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The Qutab Minar is an Indo-Islamic architectural wonder. This 239 feet (72.5 meters) sandstone tower.
The meaning of “Qutab Minar” is axis minaret. This tower has five storeys and each of these has a projecting balcony. The Qutab Minar is the highest stone tower in India. The diameter at the base is 14.32 meters and at the top is about 2.75 meters.
The ground storey and two storey’s above it, are made of red sandstone. There are heavy indentations coupled with disparate styles of fluting. On the bottom floor, the fluting is alternately round and angular.
On the second floor, the fluting is round and on the third it is angular. The top two floors are constructed of sandstone and marble. The decoration of this tower is Islamic in character.
Qutub complex
The Qutub Minar is the world's tallest brick minaret with a height of 72.5 meters (237.8 ft). Construction commenced by Qutb-ud-din Aibak who won Delhi from the Prithviraj under Muhammad of Ghor as his commander in chief, and finished by Iltutmish, The Qutub Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, collectively known as Qutub complex.
Structure Of Qutub Minar
Qutub-Minar in red and buff sandstone is the highest tower in India. It has a diameter of 14.32m at the base and about 2.75m on the top with a height of 72.5m.
Rajputs laid the foundation of Qutab Minar but after the invassion of Mohammed Ghori it was converted into a structure to celebrate the victory of Mohammed Ghori, the invader from Afghanistan, over the Rajputs in 1192. Qutb-ud-din Aibak raised the first stories, to which were added three more stories by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsu'd-Din IItutmish (AD 1211-36). All the stories are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the Minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with honeycomb design, more conspicuously in the first story.
Inspiration from Afghanistan
Inspired by the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan and wishing to surpass it, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced construction of the Qutub Minar in 1193; but could only complete its basement. His successor, Iltutmish, added three more stories and, in 1368, Firuz Shah Tughluq constructed the fifth and the last story. The development of architectural styles from Aibak to Tuglak are quite evident in the minaret. Like earlier towers erected by the Ghaznavids and Ghurids in Afghanistan, the Qutub Mahal comprises several superposed flanged and cylindrical shafts, separated by balconies carried on Muqarnas corbels. The minaret is made of fluted red sandstone covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Qur'an. The Qutub Minar is itself built on the ruins of Lal Kot, the Red Citadel in the city of Dhillika, the capital of the Tomars and the Chauhans, the last Hindu rulers of Delhi.
Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari characters in different places of the Minar reveal the history of Qutb. According to the inscriptions on its surface it was repaired by Firoz Shah Tughlaq (AD 1351-88) and Sikandar Lodi (AD 1489-1517).
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, to the northeast of Minar was built by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak in AD 1198. It is the earliest mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. It consists of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected with the carved columns.
History Of Qutub Minar
According to history, the minar was started by Qutubuddin Aibak. However, it is assumed & historians believe that Iltutmish finished it though the minar may have been commenced by Qutubuddin Aibak.
The Qutub Minar comprises several superposed flanged and cylindrical shafts, separated by balconies carried on Muqarnas corbels. The minaret is made of fluted red sandstone covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Qur'an. The Qutub Minar is itself built on the ruins of the Lal Kot, the Red Citadel in the city of Dhillika, the capital of the Tomars and the Chauhans, the last Hindu rulers of Delhi.
The Purpose
The purpose for building this monument has been variously speculated upon. Some say the minaret was used to calling people for prayer in the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosqueoffer prayer but it is so tall that you can't hear the person standing on the top. The earliest extant mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. Many historians believe that the Qutub Minar was named after the first Turkish sultan (who's decendant- Wajid Ali Shah-repaired it), Qutub-ud-din Aibak, but others contend that it was named in honour of Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a saint from Transoxiana who came to live in India and was greatly venerated by Iltutmish.
The Heritage Site
It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with surrounding buildings and monuments.
Iron pillar - a metallurgical curiosity
The Iron pillar is in the Qutub Complex. It is one of the world’s foremost metallurgical curiosities. The pillar, 7.21 metre high and weighing more than six tonnes, was originally erected by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (375–414 AD) in front of a Vishnu Temple complex at Udayagiri around 402 AD, and later shifted by Aanagpal in 10th Century AD from Udaygiri to its present location. Anangpal built a Vishnu Temple here and wanted this pillar to be a part of that temple.
The estimated weight of the decorative bell of the pillar is 646 kg while the main body weighs 5865 kg thereby making the entire pillar weigh at 6,511 kg. The pillar bears an inscription in Sanskrit in Brahmi script dating 4th century AD, which indicates that 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, believed to Chandragupta II. A deep socket on the top of this ornate capital suggests that probably an image of Garuda was fixed into it, as common in such flagpoles.
According to the traditional belief, anyone who can encircle the entire column with their arms, with their back towards the pillar, can have their wish granted. Because of the corrosive qualities of sweat the government has built a fence around it for safety.
The pillar is the testimony of high level scientific skills achieved by ancient Indians in metallurgy. We are studying the manufacturing technology, design and consolidation of the structure in details," Deshpande said.
The black pillar, which is one of the tourist attractions in the capital, was originally erected in front of a Vishnu Temple complex at Udayagiri by Chandragupta II around 402 AD.
It was later shifted by Iltutmish from Udaygiri to its present location in the Qutub complex, sometimes around 1233 AD.
Fame of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya
True to its name, this is a 7-meter iron pillar erected c. 400 AD by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya, also known as "he, by the breezes of whose prowess the southern ocean is even still perfumed" according to the inscription carved on the base. Alas, Chandragupta II's perfume has long since faded, but to the amazement of metallurgists everywhere, his pillar is still going strong, after 1,600 years.
Location
Located in Mehrauli, South Delhi, just 16 Kms from the central circle of Connaught Place (Rajeev Chowk).
Source: Wikipedia
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