Qutub Minar (DELHI)

The Qutub Minar is a tower located in Delhi, India. It is the world's tallest brick minaret with a height of 72.5 meters (237.8 ft). It has a diameter of 14.32m at the base and about 2.75m on the top.

Qutub Minar, an architectural marvel of the 13th century, is located in Delhi, the capital of India. One of the most famous landmarks of Delhi, viewing it is trully an experience to relish. Qutub Minar complex monuments are listed in the UNESCO world heritage sites of India. Here is concise information about Qutub Minar in Delhi. Qutb-u'd-Din Aibak, the first sultan of Delhi, laid the foundation stones of Kutub Minar in AD 1199. Some historian opine that that the objective behind its construction was to give a platform to Mu'azzin to give calls for prayer. He was the one who raised the first storey. Then he died. The credit of completing the construction goes his successor and son-in-law, Shamsu'd-Din Iitutmish, who also added three more stories to it.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS IN QUTUB COMPLEX   

Alai Darwaza

The Alai Darwaza is the main gateway from southern side of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. It was built by the second Khilji Sultan of Delhi, Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1311 AD, who also added a court to the pillared to the eastern side.

Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque

Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (Might of Islam) (also known as the Qutb Mosque or the Great Mosque of Delhi) was built by Qutb-ud-din Aybak, founder of the Mamluk or Slave dynasty.

Iron Pillar

Iron Pillar in the Qutab Minar Complex harks back to the 5th century. It has faced the wear and tear of time successfully

Tombs

Iltutmish

The tomb of Slave Dynasty ruler, Iltutmish, the second Sultan of Delhi (r. 1211-1236 AD), built 1235 AD is also part of the Qutb complex at Mehrauli.

Imam Zamin

Tomb of Imam Muhammad Ali, or Imam Zamin, stand on a raised courtyard, next to the Alai Darwaza. According to an inscription of the eastern entrance to the tomb, Imam Zamin was a saint from Turkestan, who settled in India in around 1500, during the Sikander Lodhi

Alauddin Khilji's tomb and madarsa

At the back of the complex, southwest of the mosque, stands an L-shaped construction, consisting of Alauddin Khilji's tomb dating ca 1316 AD, and a madarsa, an Islamic seminary built by him. Khilji was the second Sultan of Delhi from Khilji dynasty, who ruled from 1296 to 1316 AD.

Alai Minar

Alauddin Khilji started building the Alai Minar, after he had doubled the size of Quwwat ul-Islam mosque. He conceived this tower to be two times higher than Qutb Minar in proportion with the enlarged mosque. The construction was however abandoned, just after the completion of the 24.5 meter high first storey core; soon after death of Ala-ud-din in 1316 AD.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: October to March

HOW TO REACH QUTUB MINAR

By Air : Delhi has two airports – Indra Gandhi International Airport and Palam Domestic Airport. Both these airports are connected with regular flights from important cities of the country and the world as well. Frequent shuttles run between these airports.

By Train : Delhi has three major railheads namely – Delhi, New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. These stations are served by many express and super fast trains from various parts of the country.

By Bus : Good motorable roads including National Highways and State Highway link Delhi with nearby states and rest of the country.

Local Transport : Buses, Taxis, Cars, Auto-rickshaws are available as local modes of transport, you can reach Qutab Minar by opting any mode. Metro railway is new attraction in Delhi but presently it is not linked to Qutab Minar.

ACCOMODATION

Plenty of accommodation options are available in Delhi that suit your budget. Choose from wide array of hotels ranging from five star to tourist lodges and enjoy a pleasant stay during your Delhi trip.

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LOTUS TEMPLE (BAHAI TEMPLE) DELHI

                                                                   

The Lotus Temple (Bahá'í Temple)House of Worship located On Baharpur Hills near Kalkaji in South Delhi, delhi ,India, popularly known as the Lotus Temple due to its flowerlike shape, is a Bahá'í House of Worship and also a prominent attraction in Delhi. It was completed in 1986 and serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent. Fariborz Sahba is recognized as the architect of this beautiful structure, who is an Iranian.It has won numerous architectural awards and been featured in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles, Since its inauguration to public worship in December 1986, the Bahá'í House of Worship in Delhi has, as of late 2002, attracted more than 50 million visitors, it welcomes four million visitors each year (about 13,000 every day or 9 every minute).
Following the Bahai faith, Lotus Temple is open to people of all religions. It is a perfect place to practice meditation and attain peace of mind. The Temple doesn't observe any kind of sermons or rituals. The visitors are required to maintain silence inside the hall.

