Explore the artistic tower of victory or the Qutub Minar that is an excellent example of late Afghan building style in Delhi, India. The Qutub Minar happens to be one of the highest stone towers in India till date and is definitely one of the most skilful and artistic illustrations of Islamic architecture. In fact Qutub Minar is recognized as one of the main landmark monuments of Delhi, India.
The construction of the Qutub Minar began in the year 1199 under the supervision of Sultan Qutub-Ud-Din, though he could not complete the structure during his lifetime. Later his son-in-law, Illtumish undertook the completion of this magnificent five-storied minar in Delhi, India.
The 72.5 meter high tower is a splendid affair that measures about 14.32 meters in thickness at the base and gradually tapers with height to about a 2.7-meter width at the peak.
The Qutub Minar was damaged twice by lightning in the years 1326 and 1368. The marble structure that was originally set atop the tower was damaged during the first disaster and was replaced by another marble crown designed by an English architect that was however considered inappropriate and was removed in the later years. This marble structure lies on display as an exhibit on the lawns near the Qutub Minar.
The other historic sites of interest that lie within the Qutub Minar Complex in Delhi are the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Iron Pillar, Alai Darwaza, Alai Minar, Ala-ud-din Madrasa and the tomb of Illtumish.
The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque was constructed on the demolished remains of an ancient Hindu temple near the foot of the splendid Qutub Minar that dominates the Delhi skyline. Supposedly the first ever mosque to be built in Delhi, the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque courtyard has an amazing Iron Pillar that displays an inscription that has been traced back to the Chandragupta Maurya period. Historians believe the pillar may have been brought from someplace in Bihar, India. An intriguing feature about the 1600 hundred-year pillar is that fact that it consists of 98 percent pure iron that shows no signs of rusting. Scientists are still trying to fathom as to how such a pure state of iron could have been obtained as modern technology has still not been able to achieve this remarkable feat.
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