Qutb Minar
Standing proudly in the heart of Delhi, the Qutb Minar is much more than just a tall tower—it's a colossal stone narrative of conquest, cultural fusion, and artistic evolution. This UNESCO World Heritage Site tells a sweeping story of India's past, intricately carved into its towering sandstone and marble. Join us as we explore the layers of history and architectural brilliance that define this iconic landmark. The Qutb Minar was conceived as a symbol of early Islamic rule in India, built upon the ruins of previous empires and incorporating elements of different cultures. Its unique architecture represents a fascinating synthesis of traditional Islamic design and local Indian craftsmanship, evolving over centuries and various rulers. Beyond its historical origins, the Minar has endured natural disasters, colonial interventions, and modern controversies, solidifying its place as an enduring monument to India's complex heritage.
AI Summary
Standing proudly in the heart of Delhi, the Qutb Minar is much more than just a tall tower—it's a colossal stone narrative of conquest, cultural fusion, and artistic evolution. This UNESCO World Heritage Site tells a sweeping story of India's past, intricately carved into its towering sandstone and marble. Join us as we explore the layers of history and architectural brilliance that define this iconic landmark.
- The Qutb Minar was conceived as a symbol of early Islamic rule in India, built upon the ruins of previous empires and incorporating elements of different cultures.
- Its unique architecture represents a fascinating synthesis of traditional Islamic design and local Indian craftsmanship, evolving over centuries and various rulers.
- Beyond its historical origins, the Minar has endured natural disasters, colonial interventions, and modern controversies, solidifying its place as an enduring monument to India's complex heritage.
A Towering Welcome to a New Era
Our journey begins in the late 12th century, with the formidable Qutb Minar rising from the ancient city of Lal Kot, the oldest fortified settlement of Delhi. This isn't just a minaret for calling to prayer; it was originally conceived as a 'victory tower' — a monumental declaration of the beginning of Islamic rule in India.
After a decisive victory over Prithviraj Chauhan, the last Hindu ruler of Delhi, Qutab-ud-din Aibak — founder of the Delhi Sultanate — initiated its construction in 1199. However, he only managed to complete the first of its towering levels before his untimely death.
The baton of construction then passed through the hands of successive dynasties. Aibak's successor, Iltutmish, added three more stories, and centuries later, Firuz Shah Tughlaq rebuilt its damaged upper parts and crowned it with a distinctive cupola. Each ruler left their indelible mark, literally layering history onto its impressive facade.
An Architectural Beacon
The Qutb Minar stands at a remarkable 72.5 meters (238 feet), making it the tallest brick minaret in the world. Its tapering form, with a base diameter of 14.3 meters narrowing to just 2.7 meters at the top, houses a dizzying spiral staircase of 379 steps.
The tower's design is strikingly similar to the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, built a decade earlier. Both share an elaborate surface decoration of intricate inscriptions and geometric patterns, hinting at a shared architectural lineage in the wider Islamic world.
Yet, the Qutb Minar is distinctly Indian. Unlike typical Middle Eastern minarets often attached to a mosque, this one stands detached, a testament to the slow adoption of the minaret form in South Asia and the influence of local architectural traditions.
Indeed, scholars like Ved Parkash call it the 'earliest and best example of a fusion or synthesis of Hindu-Muslim traditions.' This blending is evident in the materials, techniques, and decorative motifs, influenced by local Indic temples.
Many of the craftsmen who built the Minar were Hindu laborers, working under the guidance of Muslim architects. This unique collaboration resulted in a structure that harmonizes both Hindu and Islamic religious architectural styles, sometimes even leading to a compilation of disarranged Quranic texts in its inscriptions, as craftsmen were unfamiliar with the Arabic.
Layers of Time, Stone by Stone
The Qutb Minar is not a solitary monument but the centerpiece of the Qutb complex, built upon the ruins of earlier structures. Its construction began shortly after the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, making it one of the earliest extant mosques built by the Delhi Sultans.
The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque itself tells a powerful story. It was constructed using the carved columns and architectural members of 27 demolished Jain and Hindu temples, a practice that literally embedded the past into the new Islamic structures.
