Qutb Minar,Qutub Minar, Qutab Minar

Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world. Built in Delhi (Mehrauli district) by several generations of rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. The minaret is the center of a complex of historical monuments from different eras.

The 72.6 meter high brick minaret is a unique monument of medieval Indo-Islamic architecture, and is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The first Muslim ruler of India, Qutb ud-Din Aibek, inspired by the Afghan Jam Minaret to surpass it, began construction of the minaret in 1193, but could only complete the foundation. His successor Iltutmish completed three more tiers, and in 1368 Firuz Shah Tughlaq completed the fifth and final tier. By the appearance of the minaret one can trace the development of the architectural style.

The diameter of the base is 14.74 m, the diameter of the top of the tower is 3.05 m.

The unusualness of the ornaments decorating the complex and their absolute incompatibility with Islam is due to the fact that stone from the ruins of many destroyed Hindu temples was used for construction. This is how this unusual combination and even, a kind of fusion of different religions in one architectural religious building appeared.

Iron column

The big mystery is the iron column 7 meters high and weighing 6 tons. The column was erected by King Kumaragupta I of the Gupta dynasty, which ruled North India from 320 to 540. Originally, the column was located in the Vishnu temple of the city of Mathura, and Garuda was placed on the column. The column was moved to this place and became part of the Hindu temple; all other buildings of the temple were destroyed and used as building materials for the Qutb Minar and the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque.

An inscription dedicated to Vishnu and King Chandragupta II (375-413), consisting of high-purity iron, remained on the column. For 1600 years, the column was practically not subject to corrosion, the reason for which is debated. There was theory that the column is made of meteoric iron(against which the absence of nickel testified). According to other ideas, the column used a special alloy invented by Indian metallurgists. As a result of the analysis of the old iron production technology, it was found that the probable cause was the failure to remove phosphorus into the slag in the absence of lime in the technological process, which resulted in the formation of a special protective film containing phosphorus that prevented corrosion. A fence was built around the column. It is believed that if you stand with your back to the column and wrap your arms around it from behind, this will bring happiness.

Many of India's majestic landmarks, like the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, are located in the old part of New Delhi. But perhaps the highest is Qutub Minar. This tower symbolizes the victory of Islam, and in the Middle Ages it was considered one of the wonders of the world. Qutub Minar is called not only the minaret itself, but also the complex of buildings of which it is the central link.

Construction of a tower in honor of the victory of Islam

There are many assumptions and hypotheses regarding the construction of the mosque. According to one of them, Qutb ad-din began to build the tower. The protege of Sultan Muhammad Ghurid was a slave by origin, bought in Central Asia. But with his pious behavior and kind attitude towards his comrades, he earned the favor of the Sultan. As a reward, Muhammad appointed Qutub ad-din governor of the conquered Indian territories.

Construction of the tower began in 1199. The height of the minaret is seventy-two and a half meters, the diameter of the base is more than fourteen meters, the diameter of the top is about three meters. The tower received its modern appearance in 1369. During this period, the Qutub Minar was decorated with marble facing stones and had a dome on its top.

The minaret has steadfastly coped with all challenges throughout the centuries. It also managed to survive the devastating earthquake at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Only the dome was missing. Quotes in Hindi and Arabic are preserved on the tower. These are inscriptions from the Koran and glorifications of the sultans who ruled in Delhi.

Qutub Minar - the most amazing building

What is unique about this New Delhi landmark?

Firstly, it is the tallest minaret in the world.

Secondly, the cone-shaped five-tiered tower, made of red and yellow sandstone, looks graceful and light due to its fine carvings and elaborate marble decoration.

Thirdly, on the territory of the complex there is an Iron Column about seven meters high. It was cast in the fourth century using chemically pure iron. It still doesn't rust. Obtaining such material even under modern conditions seems problematic. How they managed to do this in the Middle Ages remains a mystery.

