"Tallest brick minaret, a UNESCO World Heritage site."
Qutub Minar is a known for its height, which measures to be 73 meters. Although, it is the 2nd tallest monument after the Minar-E-Fateh at Chhapar Chiri at Anandpur Sahib which stands 100 meters tall. The tallest monument in India was built after the Sikh forces led by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur triumphed over the Mughal people. Made from the red sandstone and marble this monument is located In Delhi and belongs to the ancient Islamic region as it has Arabic inscriptions inscribed on it.
In has been marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In order to reach to the top one has to go through a stairs of 379 steps. The diameter of its base measures to be 14.3 meters and successively toward the top it narrows down to 2.7 meters. Its construction, which dates back to 1192, got effectuated by three successive rulers. Being started by Qutb-ud-din Aibak was further carried on by Iltutmish in 1368. However, the fifth and the last storey were constructed by Firoz Shah Tughlak. The area enveloped by several other ancient monuments including Qutub Minar has been named as Qutub Complex.
Architecture
The exterior of this antique architecture having strengthened and beautified by red sandstone exhibits specifically designed carvings and verses which have been taken from the Quran. On the whole the Minar comprises of a no. of cylindrical shafts that are imposed over each other in a successive manner which are in turn separated by balconies. The Minar lacks consistency in the type of material used in making it as the first three storeys are composed using the then famous red sandstone. However, the last two stories display marble and sandstone as the material used in making it. Quwwat-ul-Islam, Mosque which is the very first mosque built in India has been marked at the foot of the tower which adds to the significance of this Minar to the Indian history. A strikingly mysterious monument which also stands in the Qutub complex is the Iron Pillar measuring up to 7 meters in height and having Brahmic inscriptions inscribed on it and the most curious thing is that it predates the Minar.
Due to weakening from the rain water seepage the Minar inclines just over 60 cm from the vertical. However, it has been considered to be safe. Further, monitoring has been suggested by the experts to avoid mishaps in future. Earlier before 1981 general public could freely visit the mosque and even climb to the top of the seven-storey, but was then prohibited following the death of 45 people when an electricity cut put the tower's staircase into darkness and the Minar was thrown to stampede.
Delhi
