. This caravanserai was like a motel of modern day. You can see a beautifully maintained green park, spreading in front of the caravanserai, even today.

• You may like to read history and tour of Jama Masjid, New Delhi.

#2. Mughal Mosque:

Mughal Mosque, next to Caravanserai, is a small but beautiful mosque with three domes on its top. This was built in 17^th century AD by Mughals, to provide a place of prayer for traders (some of traders being Muslims). This mosque was also used by locals in past. This mosque is in use, even today, by locals as well as the Muslim tourists visiting the Qutb complex for offering Namaz.

#3.Facts about Qutub Minar:

The Most important and beautiful building is the Qutub Minar (Qutb Minaret)in this complex. The Qutub Minar is also known as Qutb Minar and it was started to build in late 12^th century AD by Qutb-ud-din Aibak (the ruler of Mamluk Dynasty). This was completed during early 13^th century by his other successors.

The height of this red sandstone minaret or tower is 72.5 meter from the surface, tapering from a diameter of 14.32 meter at its base to 2.75 meter in diameter at its top. This is built with alternating angular and rounded flute shape.

The Qutub minaret has five tiers from bottom to top having verses and texts from Holy Quran in Arabic language inscribed on stone. The fourth tier has rich white marble stones adding in its beauty from outside.

Inside the minaret there is a spiral staircase with 379 steps, leading to top floor.  The Qutb Minar is one of the finest and oldest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture in Indian subcontinent.

The Qutub Minar is the most attractive building among all of Qutub complex, standint bold, intact and tall tower. It a masterpiece of the time, reflecting the architectural skills of Indo-Islamic. This tower was the expression of Mamluk kingdom’s power of that time too. If you take an aerial view of Qubt Minar at a perpendicular angle, it looks like blooming rose flower in a red colored sandstone.

Later on, Akbar the Great (a Mughal Emperor) built a gate named Buland Darwaza, at Fatehpur Sikri in 16th century, near Agra in U.P. The Buland Darwaza was built to  commemorate the victory over Gujarat.

Just imagine travelling back in 12th century AD, when there was no means of modern transport like truck, crane, lift.  And the workers are loading the heavy pieces of stones and transporting them using elephants, horses, camels,  donkeys, oxen carts with wooden wheel on rough and rocky roads. The engineers and masons are working with their simple tools and gadgets. Artisans and other people are putting their all efforts and energy to build this tower. Is it not a magnificent masterpiece and result of team work? However, this construction project of Qutub minaret and other structures of  this complex provided jobs to hundreds of working class people in those days, indeed.

#4. Alai Darwaza(Gate):

Very close to Qutb Minar, there is Alai Darwaza. The name Alai is derived from Alauddin, since this gate was built by Alauddin Khilji (a ruler). A dome on top and carvings on the gate are  most important part of this structure. This is earliest dome survived intact in Delhi. This magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate is the masterpiece of Indo-Islamic art and was built in 1311 AD.

Alai Darwaza is huge, grand and beautiful. It is built at the Southern entrance gate of Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in red sandstone and inter-lacing white marble with a beautifully shaped dome on top. This is a magnificent example of the fusion of Indo-Islamic architecture survived intact in whole of Indian-Subcontinent. Arabic verses and text can be seen inscribed on marble and sandstone on gate arch. Alai Darwaza is an example of architectural craftsmanship with amazing floral, decorative with Arabic verses.

#5. Mausoleum of Imam Zamin:

Tomb of Imam Zamin built in 16^th century AD, is situated on the left hand side as you enter the Alai Darwaza. His name was Muhammad Ali, popularly known as Imam Zamin. He was an Islamic scholar and a cleric, famous among the people of Delhi. His mausoleum is made from red sandstone and marble and a dome on top housing the tomb. The work of fine and beautiful jaalikari and carved ventilators on the wall is wonderful.

#6. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque:

Quwwat-ul-Islam or originally Qubt-al-Islam (Dome of Islam) as per the historians, built by King Qutb-ud-din Aibak, same ruler who built the Qutb Minaret. It was begun in 1193 by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the first Sultan of Delhi. Qutub-ud-Din Aibak was the founder of the Slave or Mamluk Dynasty. Further additions to the mosque were done by successive rulers of Delhi in 13^th and 14^th centuries. This Mosque is the earliest biggest surviving mosque in India. With the passage of time, it is gradually getting damaged due to effect of weather.

Quwwatul-Islam mosque was built on the site of Rai Piathora’s Brahmin temple using the spoil from 24 other temples. Carved temples’ motifs can be found on the stone walls and pillars of mosque like tasseled ropes, bells, tendrils, cows and leaves. It can be traced on the recycled masonry around the mosque including inscribed Arabic verses of Quran.