Within the mosque complex, stands the enigmatic Iron Pillar, an even older marvel. Dating back to the 4th century CE, this pillar bears a Sanskrit inscription in Brahmi script, commemorating a mighty king named Chandra. Its rust-resistant iron composition remains a metallurgical mystery to this day.
The Minar's name itself carries a slight historical ambiguity. While commonly attributed to Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who started it, some scholars suggest it might be named after the revered 13th-century Sufi saint, Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a devotee of whom Iltutmish was.
Survival Through Centuries
The Qutb Minar has weathered more than just the passage of time. Earthquakes have repeatedly tested its resilience. In 1505, Sikander Lodi oversaw significant repairs after one such tremor, securing its survival for another era.
However, a major earthquake in 1803 caused severe damage. A British engineer, Major Robert Smith, undertook a grand restoration in 1828, even adding an ill-advised pillared cupola to the fifth story. This addition was later deemed architecturally inappropriate and removed in 1848.
That misplaced cupola, known colloquially as 'Smith's Folly,' now rests on the ground east of the Minar, a quirky footnote in its long history of repairs and architectural adjustments.
A Stacked Story
Each of the Qutb Minar's five stories boasts a unique character, reflecting the different rulers and construction periods. The lowest, or basement story, completed under the Ghurid Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, is a masterpiece of intricate detail.
This basement level is adorned with twelve semicircular and twelve flanged pilasters, alternating in rhythm. Beautiful Muqarnas corbels — a form of stalactite vaulting — support the storied balconies, while six horizontal bands bear inscriptions in elegant Naskh script, including verses from the Quran and tributes to its early patrons.
The second and third stories, added by Iltutmish, largely echo the intricate fluted and semicircular pilasters of the basement, maintaining a visual continuity. However, the fourth story underwent a dramatic transformation.
Originally similar to the lower levels, the fourth story was damaged by lightning in 1369. Firuz Shah Tughlaq then reconstructed it, reducing its size and dividing it into two distinct stories. These upper levels are characterized by their plainer white marble, a stark contrast to the red sandstone below.
A Tower of Caution
For decades, the Qutb Minar welcomed visitors to climb its internal staircase, offering breathtaking views of Delhi. However, a series of tragic incidents ultimately led to its closure to the public.
On December 4, 1981, disaster struck. A power outage plunged the interior staircase into darkness, triggering a panic among the 300-400 visitors inside. A stampede ensued, tragically claiming the lives of 45 people, many of them schoolchildren.
Since that devastating event, public access to the Minar's interior has been strictly prohibited. Today, we can only admire its exterior, a poignant reminder of its beauty and the solemn respect it now commands.
Enduring Inspiration
Despite its long and occasionally troubled history, the Qutb Minar continues to inspire. It has served as a prototype for countless other minarets and towers across India, including the Chand Minar and Mini Qutub Minar, bearing witness to its enduring architectural legacy.
Even in modern times, it remains a focal point for international diplomacy and cultural celebration. Its facade has been illuminated with the colors of various national flags, from Mexico to Turkey, marking significant historical anniversaries and strengthening global ties. The Qutb Minar, truly, is a monument that bridges centuries and cultures.
Article
Qutb Minar
The Qutb Minar, also spelled Qutub Minar and Qutab Minar, is a minaret and victory tower, built during the Delhi sultanate, and comprising the Qutb complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mehrauli, South Delhi, India. It was mostly built between 1199 and 1220, contains 399 steps, and is one of the most-frequented heritage spots in the city. After defeating Prithviraj Chauhan, the last Hindu ruler of Delhi before the Ghurid conquest of the region, Qutab-ud-din Aibak initiated the construction of the victory tower, but only managed to finish the first level. It was to mark the beginning of Islamic rule in the region. Successive dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate continued the construction, and, in 1368, Firuz Shah Tughlaq rebuilt the top parts and added a cupola.
