The first time I went to New Delhi was almost a decade ago and it was almost a weeklong trip with my parents when we saw various Delhi museums, Gandhi Smriti etc on one day, monuments in Delhi on another day, did a day trip to Agra & Mathura and then did a day trip also to Surajkund, Badkal lake etc…. Ahhhh... Sweet memories!!!!
Very recently I realized, that was one heck of a trip where we saw not 1 or 2 but 6 UNESCO sites - Humayun’s Tomb, Qutb Minar & related monuments, Red Fort Complex, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and ofcourse Taj Mahal!!!! Very recently when Venkat got a chance to visit Delhi for Tata Tigor, he was so filled with nostalgia as someone who spent his childhood in New Delhi! He did manage to visit Qutb Complex and here’s more about it!
The Qutb Complex comprises of the most famous Qutb Minar, Alai Darwaza, Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Iron Pillar, Tomb of Iltutmish & Allaudin Khilji and Alai Minar. Originally this place was called Lalkot. This was the first city among the 7 legendary cities of Delhi, developed by King Anangpal in 11th C CE and further expanded by King Prithviraj Chauhan III in 12th C, who built the Qila Rai Pithora. In 1192 CE, this was conquered by Muhammad Ghori who made Qutbu’d din Aibak as his viceroy here. Over time, he became a Sultan himself as the founder of Mamluk Dynasty (Slave Dynasty). Throughout the 664 years of Muslim rule in India, this region never lost its importance. Infact it was here that Razia Sultan, the first woman Muslim emperor also rose to power.
The Qutb Minar was begun by Qutbu’d din Aibak who constructed only 1 floor in 1199 CE with red & buff sandstone for the use of mu'azzin to call for prayer. His successor Iltutmish constructed the rest 3 floors in 1220 CE. However the top floor was damaged by lightning and Feroz Shah Tughlaq dismantled it and constructed 2 more out of white marble & sandstone, making it a 240ft tall, and dia of 47ft at base & 9ft at top, structure with a spiral staircase of 379 steps. Again in 1829, the top floor was damaged by lightning and Robert Smith (again when India was under British Raj) reconstructed it which did not look like the original structure! So Lord Harding removed it and placed it beside and it’s called Smith’s Folly today!
Another most important structure in the complex is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. This is the first ever mosque of India. However it wasn’t constructed with the principles of Islamic construction. It has a rectangular courtyard, 43.2m x 32.9m. The whole place has several pillars, which were dismantled from 27 Hindu & Jain temples. However there are 5 screens in front of the prayer hall with arches. This was further expanded by Iltutmish & Alauddin Khilji. These screens are extensively decorated with Islamic motifs!
Another very important feature in the complex is ofcourse the 7.21m tall, Iron Pillar! Decade ago, when I went, the iron pillar was open and my dad & I tried to hug it around. It was then a common practice to try hugging it and if you did, your wishes would come true! Lolz. But today there’s a fencing all around it to prevent people touching it or damaging it! It’s been a magic for ages! It has confused historians, archaeologists & scientists for ages. Reason - it’s an ‘iron’ pillar, but it doesn’t rust!!! The pillar doesn’t seem to have been made by the Islamic conquerors, but brought from elsewhere. There’s an inscription on it in Brahmi language that says that it is located on a hill called Vishnupada. It may have been a Dwajasthamba at a Vishnu temple.
Alai Darwaza is the main entrance of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and was constructed by Alauddin Khilji in 1311 CE. This was the first construction built following the Islamic principles. This has 4 gateways are arched and the whole thing is impeccably beautifully carved with several foliage and geometrical patterns following the Islamic principles. The whole thing holds a dome atop.
Don’t miss the lotus bud pattern in the underside of the arches. It’s a typical West-Asian tradition and a fine example of earliest Sultanate architecture in India. This too is red sandstone and marble like the 4th floor of the Minar! Just beside it is the Tomb of Imam Zamin. The Alai Minar was a zealous attempt by Alauddin Khilji to build a minar twice as wide as, and twice as tall as Qutb Minar to commemorate his win over Deccan. However it never got beyond 80ft high and a single storey!!!
To Get There:
From New Delhi Airport: 13km
From New Delhi Railway Station: 16km
Nearest metro station: Qutb Minar
Delhi Metro has 1-day, 3-days unlimited travel passes for tourists.
Entry Ticket: Rs.30 for Indians & SAARC nationals, Rs.500 for other foreigners.
To Stay: Hotels, hostels & paying guest accommodations at all price points are available in New Delhi.