Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar

Origin and inspiration

The origins of Qutub Minar are shoruded in controversy. Some believe that it was built as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others say it served as a minaret to the adjoining mosque and was used by the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer. However, no one disputes that the tower is not only one of the finest monuments in India, but also in the world.The main mosque comprises an inner and outer courtyard, of which the inner one is surrounded by an exquisite collonade, the pillars of which the inner one is surrounded by an exquisite collonade, the pillars of which are made of richly decorated shafts. Most of these shafts are from the 27 Hidus temples which were plundered to construct the mosque. Close to the mosque is one of Delhi's most curious structures the Iron Pillar. Dating back to 4th century A.D., the pillar bears an inscription which states that it was erected 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 highlights 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.The soaring tower of the brick tiled magic, called Qutab Minar, has become synonymous with the colonial capital of Delhi. The majestic placard of sandstone pride is ubiquitous in Delhi, and you might find it everywhere; billboards, pamphlets, tatoos, tea stalls, truck tail pieces, and apparently, in the hearts of Delhites. Nestling in the southern quarters of lush Delhi, the 237.8 ft stately tower is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afgan architecture. The architectural wonder is surrounded by a lush green manicured garden, which is a much favoured leisure pad for Delhites, and you can see people lazing out their afternoons here and there. Today, this ornate tower and a eminent member of the World Heritage Site community, leans about 60 cm off the vertical, but otherwise it has survived the ravages of time impressively. 

History
Interestingly, the construction was acknowleged as a heriditary raison d'etre by the Slave Dynasty, as the five storeyed tower was intiated by Qutab-ud-din Aibak and was later finished by his son-in-law and successor Iltutmish. All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the Minar and are supported by exquisite stalactite designs.

 The tapering tower has pointed and circular flutings on the first story round and star-shaped on the second and third stories. The bands of calligraphic inscriptions are amazing in perfection. Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari characters in different places of the Minar reveal the history of Qutub.


The Architecture
All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the Minar and are supported by exquisite stalactite designs. The tapering tower has pointed and circular flutings on the first story round and star-shaped on the second and third stories. The bands of calligraphic inscriptions are amazing in perfection. Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari characters in different places of the Minar reveal the history of Qutub. Built in red sandstone, this tower sports the inscriptions of verses of Holy Quran and some intricate carvings. We can also see the ruins of the embattlements of the city called 'Siri' here. It was established in 1303 AD by Ala-ud-Din, who dug a vast reservoir in Hauz Khas to supply water to his city. Though nothing much of the city remains to be seen, it has been described by the contemporary historians as the 'envy of Baghdad, the rival of Cairo and equal to Constantinople'. Besides these, one can also see the tomb of Adham Khan and Zafar Mahal within Qutub complex and the tomb of Jamali-Kamali behind it.

A drive through the highest minar of India   
Enter through the colossal Alai Darwaza, the erstwhile main entrance to the whole complex nestling in the south east of Qutab Minar. Look for the richly decorated facades, built in white marble and embellished with intricate geometric patterns and Arabic inscriptions.  At the foot of the Qutab Minar stands the first mosque to be built in India, the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid. Referred to as the Might of Islam Mosque, this sacred relic is a fruit of successive additions and extensions over the centuries. Walk over to the east gate and you can see an inscription over there that expounds that the original mosque was built on the foundations of a Hindu temple and the materials obtained by demolishing 27 idolatrous temples! Walk over to the west of this mosque and you will overwhelmed to see the spectacularly decorated tomb of Iltutmish, portraying an enigmatic array of exquisite carvings which virtually cover the entire interior of the 9 sq m tomb. However, the most curious that dominates the complex is undoubtedly, the mysterious Iron Pillar, situated in the voluminous courtyard of the mosque.  What the inscription on the pillar does not tell is how it was made, for the iron in the pillar is of quite exceptional purity (98%). Scientists have never discovered how iron that is so pure that it has not rusted even after 1600 years could be cast with the technology of the time. It is a popular myth that if you encircle the pillar with your hands while standing with your back to it, your wish will be fulfilled. However, you won't be able to try it, for the pillar is now protected by a fence.