There is an old saying: if you stand with your back to a column and hug it, your most cherished wish will come true.

Alauddin Khilji decided to repeat the monumentality of Qutub Minar. But he only managed to install the first tier, the height of which is twenty-four and a half meters. The ruler died, and no one has decided to continue his work until now.

The Qutub Minar complex in Delhi is the first one you will visit on your Golden Triangle tour of India. After you arrive from Delhi airport, you will be brought here first.

The Qutub Minar in Delhi reaches a height of 73 meters, and its construction began 8 century ago by Qutub-ud-din Aibak. The "Victory Tower" consists of five different floors, each of which tapers. At the base the diameter of Qutub Minar is 15 meters, and at the top it is 2.5 meters.

The first three floors of Qutub Minar are made of red sandstone, while the 4th and 5th are made of sandstone and marble.

Near the minaret is the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, which is the first mosque built in India.

The inscription above its gate provocatively states that it was built from materials obtained from 27 destroyed Hindu temples.

A 7-meter iron pillar standing in the courtyard of the mosque is surrounded by a fence.

Hindus believe that if you can wrap your arms around it with your back to it, your wish will be granted. This pillar is already more than 16 centuries old, and during this time it has not rusted. Many Hindus believe that it consists of an alien alloy, and scientists can neither confirm nor deny this guess. The iron pillar was removed by Muslims from the Hindu Vishnu Temple, just like the temple columns that now adorn the mosque.

The history of Qutub Minar is shrouded in mystery. Some believe that it marks the beginning of Muslim rule in India. Others believe that it served as a minaret from where muezzins called believers to prayer.

Qutub-ud-din Aibak conceived the idea of ​​building the Qutub Minar 800 years ago, but during his lifetime he could only complete the first level. His successor Iltutmush added 3 more floors, and Firoz Shah Tughlaq after him completed the last 5th floor.

The differences in architectural styles during the reigns of Aibak and Tughlaq are quite obvious. The technology and even the materials used in construction are different. The tower is decorated with inscription stripes and four projecting balconies. To be honest, the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in the Qutub complex is a ruin, but it is unrivaled.

Iltutmush in 1230 and Allah-ud-din Khilya in 1315 made additions to the building. The main mosque consists of an inner and outer courtyard, decorated with columns. Most of these columns are from 27 Hindu temples that were looted and used to build a mosque. Therefore, it is not surprising that the mosque is decorated with typical Hindu designs. Hindus carved figures of people on the columns, but when these columns were placed in the courtyard of a Muslim mosque, all the faces on the columns were destroyed, since it is forbidden to depict faces in mosques.

Minaret Qutub Minar- the tallest minaret in the world (its height is almost 73 meters), which practically reaches the heavens. Qutub Minar is the pride of not only the beautiful city, but of the whole. Qutub Minar (also called Qutub Minar or Katab Minar) was built by Qutb ad-Din Aibak and was intended as a triumphal tower and minaret-mosque (from its height the inhabitants were called to prayer). It is curious that Qutb ad-Din Aibak just began construction, and the minaret was completed by his descendant, Iltutmish. Qutub Minar in Delhi is built from large red sand blocks. The diameter of the minaret is more than 14 meters at the base and almost 3 meters at the top. The influence of the Afghan style is clearly visible in the architecture of Qutub Minar. The structure is dominated by typical horizontal projections and cylindrical columns.

Qutub Minar - video

The Qutub Minar is surrounded by legends. One of them says that the minaret was built by Prithviraj Chauhan, the last ruler of Delhi from the Chauhan dynasty. The minaret was intended so that the imperial daughter could contemplate the sacred river Jamna. There is another belief that the Qutab Minar was built from the remains of 27 ancient Jain palaces that were destroyed during the invasions.

Each ruler left his mark on Qutub Minar. They can easily be distinguished among the unique architectural elements of the minaret design. According to inscriptions in Persian, the minaret was struck by lightning twice in the 14th century. The first time this happened was under Muhammad Tughlaq. Later the minaret was restored. The second time this happened under Firuz Shah Tughlaq.

