The attraction of the mysterious Qutub Minar

I felt blessed that a dream of visiting and reaching the world-famous historical monument, Qutub Minar, had unexpectedly come true. Almost 25 years ago, family members had visited the place, seen photos of it, and recently, with easy information about the monument area, the desire to visit the place had increased even more.

In the same month, the Informal Buddhist Education Campaign, while taking us to visit important Buddhist sites like Ajanta and Ellora in India, also took us to visit the Qutub Minar in New Delhi, which is listed in the World Heritage List.

The Qutub Minar in New Delhi, the capital of India, is a world-famous historical monument. This minaret is known as an important symbol of India's medieval history, Islamic architecture, and cultural heritage. In 1993, UNESCO listed the Qutub Minar complex as a World Heritage Site.

The construction of Qutub Minar was started around 1199 AD by Qutubuddin Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate. After Aibak's death, his successor Iltutmish completed its construction. Later, Firoz Shah Tughlaq reconstructed and renovated the damaged parts. Thus, Qutub Minar is a historical structure built with the contributions of various rulers. India has now expanded the historical structure and developed it as an attractive tourist destination. Tourists who have visited the Qutub Minar complex, which attracts crowds for tickets and entry throughout the day, say that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has made the surrounding structure more attractive in an archaeological way.

Architecture and Structure

The Qutub Minar, about 73 meters high, is considered the tallest brick minaret in India. It has five floors and each floor has a curved balcony (chajja) but there is no provision for going up like the towers in Nepal. It is said that previous accidents prevented people from going up.

Built from red sandstone and marble, this minaret is engraved with verses from the Quran, geometric shapes and beautiful carvings, which presents an excellent example of Islamic architecture. The clay of this complex makes the construction of Qutub Minar even more challenging and mysterious.

Qutub Complex

The Qutub Complex located next to Qutub Minar is also very important from a historical point of view. It is home to the Qutub-ul-Islam Mosque, considered to be the first mosque in India, the mysterious iron pillar and other ancient relics. The iron pillar has become a subject of scientific and historical interest due to its rust-proof technology.

Historical and Cultural Importance

Qutub Minar is not just a monument, it is a witness to the early period of Islamic rule in India. It speaks of the history of power changes, cultural fusion and architectural development. Today, Qutub Minar has become one of the major tourist destinations in India.

Qutub Minar is a symbol of India's proud history and rich cultural heritage. Its grandeur, historical background and artistic beauty attract every visitor. Qutub Minar is an unforgettable heritage for those interested in history and architecture.

Leaning minaret

Qutub Minar is not a completely straight structure, it has a slight inclination. However, this inclination is not so obvious that it can be easily distinguished by the naked eye. According to various studies, the top of the Qutub Minar is found to be leaning by about 65 centimeters to one side, but this is not considered to be in a dangerous or abnormal condition like the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

This slight tilt is believed to have occurred due to landslides, seismic activity, and construction techniques over time, as the structure is about 800 years old. However, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared the Qutub Minar to be structurally sound and its conservation and monitoring are ongoing. Therefore, although the Qutub Minar is slightly crooked, it is not in a worrying condition at present.

Iron Pillar of the Qutub Minar complex

The Iron Pillar of Delhi located in the Qutub Minar complex is a very famous and mysterious historical structure, whose scientific and cultural importance is known all over the world.

This iron pillar located in the courtyard of the Qutub Minar is about 7 meters (23 feet) high and its weight is estimated to be about 6 tons. This pillar is believed to have been built during the reign of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) in the 4th–5th centuries. An inscription written in Sanskrit in Brahmi script is found on the pillar, which commemorates the heroism and achievements of the then king.

Read the inscription in Sanskrit language and Gupta period Brahmi script