Qutub Minar
The Qutub Minar in Delhi is a towering 72.5-meter-high minaret and victory tower, renowned as the tallest brick minaret in the world and an outstanding example of Indo-Islamic architecture. It was started by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1199 and completed over several centuries by successive rulers, including Iltutmish and Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who added the upper floors and restored the structure.
Historical Significance
The Qutub Minar was built to signify the beginning of Muslim rule in India after Qutb-ud-din Aibak defeated the last Hindu king of Delhi and also served as a minaret from which the call to prayer (adhan) was announced.
It is part of the larger Qutb complex, which includes the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque—India’s earliest surviving mosque—constructed using intricately carved pillars and stones from demolished Hindu and Jain temples.
The complex also houses the famous Iron Pillar of Delhi, known for its rust-resistant properties and inscriptions dating back over 1600 years, adding a unique Indian aesthetic to the site.
It is part of the larger Qutb complex, which includes the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque—India’s earliest surviving mosque—constructed using intricately carved pillars and stones from demolished Hindu and Jain temples.
The complex also houses the famous Iron Pillar of Delhi, known for its rust-resistant properties and inscriptions dating back over 1600 years, adding a unique Indian aesthetic to the site.
Architecture and Features
The minaret comprises five distinct stories, each with a projecting balcony supported by beautifully detailed brackets. The lower three stories are made of red sandstone, while the upper two incorporate white marble and sandstone mixtures.
The tower tapers from a 14.3-meter diameter at the base to just 2.7 meters at the top, with fluted shafts decorated with inscriptions in Arabic calligraphy, including verses from the Quran interwoven with floral and geometric patterns.
The architectural design blends Islamic motifs with repurposed Hindu and Jain elements, visible in the carved pillars and temple fragments incorporated into the mosque and surrounding structures.
The tower tapers from a 14.3-meter diameter at the base to just 2.7 meters at the top, with fluted shafts decorated with inscriptions in Arabic calligraphy, including verses from the Quran interwoven with floral and geometric patterns.
The architectural design blends Islamic motifs with repurposed Hindu and Jain elements, visible in the carved pillars and temple fragments incorporated into the mosque and surrounding structures.