Location : Located 15-km South Of New Delhi, 204
km from Agra and 300 km from Jaipur.
Qutub Minar
Qutab-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, begun the construction
of the Qutub Minar in A.D. 1193, but was only complete its basement. His
successor, Iltutmush added three more stories, and in 1368 Firoz Shah Tuglak
constructed the fifth and the last storey. The development of architectural
art & styles from Aibak to Tuglak are quite obvious in the minar.
Qutub Minar is 72.5 metres high and one has to climb 379 steps to get to
the top. The diameter of the base is 14.3 metres while the top floor
measures 2.7 metres in diameter. The purpose of making this beautiful
monument is not very clear as some believe that it was raised as a tower of
victory to show the beginning of the Muslim rule in India, while others say
it served as a minaret to the mosque adjoining it and was used by the
muezzins to call people to the prayer.
Qutub Minar is the highest stone tower as well as one of the finest Islamic
structures ever raised in India. The main mosque boasts of an inner and
outer courtyard, of which the inner one is surrounded by an exquisite
collonade, the pillars, which are made of finely decorated shafts.
Near to the mosque is one of Delhi's most interested structures the Iron
Pillar, dating back to 4th century A.D.. The pillar exhibits an inscription
which states that it was raised as a flagstaff in honour of the Hindu god,
Vishnu, and in the memory of the Gupta King Chandragupta II (375-413). How
the pillar moved to its present location remains a mystery. The pillar also
projects ancient India's achievements in metallurgy. The pillar is made of
98 per cent wrought iron and has stood 1,600 years without rusting or
decomposing.
How to Reach Qutub MInar
Delhi is the chief international gateway to India from any part of the
world. Delhi is also a major centre for domestic travel, with extensive
road, rail and air connections. One can easily reach Delhi by any means of
transport.
