QUTB AREA

QUTB-MINAR

Qutbu'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation of the now world-famous Qutb-Minar,intended possibly mainly as a tower of victory but also as a minar attached to the quwwatu'l-Islam mosque for the use of the mu'adhdhin to call the people to prayer to prayer.Surprisingly,a later Nagari inception on the minar calls it `Akay'd-Din's victory-column.Qutbu'd-Din had perhaps only succeeded in raising the first storey,his successor Iltutmish.From the Nagari and Persian inscriptions on the minar,it appears that it was damaged twice by lightning, in 1326 and 1368.The first damage Occurred during Muhammad Tughluq's reign, and was repaired by him apparently in 1332.The second damage was attended by Firuz Tughluq(1351-88).Later in 1503,Sikandar Lodi(1489-1517) also carried out some restoration in the upper storeys.Originally the minar had only four storeys,faced with red and buff sandstone. The uppermost storey which was damaged in 1368 during Firuz Tughluq's reign was replaced by him by two storeys, making free use of marble but leaving the lower portion of the fourth storey built with sandstone in its original condition. The original three storeys are each laid on a different plan, the lowest with alternate angular and circular flutings, the second with round ones and the third with angular ones only, with the same alignment of flutings, however, being carried through them all. Its projecting balconies with stalactite bands on different storeys heighten its decorative effect. It has a diameter of 14.32m at base and about 2.75m on the top. With a height of 72.5 m and 379 steps, it is the highest stone tower in india and a perfect example of minar known to exist anywhere.

There exists a tradition that the Qutb-Minar was built by Prthviraja, the last Chauhan king of Delhi, for enabling his daughter to behold the sacred river Yamuna from its top as part of her daily worship. Its entire architecture, however, bespeaks an Islamic origin, with two of its proto-types in brick still existing at Ghazni, although Hindu craftsmen were certainly employed for its construction, as is evident also from certain Devanagari inscriptions on its surface. Sometimes sculptured stones from temples have been found utilized in it. Originally it was surmounted by a cupola, which fell down during an earthquake and was replaced early in the nineteenth century by a new cupola in the late Mughal style by one Major Smith. It looked; however, so incongruous that it was brought down in 1848, and may now be seen on the lawns to the south-east of the minar.

LAL-KOT

The Tomar Rajputs are believed to have settled first in the Suraj-Kund are, and shifted later some 10Km west, where Anangpal raised the citadel of Lal-Kot, now survived by its thick stone-built ramparts, a panoramic view of which may be obtained from the top or balconies of the Qutb-Minar.Recent excavations have show that the original enclosure and are usually regarded as its part, are a later construction. Outside the ramparts ran a moat, now traceable only in some places. The later wall mentioned above is provided with massive towers and pierced by several gates, some with outworks, known as Ghazni, Sohan and Ranjit gates. The rubble-built walls of ramparts are 2.5 to 3m thick with a stone footing on the exterior, over which was raised a thick brick revetment.Later, an elegant and impressive veneer of dressed local quartzite blocks, now extant only over some stretches, was raised in front of the brick-face, and provided with neat looking semi-circular bastions at irregular intervals. Ruins of several structures can be traced within the Lal-Kot, but no palaces have been located. Its original temple area is now occupied by the Qutb-Minar and other associated monument. The walls of Lal-Kot have been pierced by the Delh-Qutb,Badarpur-Qutb and Mehrauli-Qutb roads,and the visitor can have a glimpse of them while approaching this area from any of the directions, although the are not so apparent, while coming from Mehrauli.

QILA AI PITHORA

Vigraharaja IV, the Chauhan prince of Sakam bhai, captured Delhi from the Tomars in the later half of the twelfth century and his grandson Prithviraja III, popularly known by the name of Rai Pithora, extended the Lal-Kot by throwing up massive ramparts around it.This enlarged city, with the Lal-Kot at its south-western base, is known as Qila Rai Pithora and is the forns of the so-called seven cities of Delhi.Qutbu'd-din captured it in 192 and made it as his capital. Like Lal-Kot, its ramparts are cut through by the Delhi-Qutb and Badarpur-Qutb roads. The road-pierced on both sides of the road just past. The extents village, as he approaches them from Delhi side. The extents of ramparts are, however, best viewed from the Qutb-Minar.The rubble-built ramparts are largely covered by debris, and their entire circuit is not traceable. They are 5 to 6 m in thickness, and as high as 18m.on some sides, with a wide moat outside them. They were pierced by thirteen gates, according to Timur.Among the gates that still exist are Hauz-Rani, Barka and Budaun gates, the last of which is mentioned BY Ibn-Battuta and was probably the main entrance to the city.