It can be compared to the 62-metre all-brick Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, of c. 1190, which was constructed a decade or so before the probable start of the Delhi tower. The surfaces of both are elaborately decorated with inscriptions and geometric patterns. The Qutb Minar has a shaft that is fluted with "superb stalactite bracketing under the balconies" at the top of each stage. In general, minarets were slow to be used in India and are often detached from the main mosque where they exist.
Architecture
Qutb Minar
The tower includes elements of traditional Islamic architecture and southwestern Asian design. Elizabeth Lambourn's Islam Beyond Empires: Mosques and Islamic Landscapes in India and the Indian Ocean studies the introduction of Islam in South Asia and how the region influenced the Islamic religious architecture. These newly arrived Muslims from the Islamic West escaped the Mongol Empire and emigrated to India, where they constructed religious centers. The Qutb Minar serves as a central marker to these new Muslim communities as well as being a reminder of Islam's presence in the area. The architecture of the minaret varies greatly from that of the typical style and design of the mosques constructed in the Middle East. The style of these structures is influenced by the local architecture such as the Indic temples. This affected the different materials, techniques, and decoration that were used in the construction of the Qutb Minar.
Historically, tower minarets were uncommon in South Asian-Islamic design until the 17th century, due to the slow adoption of the typical Middle Eastern style in India. It is also detached from the main mosque, showcasing how the native culture affected the design of a Middle Eastern structure. The Qutb Minar is seen as the "earliest and best example of a fusion or synthesis of Hindu-Muslim traditions" according to Ved Parkash in his essay The Qutb Minar from Contemporary and Near Contemporary Sources. Like many mosques built in South Asia during this time period, the minaret was constructed by Hindu laborers and craftsmen but overseen by Muslim architects. This led to a construction that synthesized both Hindu and Islamic religious architecture. Since some of the craftsmen were Hindu and unfamiliar with the Quran, the inscriptions are a compilation of disarranged Quranic texts and other Arabic expressions.
History
Qutb Minar
The Qutb Minar was built over the ruins of the Lal Kot, the citadel of Dhillika. Qutb Minar was begun after the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. Drawing references from their Ghurid homeland, Qutub-ud-Din Aibak and Shamsu’d-Din Iltutmish constructed a minar (minaret) at the south-eastern corner of the Quwwatu’l-Islam between 1199 and 1503.
Kuttull Minor, Delhi. The Qutb Minar, 1805
It is usually thought that the tower is named for Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who began it. It is also possible that it is named after Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki a 13th-century sufi saint, because Shamsuddin Iltutmish was a devotee of his.
The Minar is surrounded by several historically significant monuments of the Qutb complex. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, to the north-east of the Minar was built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in A.D. 1199. It is the earliest extant - mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. It consists of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected with the carved columns and architectural members of 27 Jain and Hindu temples, which were demolished by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak as recorded in his inscription on the main eastern entrance. Later, a lofty arched screen was erected, and the mosque was enlarged by Shams-ud- Din Itutmish (A.D. 1210–35) and Ala-ud-Din Khalji. The Iron Pillar in the courtyard bears an inscription in Sanskrit in Brahmi script of fourth century A.D., according to which the pillar was set up as a Vishnudhvaja (standard of god Vishnu) on the hill known as Vishnupada in memory of a mighty king named Chandra.
The mosque complex is one of the earliest that survives in the Indian subcontinent.
The nearby pillared cupola known as "Smith's Folly" is a remnant of the tower's 19th century restoration, which included an ill-advised attempt to add some more stories.
In 1505, an earthquake damaged the Qutb Minar; it was repaired by Sikander Lodi. On 1 September 1803, a major earthquake caused serious damage. Major Robert Smith of the British Indian Army renovated the tower in 1828 and installed a pillared cupola over the fifth story, creating a sixth. The cupola was taken down in 1848, under instructions from The Viscount Hardinge, the Governor General of India. at the time. It was reinstalled at the ground level to the east of Qutb Minar, where it remains. This is known as "Smith's Folly".
It was added to the list of World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.
