Qutab Minar, standing with a height of 72.5 meters, is the tallest brick minaret in the world.
Qutab Minar is a major historic monument located in the Mehrauli area of New Delhi, India. The five-storied structure, being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracts millions of tourists from all around the world, every year. Now, if we go through the history, would find out that the monument was commissioned as a victory tower by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate, at the end of the 12th century. Later, Aibak’s successor Shams-ud-din Iltutmish added another three floors to the structure. Around mid-14th century, as some portions of the monument got destroyed due to the lightning, Ferozshah Tuglaq restored it and added another two floors. Now, it is considered as the symbol of the beginning of Muslim rule in India.
Here are some important facts about the Qutab Minar:
As par the historians, the monument was named after Qutb-ud-din Aibak. However, some believe that the Qutab Minar was actually named after a saint from Baghdad, Khwaja Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiar Kaki.
The Qutab Minar is an architectural masterpiece reflecting the Indo - Islamic style. It was made of brick, marble as well as red sandstone. Also, the brilliant carvings are an absolute treat to the eyes.
The construction of Qutab Minar was heavily inspired from the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan. It also got inspiration from the magnificent Rajput towers.
Inside the monument, there are 379 stairs that lead to the top floor.
The monument's diameter is 14.32 meters at the base and 2.75 meters at the top.
The structure is slightly tilted due to the renovations.
Some historians believe that the Qutab Minar was built by destroying 27 Hindu and Jain temples.
The Qutab Minar along with all the surrounding monuments such as Iron pillar, Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Alai Minar, Ala--din’s Madrasa and Tomb, the Tomb of Iltutmish, Sanderson’s Sundial etc. are called as the 'Qutab Complex'.
Quwwat-Ul-Islam, the mosque located inside the Qutab complex, is believed to be the first mosque built in India.
The nearby Iron Pillar, built by Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire, has not rusted a little in the last 2000 years. The structure is recognized as "a testament to the skill of ancient Indian blacksmiths".
Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji dreamt of building a similar tower, but double in height. He even started the construction naming it as Ala'i Minar. But it remained incomplete due to the death of Khilji. It is located near the Qutab Minar.
In 1981, there was an accident at the monument, which led around 50 people to death. Since then, it's restricted for the common people to go inside the Qutab Minar.
