Qutub Minar /Qutab Minar /Qutb Minar Delhi : History, Timing, Ticket, Built by, Location & Amazing Images with 10 Facts

Hello friend, today we will talk about Qutub Complex , which you also write as Qutub Minar, Qutab Minar or Qutb Minar, in Urdu it is written as (قتب مینار). Qutub Complex is located in Mehrauli, South Delhi in India. It is the world’s largest tower made of bricks. Qutub Minar is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the famous places in Delhi. It is also a photography and couple spot.

So let’s start knowing the interesting facts of Qutub Complex , before telling you that if you want to know about other tourist places of Delhi like this and want to visit there then click here.

Overview About Qutub Minar, Delhi

Historians have different opinions about the name of this tallest and grand tower of India, about 73 meters high. Some historians believe that this grand tower has been named after the ruler of the Ghulam dynasty and the first Muslim ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, Qutb-ud-din Aibak. The word ‘Qutub’ means ‘pole of justice’.

While according to some historians, this grand building built during the Mughal period was named after the famous Muslim Sufi saint Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki.

Also read about : Lotus Temple Delhi, History and Architecture & more interesting facts for visitors

Qutub Minar History

Qutub Minar is one of the major historical buildings of the country. It is located in Mehrauli area of South Delhi. The Qutub Minar with a height of about 238 feet is the tallest stone pillar in India. Qutub Minar is surrounded by many other monuments located around it and this whole complex is called Qutub Complex.

Qutub Minar is believed to have been built during 1199 to 1220. The construction of Qutub Minar was Built by Qutubuddin-Aibak and completed by his successor Iltutmish.

Qutbuddin Aibak was the favorite slave and general of Muhammad Ghori who defeated Prithviraj Chauhan. Ghori returned after handing over the administration of Delhi and Ajmer to Aibak. After Ghori’s death in 1206, Aibak became an independent ruler and established the Delhi Sultanate.

The Qutub Minar was damaged by lightning and earthquakes in the 14th and 15th centuries. Earlier its top two storeys were repaired by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. It was extensively renovated in 1505 by Sikandar Lodi and its upper two storeys were extended. An earthquake in 1803 again damaged the Qutub Minar. Then in 1814 its affected parts were repaired by Major Robert Smith of the British-Indian Army.

Qutub Minar Architecture

Many other unique historical monuments are also located in the premises of this tower located in Delhi, which doubles the attraction of this historical tower.

Built between the 12th-13th century, the best historical tower of Mughal architecture has been constructed by many rulers of the Delhi Sultanate, it is also known as “Victory Minar” in history.

The tower stands with a circular base of 14.3 feet wide with a total height of 73 meter (239.5 feet), which rises to 2.75 meters (9.02 ft) at the summit. Qutab Minar has 5 storeys and each storey has a circular balcony which is decorated with intricate architecture. A magnificent spiral staircase leads to the top of the tower and it has 379 steps.

Each of the 5 different storeys of the minaret is decorated with a balcony which is intricately designed. The first three storeys are made of light red sandstone, while the fourth is made entirely of marble and the fifth is made of a mixture of marble and sandstone. There are several other historical buildings surrounding the minaret which along with the main minaret form the Qutub Minar complex.

The country’s tallest minaret was earlier used as a mosque’s minaret, and from where the azaan was given, although later it became famous as a tourist destination.

Places to Visit Inside the Qutub Complex

Things to do in Qutub Minar :

Qutub Minar is surrounded by many large historical buildings and all of them come under Qutub Complex. In this complex, there are buildings like the Iron Pillar of Delhi, Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Alai Darwaza, Iltutmish’s Tomb, Alai Minar, Alauddin’s Madrasa and Tomb, Imam Zameen’s Tomb and Sanderson’s Sun Dial, which are particularly interesting to tourists to see. attracts from.

1. Iron Pillar –

Loh Stambh or Iron Pillar is a wonderful historical monument which surprises all the historians and tourists. The pillar is believed to have been built during the reign of Chandragupta II, a king of the Gupta dynasty between the 3rd and 4th centuries. This 7 meter tall pillar is also popularly called “Kirti Stambha” which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of a flag. The most interesting feature of this pillar is that despite being built many centuries ago, it has not rusted. It is a big mystery that this pillar has not rusted till date.