The Ghurids
Qutb Minar
Decorative motifs on upper levels
The construction of the Qutb Minar was planned and financed by the Ghurids, who emigrated to India and brought Islam with them. The Ghurids, historically known as the Shansabanis, were a clan of Tajik origin that hailed from Ghur, the mountainous region of modern-day western Afghanistan. Between the late eleventh century and the early twelfth century, the different sects of this nomadic clan united, relinquishing their nomadic culture. During this time, they also embraced Islam.
They subsequently expanded into modern-day India and quickly took control of a substantial part of the country. The Ghurids annexed the Multan and Uch in the western Punjab in 1175–76, the northwestern regions around Peshawar in 1177, and the region of Sindh in 1185–86. In 1193, Qutb al-Din Aibak conquered Delhi and implemented a Ghurid governorship in the province, and the congregational mosque, the Qutb Minar complex, was founded in 1193. In the past, scholars believed that the complex was constructed to promote adoption of Islam amongst the Ghurids' new subjects as well as a symbol of the Ghurids' adherence to a socio-religious system. There is now new information to suggest that spurring the adoption of Islam was not a top priority of the new annexes and instead the Ghurid governors sought to make a synthesis of the local culture and Islam through negotiation.
Patrons and architects
Qutb Minar
Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a deputy of Muhammad of Ghor, who founded the Delhi Sultanate after Muhammad of Ghor's death, started construction of the Qutb Minar's first story in 1199. Aibak's successor and son-in-law Shamsuddin Iltutmish completed a further three stories. After a lightning strike in 1369 damaged the then top story, the ruler at the time, Firuz Shah Tughlaq, replaced the damaged story and added one more. Sher Shah Suri also added an entrance while he was ruling and the Mughal emperor Humayun was in exile.
Architecture
Qutb Minar
Qutb Minar in Mehrauli in Delhi. Clifton and Co., circa 1890
Persian-Arabic and Nagari in different sections of the Qutb Minar reveal the history of its construction and the later restorations and repairs by Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1351–88) and Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517).
The height of Qutb Minar is 72.5 meters, making it the tallest minaret in the world built of bricks. The tower tapers, and has a 14.3 metres (47 feet) base diameter, reducing to 2.7 metres (9 feet) at the top of the peak. It contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps.
At the foot of the tower is the Quwat Ul Islam Mosque. The Minar tilts just over 65 cm from the vertical, which is considered to be within safe limits.
Qutb Minar was an inspiration and prototype for many minarets and towers built. The Chand Minar and Mini Qutub Minar bear resemblance to the Qutb Minar and inspired from it.
Levels
Qutb Minar
The stories of the Qutb Minar vary in size, style, and material due to varying architects and builders constructing each section.
Inscriptions at the base
Basement
The Qutb Minar consists of five stories of red and grey sandstone. The lowest story, also known as the basement story, was completed during the lifetime of Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, a sultan of the Ghurid dynasty.
It is revetted with twelve semicircular and twelve flanged pilasters that are placed in alternating order. This story is separated by flanges and by storied balconies, carried on Muqarnas corbels. The story is placed on top of a low circular plinth that is inscribed with a twelve-pointed star with a semicircle placed with each of the angles between the star's points.
There are also six horizontal bands with inscriptions inscribed in naskh, a style of Islamic calligraphy, on this story. The inscriptions are as follows: Quran, sura II, verses 255–60; Quran, sura LIX, verses 22–23, and attributes of God; The name and titles of Ghiyath al-Din; Quran, sura XLVIII, verses 1–6; The name and titles of Mu’izz al-Din; and Qur’anic quotations and the following titles in this much restored inscription: "The Amir, the most glorious and great commander of the army." This level also has inscriptions praising Muhammad of Ghor, the sultan of the Ghurids.
Second, third, and fourth stories
The second, third, and fourth stories were erected by Sham ud-Din Iltutmish, the first Muslim sovereign to rule from Delhi. He is considered to be the first of the Delhi Sultan dynastic line. The second and third stories are also revetted with twelve semicircular and twelve flanged pilasters that are placed in alternating order. These red sandstone columns are separated by flanges and by storied balconies, carried on Muqarnas corbels. Prior to its reconstruction and reduction, the fourth story was also decorated with semicircular pilasters. It was re-constructed in white marble and is relatively plain.
