What are the historical facts of Qutub Minar ?

Qutub Minar has a Decorative Light Show every evening from 6:30 to 8pm as well as the Qutub Minar Festival in October/November

It is considered to be the Tower of Victory, built by Qutubuddin Aibak in the 12th century to mark the end of rule by the last Hindu Kingdom.

The Qutub Minar is nearly 73m high and tapers from a 15m-diameter base to a mere 2.5m at the top. It has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone, the 4th and 5th storeys are of marble and sandstone. Qutb-ud-din built the first three and his son-in-law Iltutmish embellished these and added a fourth.

The Qutub Minar was built in three stages by three rulers of Delhi (Qutab-ud-din Aibak built one storey followed by his successor, Shams-ud-din Iltutmishwho built three storeys more and finally Firoze Shah Tughlak who built the final and fifth storey) and was finally completed in the 14th century, may be that’s why it tilts a little!

There has to be a reason why a simple-brick-minaret is visited by millions of people every year. But we have more than a few reasons why it enjoys the status of being one of the must-visit tourist attractions in Delhi.

This is indicated in some of the Persian and Nagari (North Indian) inscriptions which also record that it was twice damaged by lightning in 1326 and 1368. While repairing the damage caused by the second, Firoz Shah Tughluq added a fifth storey and used marble to face the red and buff sandstone.

There is a mosque called Quwwat-Ul-Islam, built in the same compound as the minaret. Though in ruins, it is noted to be the first mosque built in India

This was the first time contrasting colours were used decoratively, later to become such a feature of Mughal buildings. Firoz’s fifth storey was topped by a graceful cupola but this fell down during an earthquake in 1803. A new one was added by a Major Robert Smith in 1829 but was so out of keeping that it was removed in 1848 and now stands in the gardens.

Standing tall at 73 m, the Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are 379 stairs inside the minaret to reach the top.

At the foot of the Qutub Minar stands the first mosque to be built in India, known as Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid (The Might of Islam Mosque). Also constructed in 1193, with various additions over the centuries, and completed in 1198, this building symbolises in stone the ascendance of one religious power over another

1. Standing tall at 73 m, the Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is also the first Indian monument to have an E-ticket facility. The entry fee to look at this magnificent minaret is Rs 10.

The original mosque was built on the foundations of a Hindu temple, and an inscription over the east gate states that it was built with materials obtained from demolishing ‘27 idolatrous temples’ – it’s possible to see many Hindu and Jain elements in the decoration. Hindu motifs, such as bells and garlands, are clearly visible on the pillars of this mosque.

This minaret is definitely one of India’s assets, not only has it survived damages from an earthquake from the 16th century, it has also survived being struck by lightnings twice in the 14th century.

2. It is considered to be the Tower of Victory, built by Qutubuddin Aibak in the 12th century to mark the end of rule by the last Hindu Kingdom.

Qutb-ud-din’s screen formed the façade of the mosque and, facing in the direction of Mecca, became the focal point. The sandstone screen is carved in the Indo-Islamic style, lotuses mingling with Koranic calligraphy. The later screenwork and other extensions (1230) are fundamentally Islamic in style, the flowers and leaves having been replaced by more arabesque patterns

In the 19th century, there was a sixth storey to be added to the minar, a cupola, which was brought down since it didn’t look appealing. You can visit the cupol

It is considered to be the Tower of Victory, built by Qutubuddin Aibak in the 12th century to mark the end of rule by the last Hindu Kingdom.

3. The Qutub Minar was built in three stages by three rulers of Delhi (Qutab-ud-din Aibak built one storey followed by his successor, Shams-ud-din Iltutmishwho built three storeys more and finally Firoze Shah Tughlak who built the final and fifth storey) and was finally completed in the 14th century, may be that’s why it tilts a little!

Indian builders mainly used stone, which from the fourth century AD had been intricately carved with representations of the gods. In their first buildings in India the Muslim architects designed the buildings and local Indian craftsmen built them and decorated them with typical motifs such as the vase and foliage, tasselled ropes, bells and cows.

There is a 2,000 years old iron pillar in the complex that hasn’t rusted in over two centuries.

4. There is a mosque called Quwwat-Ul-Islam, built in the same compound as the minaret. Though in ruins, it is noted to be the first mosque built in India.

The Qutub Minar was built in three stages by three rulers of Delhi (Qutab-ud-din Aibak built one storey followed by his successor, Shams-ud-din Iltutmishwho built three storeys more and finally Firoze Shah Tughlak who built the final and fifth storey) and was finally completed in the 14th century, may be that’s why it tilts a little!

The mosque was enlarged twice. In 1230 Qutb-ud-din’s son-in-law and successor, Shamsuddin Iltutmish, doubled its size by extending the colonnades and prayer hall – ‘Iltutmish’s extension’. This accommodated a larger congregation, and in the more stable conditions of Iltutmish’s reign, Islam was obviously gaining ground