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In 1199,
Qutub-ud-Din Aibak raised the Qutub Minar either as a
triumph tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque. However,
only the first story was finished by Qutub-ud-din. The other
stories were built by his successor and son-in-law, Iltumish
(1211-36 AD). The two circular stories in white marble were
built by Firozshah Tughlaq in 1368, which used marble to
face the Redstone. From a base of 14.32m it tapers to 2.75m at a
height of 72.5m. It's a red sandstone tower enclosed with
beautiful and striking carvings and is adorned with verses from
the sacred Quran. Its projecting balconies with
inscriptional attractive bands on different stories heighten its
pretty effect. With a height of 72.5 m and 379 steps, it is the
top stone tower in India, as well as one of the finest Islamic
structures ever raised and Delhi's recognized sight. Qutub Minar
is one of the most visited tourist spot of Delhi.
History:
Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced
the creation of the Qutub Minar in A.D. 1193, but could only
complete its basement. His successor, Iltutmish, added
three more stories, and in 1368, Firozshah Tuglak constructed
the fifth and the last storey. The development of architectural
styles from Aibak to Tuglak is fairly marked in the minar.
Iron Pillar:
Close to the mosque is one of Delhi's most interested structures
the Iron Pillar. Dating back to 4th century A.D., the pillar
bears a dedication which states that it was erected as a
flagstaff in honor of the Hindu god, Vishnu, and in the memory
of the Gupta King Chandragupta II (375-413). How the
pillar moved to its current location remains a mystery. The
pillar also highlights ancient India's achievements in
metallurgy. The pillar is made of 98 per cent wrought iron and
has stood 1,600 years without rusting or decaying.
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