One of the attractions of Qutub Minar is, located nearby, black iron pillar. The inscription says that the iron column was originally part of the Vishnu temple complex on the famous Vishnupada hill and is dedicated to the memory of the ruler Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty and the god Vishnu. It is obvious that the column was brought from somewhere, since nothing speaks of its construction. There is a belief that the column was brought by the ruler of the Tomarov clan. It is also believed that it was he who founded Delhi.

To the north of the Qutub Minar there is a massive base unfinished Ala-i-Minara tower, 25 meters high. The construction was started by Alauddin Khilji, who dreamed of building a minaret higher than the Qutub Minar, but could not complete even the first floor. Alauddin Khilji died, leaving behind an unfinished tower.

Qutub Minar - operating hours, ticket prices

You can visit Qutub Minar daily from 12:00 to 00:00.

The ticket costs approximately $5.

Qutub Minar is one of the most important monuments in India. Therefore, to learn more about the minaret, all visitors are offered an audio guide.

Qutub Minar - how to get there

You can get to Qutub Minar either by rickshaw or by taxi. And if you went to Qutub Minar by bus, then you need to go to the Qutub Minar or Saket stop.

Qutub Minar on the map, panorama

The Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world. The height of the tower reaches 72.5 meters, and 379 steps lead to the top of the structure. The minaret is located in the city of Delhi, India. The tower is considered a world heritage site and is protected by UNESCO.

The construction of the tower was started by the first Muslim ruler of India, Qutbuddin Aibak. He was impressed by the Afghan Jam minaret and decided to build a minaret that was in no way inferior to it and even surpassed it in beauty.

The foundation of the future tower was laid in 1193, but then construction stalled. Later, during the reign of Iltutmish (the heir of Qutbuddin), three tiers of the tower were erected. And only in 1368 the last fifth tier was completed.

Looking at the tower from the bottom up, you can trace how the architectural style of that time developed and changed.

The Qutub Minar was built on the territory of the oldest Indian mosque, Quwwat-ul-Islam, which translated meant “the power of Islam.” Before this, there were several Hindu places of worship, including the temple of the god Vishnu. Some walls of Hindu temples have survived to this day and peacefully coexist with the minaret.

The tower is made of red sandstone, and white marble was used above the third tier during construction. The tower was once crowned with a dome, but during the earthquake of 1803 it collapsed. They did not restore it, and its remains remained lying not far from the minaret.

The diameter of the base of the tower is 14.3 meters. With each tier, the tower narrows more and more, and on the fifth tier the diameter of the floor is only 2.7 meters. The walls of the tower are painted with intricate carvings, among which there are sayings from the Koran.

Having built such a high minaret, perhaps the main feature of such buildings was lost. As you know, the minaret serves as a place from which the muezzin’s calls to prayer are heard several times a day. However, the tower turned out to be so high that the muezzin’s cry was almost inaudible from it.

It is worth noting that in addition to the tower, there is another, no less interesting attraction - a small iron column, which is installed not far from the minaret. The height of this seemingly simple structure is only 7.2 meters, and its weight is about 6 tons.

If you believe the chronicles, the column was cast in 895 BC. The question arises: how could the column remain intact to this day and not rust?! Thanks to a series of tests, it was possible to establish that the chemical composition of the column is almost 100% pure iron.

It still remains a mystery how it was possible to obtain a similar composition of iron by smelting, since at that time this procedure was technically impossible! There are rumors that the material for smelting was a meteorite that fell to Earth almost three thousand years ago.

It is believed that if you hug the column and make a wish, it will certainly come true. The belief in such a mystical power of the column is so great that the administration of the minaret decided to fence the column for its better preservation.

In order to enter the minaret territory, foreign citizens (tourists) will have to pay $5. Photo and video shooting is not prohibited.