2. Tomb of Iltutmish –

The tomb of Iltutmish is a monument located in the north eastern part of the Qutb complex and is one of the most important ancient monuments of Delhi. Iltutmish was the son-in-law of Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first ruler of the Slave dynasty in India, who was the second Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate. This mausoleum was built by Shamshuddin Iltutmish in the year 1235 and is situated to the north west of the Quwwatul Islam Mosque in Delhi. The tomb of Iltutmish is visited by many tourists and history lovers throughout the year and gets mesmerized by the architecture of this beautiful structure.

3. Alai Minar–

The Alai Minar, located within the Qutub Complex, is a separate structure as its construction was left unfinished. The construction of this minaret was started by Alauddin Khilji as a project to build a minaret higher than the Qutub Minar. Alauddin Khilji was a highly ambitious ruler and wanted to build a tower twice the size of the Qutub Minar. But this ambition remained unfulfilled and its construction ended with his death in 1316. Today Alai Minar stands at a height of 24.5 meters and attracts all onlookers.

4. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque :

The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, located within the Qutub Complex, is an important historical structure which was built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak. This mosque is special because it is said to be the first mosque to be built in Delhi. The mosque is made of marble and red sandstone. Although the mosque is in ruins today, it is still regarded as one of the earliest mosques built in India and considered one of the most spectacular examples of architecture in the world.

Qutub Minar Image / Photos Gallery

Where is Qutub Minar in Delhi & How to reach ?

Qutub Complex is located in Delhi, the capital of India, which has good transport connectivity with every country and state of the world. Qutub Complex in Delhi can also be reached by metro train, the nearest metro station is Qutub Minar.

Apart from this, tourists can also reach here through the local bus of Delhi.

Whereas all the buses going to Mehrauli cross the Minar, as the Mehrauli Bus Stand is located near the Qutub Minar Mosque. Apart from this, it can also be easily reached through auto and cab.

Interesting Facts About Qutub Minar

• The most special thing about Qutub Complex is that there is an iron pillar in the premises which has been around for 2000 years but till now it has not rusted. Iron pillar not rusting for so many years is a big thing in itself.

• Please tell that even though Minar is the largest building in India, it is not straight at all, it is slightly inclined. The biggest reason for which is that the repair work of this building has been done many times.

• Apart from being the tallest building in the world, Qutub Minar is also the tallest building in the world made of bricks. There are 379 circular steps inside the building of Minar, which is up to the height of the entire building.

• Talking about the history of Qutub Complex , the inscriptions in the minaret are in Arabic and Nagari script. Which tells about its history.

• When the Minar was damaged after an earthquake during the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, Firoz Shah got it repaired after that. But later in 1505, due to earthquake, the tower was broken, which was repaired by Sikandar Lodi.

• The real name of Qutub Minar is said to be Vishnu Stambh, along with it it is said to be one of the Navratnas of its emperor Chandragupta Vikramaditya.

Restaurant Near Qutub Minar

There are several restaurants near Qutub Complex that offer a variety of cuisines. Some of the popular ones are:

• The Qube – Located at the Leela Ambience Hotel, this restaurant offers a range of Indian and international dishes.
• Olive Bar and Kitchen – This restaurant is known for its Mediterranean and European cuisine and has a beautiful outdoor seating area.
• Thai High – As the name suggests, this restaurant serves authentic Thai food and has a rooftop seating area with a stunning view of the Qutub Complex.
• Yeti – This restaurant serves Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine and is located in the nearby Hauz Khas Village.
• The Potbelly Rooftop Cafe – This rooftop cafe serves Bihari cuisine and has a cozy and relaxing atmosphere.

These are just a few options, and there are many other restaurants in the vicinity to explore.

Cafe Near Qutub Minar

There are several cafes located near Qutub Complex in Delhi, India. Some popular options include :

1. Olive Bar and Kitchen – This is a stylish restaurant that serves Mediterranean cuisine and has a great outdoor seating area. It’s located about 1.5 km away from Qutub Minar.
2. The Grammar Room – This cafe serves delicious breakfast options and has a cozy ambiance. It’s located about 2 km away from Qutub Complex.
3. The Coffee Shop – This is a casual cafe that serves coffee, tea, and light snacks. It’s located within the Qutub Complex, so it’s very convenient if you’re visiting the monument.
4. Amour – This is a French-style bistro that serves delicious food and has a great outdoor seating area. It’s located about 2.5 km away from Qutub Complex.
5. Cafe Delhi Heights – This is a popular chain of cafes that serves a variety of cuisines, including Indian, Italian, and American. It’s located about 3 km away from Qutub Complex.

These are just a few options, and there are many other cafes and restaurants located in the area.

Information For Visitors About Qutub Complex

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