New Delhi: Qutb Minar is not just a famous historical monument in India, but over the years, it has been used by the common public to denote something very tall. And why not? The Qutb Minar was built centuries ago, but it stands tall to this day and continues to evoke awe and respect for the architectural brilliance prevalent in medieval India.
Qutb Mina: A heritage site recognised by UNESCO
The Qutb Minar is a ‘victory tower’ in Delhi’s Qutb complex, at the site of Lal Kot and is something worth seeing. Hence, no wonder, that it is such a popular tourist destination in India. With 399 steps, the Minar in the Mehrauli area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over the years, many have compared it with the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, which is 62 metres tall and entirely made of brick and was constructed before the Minar.
Who constructed Qutb Minar?
The Qutb Minar was built at the site of Lal Kot and it is believed that Qutub-ud-Din Aibak and Shamsu’d-Din Iltutmish constructed a minar between 1199 and 1503 and it was named after the former. It is also possible that it is named after Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki who was a Sufi saint in the 13th century since Iltutmish was his devotee. In 1505, Sikander Lodi repaired Qutub Minar after it was damaged by an earthquake. On September 1, 1803, it was damaged by another major earthquake and Major Robert Smith of the British Indian Army repaired it in 1828.
The tower is a blend of southwestern Asian design and traditional Islamic architecture and the Qutb Minar acted as a central marker to the Muslim communities who came to India before the establishment of the Mughal Empire. The Minar is considered one of the earliest and best examples of the fusion of Hindu-Muslim traditions. At 72.5 metres, the Qutb Minar is the tallest minaret in the world made of bricks and has acted as an inspiration and prototype for many minarets and towers built in later years including Chand Minar and Mini Qutub Minar. Nowadays, Qutub Minar is illuminated on special occasions. For example, in September 2023, it was lit up in Mexican flag colours to celebrate the country’s 213th Independence Day.
The Qutb Minar is a ‘victory tower’ in Delhi’s Qutb complex, at the site of Lal Kot and is something worth seeing. Hence, no wonder, that it is such a popular tourist destination in India. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