Fifth story
In 1369, the fourth story was repaired after lightning struck the minaret. During reconstruction, Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq elected to reduce the size of the fourth story and then separated it into two stories.
Controversy
Qutb Minar
Close-up of balcony
On 14 November 2000, Delhi newspapers reported that the Hindu nationalist groups, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, planned to conduct a [yajna](/wiki/Yajna#:~:text=Yajna(Sanskrit:यज्ञ,romanized,Brahmanas,aswellasYajurveda.), a ritualistic Hindu ceremony related to cleansing or purification, at the Qutb Minar complex where the minaret is located. Delhi Police detained 80 "activists" led by Ram Krishan Gaur who congregated near the Qutb Minar and were stopped from performing the yajna inside the tower. Due to a police barricade, the activists instead performed the ritual on the streets outside the mosque complex. Since the spolia of Jain and Hindu temples were used to construct the minaret, the right-wing Hindu groups claimed that they needed to perform a cleansing at the complex in order to "free" the Hindu icons that were "trapped" in the minaret and the mosque complex.
On 18 May 2022, a former Regional Director of the Archaeological Survey of India, Dharamveer Sharma, claimed that Qutb Minar was built by Raja Vikramaditya in the fifth century to observe the changing position of the sun, without substantiating his assertion.
On 21 May 2022, the Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Govind Mohan, decided to conduct excavation and iconography of idols found at Qutb Minar. The Ministry has asked the ASI to submit an excavation report. Excavation can be started in the south of the minaret at a distance of 15 meters from the mosque.
Accidents
Qutb Minar
Entrance to Minar
On 8 December 1946 Tara Devi, a Czech actress and the sixth wife of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, fell from the tower to her death with her two Pomeranian dogs.
Before 1976, the general public was allowed access to the first floor of the minaret, via the internal staircase. Access to the top ceased after 2000 due to suicides.
On 4 December 1981, the staircase lighting failed. Between 300 and 400 visitors stampeded towards the exit. 45 were killed and some were injured. Most of these were school children. Since then, the tower has been closed to the public. This incident triggered the imposition of stringent rules regarding entry.
Lighting
Qutb Minar
In recent years, the Qutb Minar has been illuminated for special occasions involving international relations. In September 2023, the monument was lit up in the colours of the Mexican flag to commemorate Mexico's 213th Independence Day, an event that was acknowledged and appreciated by the Embassy of Mexico in India. Similarly, on October 30, the Qutb Minar was illuminated with the Turkish flag to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, an occasion that received special attention from the Turkish Embassy in New Delhi.
In literature
Qutb Minar
Letitia Elizabeth Landon's poem, The Cootub Minar, Delhi. is a reflection on a picture by Samuel Prout in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833.
In the 1960 comic book Tintin in Tibet, the main character Tintin and his friend Captain Haddock visit the Qutab Minar, commenting that it is 238 feet high.
In popular culture
Qutb Minar
• 1963: Bollywood actor and director Dev Anand wanted to shoot the song "Dil Ka Bhanwar Kare Pukar" from his film Tere Ghar Ke Samne inside the Minar. However, the cameras of that period were too big to fit inside the tower's narrow passage, and therefore the song was shot inside a replica of the Qutb Minar. • 2012: The site served as the pit stop of the second leg of the second series of The Amazing Race Australia. • 2013: A picture of the minaret is featured on the travel cards and tokens issued by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. A recently launched start-up in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India has made a 360o walkthrough of Qutb Minar available. • 2017: The Ministry of Tourism recently gave seven companies the 'Letters of Intent' for fourteen monuments under its 'Adopt a Heritage Scheme.' Qutb Minar has been chosen to part of that list.
Gallery
Qutb Minar
• Qutb Minar • Left to Right:Alai Darwaza, Qutb Minar, Imam Zamin's tomb • Plaque at Minar • View through arch • Qutb Minar path view • Qutb Minar from the south • Ganesha's stone relief • Qutb Minar illuminated at night