                                                 


Best Season: February - March

Timings:

Open during summer (1st April - 30th September) - 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Winter (1st October - 31st March) - 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Closed every Monday

Place to visit near Lotus Temple
# Kalkaji Mandir
# ISKON Temple

                                                           

HOW TO REACH LOTUS TEMPLE

Tourists can reach upto Nehru Place (the bus terminal is well connected to every part of the city), from where one can take an auto-rickshaw or walk for 15 minutes.

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OLD FORT (PURANA QUILA)DELHI

                                                                                            
 PURANA QUILA(OLD FORT) DELHI
Purana Qila ( Old Fort), is the inner citadel of the city of Dina-panah, founded by the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun in 1533 and completed in 1538. Purana Qila, situated on the banks of Yamuna, was constructed by the Mughal emperor Humayun. It is where Humayun's capital Din Panah was located. Later it was renovated and named Shergarh by first Afghan emperor of India, Sher Shah Suri. Old Fort is located just south-east of India Gate and north of Humayun’s Tomb and the Nizamuddin Railway Station.

Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque

                                                                              

The single-domed Qila-i-Kuna Mosque, built by Sher Shah in 1541 is an excellent example of a pre-Mughal design, and an early example of the extensive use of the pointed arch in the region as seen in its five doorways with the 'true' horseshoe-shaped arches. It was designed as a Jami Mosque, or Friday mosque for the Sultan and his courtiers. The prayer hall inside, the single-aisled mosque, measures 51.20m by 14.90m and has five elegant arched prayer niches or mihrabs set in its western wall. At one time, the courtyard had a shallow tank with a fountain.

Sher Mandal

The Sher Mandal stands to the south of the mosque. This double-storeyed octagonal tower of red sandstone with steep stairs leading up to the roof, It was built by Sher Shah. This was also the tragic spot where, on 24 January 1556 Humayun slipped while on his way to the evening namaz, fell headlong down the stairs and died of his injuries two days later.                           

                                                                    
Several other monument also lie around the complex, like Kairul Manzil, mosque built by Maham Anga, Akbar's foster-mother, and which was later used as a madarsa. Sher Shah Suri Gate or Lal Darwaza, which was the South Gate to Shergarh, the city he founded, also lies opposite the Purana Qila complex, across Mathura Road, south-east of the Kairul Manzil.

SPECIAL ATTRACTION

Sound and Light Show : The Sound and Light show at the Old Fort is an added attraction which you should not miss. During this one hour show, the rise and fall of Delhi from Indraprastha to Mughal era becomes live in Sound and Light. Voice of this Sound and Light show has been given by Bollywood personalities like Jaya Bachchan, Om Puri and others.

Show Timings

English Version : September to October & February to April – 20.30 p.m to 21.30 p.m.
November to January – 19.30 p.m. to 21.30 p.m.
May to August – 21.00 p.m to 22.00 p.m.

# Show Timings may vary, please confirm the timings from the Booking counter ITDC, Connaught Place or concerned authority.

            

                                                                         

HOW TO REACH OLD FORT DELHI

By Air : Delhi is well-connected by several domestic and international flights with important places of India and the world. Indra Gandhi International Airport and Palam airport are the two main airports of Delhi. These airports are five mnts away from each other and served by regular shuttle services.

By Train : Delhi, New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station are three main railheads of Delhi. Several mail, super fast, Rajdhani and Superfast trains connect Delhi to rest of the country.

By Bus : National Highways and State Highways connect Delhi with neighbouring states and other parts of India. Buses of DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) and other State Transport Corporation ply to and from Delhi.

Apart from buses, taxis, cars, auto-rickshaws and metro are other local modes of transport. You can reach Old Fort by taking any mode of local transport.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is not at all a problem in Delhi as the city is dotted with hundreds of good hotels, lodges, rest houses etc. You may opt any of the accommodation option as per your budget and requirement.

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