A Walk Around the Qutb Complex

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Qutb Minar Complex is dominated by the early thirteenth century stone tower, towering above the horizon. It was once part of the fi rst urban complex in Delhi, Lal Kot, built by the Tomar Rajput rulers. Following the victory of Mahmud of Ghazni over Prithviraj Chauhan, the Turk rulers of Delhi constructed the major structures that still exist here today. As you enter the complex, you cross the almost totally collapsed outermost wall of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, constructed by Alauddin Khalji. The Alai Darwaza on the left formed part of Alauddin’s wall and was designed as the entrance to the mosque. The Qutb Minar was started by Qutbuddin Aibak, who only saw the construction of the fi rst storey during his lifetime. What you see of the Qutb today is the result of additions made by his successor Iltutmish and later by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. Sikandar Lodi too made repairs to the structure in the sixteenth century. The British attempted to replace a fallen cupola, but this was so inconsistent with the rest of the minaret that it was removed and now forms part of the complex. The wondrous Iron Pillar, the unfi nished Alai Minar, and the tomb of Iltutmish are some of the other structures in the complex