Later on with a major screen work and other extensions were added in this mosque by another ruler, Iltutumish in 1230. This work is fundamentally Islamic in design for example, the diapered arabesque patterns and Quranic inscriptions.

#7. Mausoleum of Ala-ud-Din Khalji:

Alauddin’s tomb is located in left corner of the Qutub complex near a college of 13^th century AD. Alauddin Khalji was king of Khalji Dynasty of Delhi Sultanate and ruled from 1296 to 1316. He is known for his positive reforms in administration, revenue collection, fair trade and price control. He also introduced a controlled and transparent measurement system of weight and length and the same was made to follow strictly.

#8: Madrasa (School):

A Madrasa or a  school was built in 13^th century AD, located near the Mausoleum of Alauddin Khalji. This madrasa was used by students of royal family as well as some common people. Students received education here from basic to higher level. The subjects like Mathematics, astrology, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Islamic theology and Unani system of medicines were taught here. The language of education was Persian and Arabic. Most of the teachers were from Iran and other parts of central Asian region.

#9. Iron Pillar:

A pillar totally made of iron stands intact in the Qutub Minar Complex, even today. This unique pillar was brought to Delhi from Udayagiri in 13^th century AD, a distance of about 2000 kilometers. This Iron pillar is 7.2 meters high (23 feet 8 inches) with 40.64 centimeter (16 inches) in diameter. This pillar was constructed in 4^th century AD by Chandragupta II during Gupta Period (according to latest research). Chandragupta II was also known as Vikramaditya and was a powerful and able ruler. He ruled from 375-415 AD (as per the study of historians). This iron pillar is famous for its rust-resistant composition of the metals used in it.

Credit should be given to those too, who saved and protected this pillar for last hundreds of years, eventually handed over to present generation. The iron of Iron pillar could have been used and forged into swords, arrows, knives, pears and other weapons, the most demanded and majorly required weapons of war during those days.

#10.Mausoleum of Iltutmish:

Mausoleum or Tomb of Shamsuddin Iltutmish is situated in far right corner of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque separated with a wall from the mosque. Iltutmish was the third Sultan of Mamluk Dynasty in Delhi. During his 26 years of rule from 1211 AD to 1236, he expanded his territory and was an able and energetic ruler.

This is interesting to note that, he himself ordered to construct a tomb for him within the Qutb Minar complex. After his death his body rests there where he wanted.

Mausoleum of Iltutmish is built in red sandstone with beautiful inscriptions of verses from Quran in Arabic and floral carvings like lotus flower, creepers and kalash. This is an extraordinary example of Indo-Islamic art. His main tomb is made from the white marble.

#11. Alai Minar (minaret):

You will find another partially constructed minaret when you visit Qutub Minaret. This is known as Alai Minar. Alauddin Khalji wanted to build another minaret, but larger and taller than that of Qutb Minar.

The construction was started, and reached 24.5 meter high (80 feet), meanwhile Alauddin Khalji died in 1316. This is an uncompleted minaret. Alai Minaret, as per the measurement of the foundation, archaeologist perceived that, it was almost double in size and height if completed compared to Qutb Minar.

After his death, none of his successors followed the work to complete this project. You can see uncompleted Alai Minar in boulder masonry unfinished, without the cover of polished and carved stones.

Close to this uncompleted minaret there is an old well. It was quite deep and water of this well was used for drinking, cooking and other purposes. This well was in use till mid 20^th century. Now it is half filled with leaves and other wastes and does not contain water.

• If you are interested you can follow this YouTube link to watch a short video documentary on Qutb Complex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXzqsDZrz-o

#12 Fauna and Flora in Qutb Minar Complex:

The complex is quite spacious and green, with its amazing monuments. You can find big and green deciduous trees like banyan tree, neem tree, Ashoka tree, babul tree including some other species as well. There are two big parks in front of Quwwat-ul-Islam masjid with green carpet grass and flowers.

The Qutb complex with greenery and trees, provides shelter to many human friendly animals and birds like parrots, pigeons, crows, Indian squirrels. If you are lucky enough while on tour to this site, you can see beautiful peacocks roaming around.

So, I will recommend you to visit the Qutub Minar. Located on the outskirts of Delhi, it is easily accessible part of Indian Capital. Qutub Complex is maintained and managed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). This complex is listed as world heritage site by UNESCO.https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/233.

Opening Time of Qutub Minar:

Qutub Complex site opens from sunrise to sunset, all days of the year.

If you are coming to visit this site, do not forget to bring your good quality camera to click some amazing pictures.

We must appreciate the efforts and care of people and rulers who protected, preserved and saved these legacies and valuable monuments for us that we see and explore today. We must protect for our future generations too.

Qutub Minar Location on Google Map: