Qutub Minar, a Unesco historical monument, is located in the Qutub complex in Mehrauli, Delhi. The tallest monument of its time was built by a number of rulers. Qutubdin Aibak started the construction of its basement in 1192. Later, after the death of Aibak, his successor started constructing three additional stories. At last, Firoz Shah Tughlaq added the fourth and fifth stories.
Qutub Minar is located inside the Qutub complex, which has the following historic monuments:
Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque
After the establishment of the slave dynasty, Qutubdin Aibak constructed the first mosque in India. The Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque was built after destroying Hindu and Jain temples. The remnants of the temple can be seen in the mosque.
Alai Darwaza
Made of red sandstone and white marble, it is the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. It was built by Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1311 AD.
Iron pillar
A black iron pillar standing 7.21 meters high and weighing 6 tons is a striking feature of the Qutub complex. The pillar was constructed by Chandragupta || Vikramaditya. According to popular belief, it was brought by King Illumish. The most astonishing thing about a pillar is that it has been rustproof for ages.
Alai Minar
A similar structure to Qutub Minar but two stories higher was what Alauddin Khilji wanted to build. However, his dream of such an empire never materialized once he died in 1316. Today, only one story of the Minar stands in the Qutub complex.
Tomb of Adam khan
Adam Khan was a general of Emperor Akbar. His tomb is located north of Qutub Minar. It’s a 16th-century tomb.
Damage
Qutub Minar faces many disasters, either in the form of lightning or earthquakes. In 1369, lightning struck at the top; it was repaired by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who added another storey. In 1505, an earthquake hit the minaret and destroyed two stories that were rebuilt by Sultan Sikandar Lodi.
Again in 1848, during British days, the earthquake hit yet again and caused heavy damage to minarets. Major Robert Smith of the British Army rebuilt it. He installed a cupola tower atop that latter, which had been uninstalled by then-Governor General of India, Henry Hardinge. Today, that cupola is installed on the ground floor and to the east of Minar.
Architecture
If we talk about the exact specification, then the minaret soars to a height of 240 ft, with the diameters of the base and top being 14.3 m and 2.7 m, respectively. It’s a five-story building consisting of 379 spiral stairs. Each floor is surrounded by a protruding balcony. A classic example of Indo-Islamic architecture, different materials were used in construction during the different time periods of different rulers. The first three-storey is made of red stone, the fourth is made of marble, and the last one, the fifth, is made of sandstone. Inscriptions from verses of the Quran are beautifully crafted and engraved on the minaret.
How to reach Qutub Minar
By Road: Qutub Minar is well connected to major parts of Delhi via road. One can easily take a taxi or a bus to reach the destination. The nearest bus stop is Qutub Minar Bus Stop, which is just a few minutes away from the monument.
By Metro: The nearest metro station to Qutub Minar is Qutub Minar Metro Station, which is on the Yellow Line of the Delhi Metro. From there, one can take a rickshaw or a taxi to reach the monument.
By Train: The nearest railway station to Qutub Minar is Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, which is around 16 km away. One can take a taxi or a bus from the station to reach Qutub Minar.
By Air: The nearest airport to Qutub Minar is Indira Gandhi International Airport, which is around 14 km away. One can take a taxi or a bus from the airport to reach Qutub Minar.