QUTUB MINAR

The Qutb Minar, also spelled as Qutub Minar, is a minaret and "victory tower"
that forms part of the Qutb complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the
Mehrauli area of Delhi, India. Qutb Minar was 73-metres (239.5 feet) tall before
the final, fifth section was added after 1369. The tower tapers, and has a 14.3
metres (47 feet) base diameter, reducing to 2.7 metres (9 feet) at the top of the
peak. It contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps. Its closest comparator is the 62-
metre all-brick Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, of c.1190, a decade or so before
the probable start of the Delhi tower. The surfaces of both are elaborately
decorated with inscriptions and geometric patterns; in Delhi the shaft is fluted
with "superb stalactite bracketing under the balconies" at the top of each stage.
In general minarets were slow to be used in India, and are often detached from
the main mosque where they exist.

HISTORY
Qutubuddin Aibak, at that time a deputy of Muhammad of Ghor, but after his
death founder of the Delhi Sultanate, started construction of the Qutb Minar's
first storey in 1199. This level has inscriptions praising Muhammad of Ghor.
Aibak's successor and son-in-law Shamsuddin Iltutmish completed a further three
storeys. In 1369, a lightning strike destroyed the top storey. Firoz Shah Tughlaq
replaced the damaged storey, and added one more. Sher Shah Suri also added an
entrance to this tower while he was ruling and Humayun was in exile.Qutb Minar
was begun after the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, which was started around 1192 by
Qutb-ud-din Aibak, first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. The mosque complex is one
of the earliest that survives in the Indian subcontinent. The minaret is named
after Qutb-ud-din Aibak, or Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a Sufi saint. Its ground storey
was built over the ruins of the Lal Kot, the citadel of Dhillika. Aibak's successor
Iltutmish added three more storeys.The Minar is surrounded by several
historically significant monuments of Qutb complex. The nearby pillared cupola
known as "Smith's Folly" is a remnant of the tower's 19th century restoration,
which included an ill-advised attempt to add some more storeys.The minar's
topmost storey was damaged by lightning in 1369 and was rebuilt by Firuz Shah
Tughlaq, who added another storey. In 1505, an earthquake damaged Qutub
Minar; it was repaired by Sikander Lodi. On 1 September 1803, a major
earthquake caused serious damage. Major Robert Smith of the British Indian
Army renovated the tower in 1828 and installed a pillared cupola over the fifth
storey, thus creating a sixth. The cupola was taken down in 1848, under
instructions from The Viscount Hardinge, then Governor General of India. It was
reinstalled at ground level to the east of Qutb Minar, where it remains. It is
known as "Smith's Folly".

Architecture
The stone used in Qutub Minar is essentially of three different types. While red
sandstone is used in the construction of the first three storeys, it is not of uniform
colour. The stones units are pink in colour in the first and second storeys, and are
a dark shade of red in the third. In the fourth and fifth storeys, red sandstone and
marble have been used in the exterior design. The difference in colour is also
because of the gap in the construction of the different storeys. Qutub Minar has
five storeys and five balconies, and an innovative plan, which changes with each
storey. The exterior of bottom storey has alternate angular and circular flutings.
The second storey has only semicircular flutings, while the third has strictly
angular flutings. The alignment of the fluting is maintained on all the three
storeys. In contrast to the plain exterior fluting, the circular balconies have
ornamented bands adorned with delicate carvings and inscriptions. The
inscriptions on each band contain both quotations from the Quran as well as
historical information.The balustrades (the balcony fencing) is the work of Major
Robert Smith, who removed the original balustrades and replaced them with the
present design. These at once look out-of-place and one can plainly see the
mismatch between the intricate design of the bands and the almost ugly
balustrades. Each balcony is supported by large stone brackets on which beautiful
honeycomb design. These brackets and designs are similar to the work seen on
several Islamic monuments across the world. Originally Qutub Minar had only
four storeys. The fifth storey and some changes were added in 14th century by
Firoz Tughlaq. One of the inscriptions on the third floor of Qutub Minar states
that the tower suffered damage after it was struck by lightning. It was
subsequently repaired and made higher then before. Over the centuries and
decades, Qutub Minar has suffered and survived many earthquakes and other
assaults by nature. However it has continued to remain steadfast and majestic. It
indicates the strong foundation and the stability of the structure. While Qutub-
ud-din Aibak started out with a single storey in 1199, the foundation was laid to
accommodate future additions to the tower. The architect of both the Qawwat-
ul-Islam mosque and Qutub Minar was the same person – Fazl Abul Maali.
Inscriptions on both the structures record his name and present him as the
person responsible for the design. Another inscription states that the building was
constructed under the “superintendence of the slave Muhammad Amir Koh.”
Other inscriptions reveal names of other architects and artisans who worked on
the tower’s restoration in the 15th century. These include names of Nana and
Salha (architects), a carpenter called Dharma Vanani, and two artisans, Lola and
Lashman, who worked on the tower in 1328.
Damage, Repairs and Additions to Qutub Minar
While Qutub Minar has withstood the ravages of time, it has also been suffered
serious damaged over the centuries. Repairs and reconstruction on large parts of
the tower were carried out by later rulers of Delhi as well as the British during
their occupation of India. Qutub Minar has been regularly struck by lightning
during rainy days. The tall tower has served as a natural passage for the charge
generated in the atmosphere. However the only common conductor in Qutub
Minar is iron, used in the form of clamps to hold the stone blocks together. The
other material — red sandstone, marble and granite — are non conductive. The
first recorded instance of lightning striking the top storey of Qutub was in 1326
AD, during the reign of Muhammad Tughlaq (1325-51 AD). The second recorded
strike occurred during the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-88 AD) in 1369,
which destroyed the fourth storey added by Shams-ud-din Iltutmish. Firoz Shah
Tughlaq carried out restoration work and replaced the damaged storey with two
new storeys. Unlike the other storeys, marble was also used along with red
sandstone in the construction of the fourth and fifth storeys, making them stand
out from the rest. Firoz Shah Tughlaq also added a chhatri/cupola atop Qutub
Minar.In 1803, when India was under the rule of the British, an earthquake
seriously damaged Qutub Minar and threw Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s cupola to the
ground. Two years later, repair work was authorised by the Governor-General of
India, Richard Wellesley, and was performed under the supervision of Major
Robert Smith of the Bengal Royal Engineers. The restoration was finally
completed 25 years after the earthquake, in 1828 and at a cost of Rs. 17,000 and
a further Rs. 5,000 for the removal of debris. As part of the restorations, Major
Smith liberally made some additions to Qutub Minar, which were severel
criticised, most notably by Major Alexander Cunningham, the first Director
General of Archaeological Survey of India. In one instance, explaining the changes
to the entrance door of Qutub Minar, Major Smith wrote that it had been
“improved with new mouldings, frieze and repair of the inscription tablet.” Other
changes included the installation of balustrades (railings) on all the balconies of
Qutub Minar, which were (and still are) in contrast with the beautiful, ornate
bands around the balconies. Major Robert Smith’s most ambitious addition was
the installation (in 1828) of a Mughal-style cupola (chatri) at the top of Qutub
Minar. It came under sever criticism for its awkward design, which was out of sync
with the intricate design structure of Qutub Minar. Twenty years later, in 1848, it
was removed under instructions from the Governor General of India, Sir Henry
Hardinge.

Accidents
Before 1974, the general public was not allowed access to the first floor of the
minaret, via the internal staircase. Access to the top was stopped after 1000 due
to suicides. On 4 December 1981, the staircase lighting failed. Between 400 and
500 visitors stampeded towards the exit, and 47 were killed by their crush and
some were injured. Most of these were school children. Since then, the tower has
been closed to the public. Since this incident the rules regarding entry have been
stringent.

Qutb Minar complex

# Alai Darwaza
The Alai Darwaza is a main gateway from southern side of the Quwwat-ul-Islam
Mosque. It was built by the second Khalji Sultan of Delhi, Ala-ud-din Khalji in 1311
AD, who also added a court to the pillared to the eastern side. The domed
gateway is decorated with red sandstone and inlaid white marble decorations,
inscriptions in Naskh script, latticed stone screens and showcases the remarkable
craftsmanship of the Turkish artisans who worked on it. This is the first building in
India to employ Islamic architecture principles in its construction and
ornamentation. The Slave dynasty did not employ true Islamic architecture styles
and used false domes and false arches. This makes the Alai Darwaza, the earliest
example of first true arches and true domes in India. It is considered to be one of
the most important buildings built in the Delhi sultanate period. With its pointed
arches and spearhead of fringes, identified as lotus buds, it adds grace to the
Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque to which it served as an entrance.

# Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
It was the first mosque built in Delhi after the Islamic conquest of India and the
oldest surviving example of Ghurids architecture in Indian subcontinent. The
construction of this Jami Masjid (Friday Mosque), started in the year 1193 AD,
when Aibak was the commander of Muhammad Ghori's garrison that occupied
Delhi. To leave the imprint of his religion to the new territory, Aibak decided to
erect a mosque epitomising the might of Islam and chose his site, the heart of the
captured Rajput citadel of Qila Rai Pithora. The Qutub Minar was built
simultaneously with the mosque but appears to be a stand-alone structure, built
as the 'Minar of Jami Masjid', for the muezzin to perform adhan, call for prayer,
and also as a qutub, an Axis or Pole of Islam. It is reminiscent in style and design
of the Adhai-din-ka Jhonpra or Ajmer mosque at Ajmer, Rajasthan, also built by
Aibak during the same time, also constructed by demolishing earlier temples and
a Sanskrit school, at the site.

The mosque is one of the earliest extant mosques in India. The original
dimensions of the mosque had a courtyard measuring 43 m (141 ft) by 33 m (108
ft). The prayer hall, located on the west measures 45 m (148 ft) by 12 m (39 ft).
The mosque has grey colonnades made of greystone with three bays in east and
two bays deep on the north and the south. Extensions were made to the mosque
during 1296 when its dimensions in north and south were extended by 35 m (115
ft). The famous iron pillar is located on the stone pavement in front of it, while
Qutub Minar is located west of the main entrance. The central arch of the
mosque is ogee in shape and is 6.5 m (21 ft) wide and 16 m (52 ft) tall. The side
arches are smaller in size. The screen is sculpted with religious texts and floral
patterns. Desai believes that the mosque was not constructed in scientific style
but in Corbel style as indicated by the variations in the pattern of the arches.

The mosque is in ruins today but indigenous corbelled arches, floral motifs, and
geometric patterns can be seen among the Islamic architectural structures. To the
west of the Quwwat ul-Islam mosque is the tomb of Iltutmish which was built by
the monarch in 1235.
# Iron pillar
The iron pillar is one of the world's foremost metallurgical curiosities. The pillar,
7.21-metre high and weighing more than six tonnes, was originally erected by
Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (375–414 AD) in front of a Vishnu Temple complex
at Udayagiri around 402 AD, and later shifted by Anangpal in the 10th century CE
from Udaygiri to its present location. Anangpal built a Vishnu Temple here and
wanted this pillar to be a part of that temple. The estimated weight of the
decorative bell of the pillar is 646 kg while the main body weighs 5,865 kg, thus
making the entire pillar weigh 6,511 kg. The pillar bears an inscription in Sanskrit
in Brahmi script dating 4th century AD, which indicates that the pillar was set up
as a Vishnudhvaja, standard of god, on the hill known as Vishnupada in memory
of a mighty king named Chandra, believed to Chandragupta II. A deep socket on
the top of this ornate capital suggests that probably an image of Garuda was fixed
into it, as common in such flagpoles.

# Tomb of Iltutmish
The tomb of the Delhi Sultanate ruler, Iltutmish, a second Sultan of Delhi (r. 1211–
1236 AD), built 1235 CE, is also part of the Qutb Minar Complex in Mehrauli, New
Delhi. The central chamber is a 9 mt. sq. and has squinches, suggesting the
existence of a dome, which has since collapsed. The main cenotaph, in white
marble, is placed on a raised platform in the centre of the chamber. The facade is
known for its ornate carving, both at the entrance and the interior walls. The
interior west wall has a prayer niche (mihrab) decorated with marble, and a rich
amalgamation of Hindu motifs into Islamic architecture, such as bell-and-chain,
tassel, lotus, diamond emblems.

1914, during excavations by Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) Gordon

Sanderson, the grave chamber was discovered. From the north of the tomb 20
steps lead down to the actual burial vault.

# Tomb of Imam Zamin

Tomb of Imam Zamin is a 16th-century tomb located in the Qutb Minar complex,
Mehrauli, Delhi in India. It houses the tomb of Mohammad Ali (popularly known
as Imam Zamin), an Islamic cleric who migrated from Turkestan to India during
the reign of Sikandar Lodi. The tomb was built by Ali himself during the reign of
Mughal emperor Humayun. This tomb has no relation with the other monuments
of the complex.