On Friday, the family donned our AQI and our COVID masks and headed out to see Qutub Minar and to visit the Qutub Minar Complex.
Qutub Minar
"The Qutb Minar, also spelled as Qutub Minar and Qutab Minar, is a minaret and "victory tower" that forms part of the Qutb complex, a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in the Mehrauli area of New Delhi, India.[3][4] The height of Qutb Minar is 72.5 meters, making it the tallest minaret in the world built of bricks.[2][5] 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.[6] It contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps.[7][1]" source
This amazing structure was built by built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in A.D. 1198.
Tomb of Iltutmish
Fun fact: Dana and I considered Iltutmish as a name before going with Aidan instead. :)
While the dome most likely has collapsed, the walls of the tomb are still in good shape. It was built in 1235 CE and demonstrates a mixture of religion and cultures.
"The interior west wall has a prayer niche (mihrab) decorated with marble, and a rich amalgamation of Hindu motifs into Islamic architecture, such as bell-and-chain, tassel, lotus, diamond emblems.[3]" source
The Abandoned Alai Minar of Khalji
Alauddin Khalji set out to beat Qutub Minar by building the Alai Minar. Construction was abandoned after the death of Alauddin (1316). They reached a height of 24.5 meters before calling it quits.
The Iron Pillar
Chandragupta II Vikramaditya had this 7.21 meter, 6 tonne iron pillar erected in front of a Vishnu Temple in 402 AD.
Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque
Built at the same time as Qutub Minar, this was the first Mosque built in Delhi.
Other Photos of Qutub Minar Complex
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