Start point of Walk: Ticket counter of Qutub Complex

Percy Brown calls Qutub minar as “One of the most remarkable architectural monuments ever produced”.

Once the epic center of Lal kot, first of the seven major cities of Delhi, The Qutub Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has never lost its importance and still attracts thousands of visitors everyday. Qutubu’d-din Aibak, favourite slave and army commander of Muhammad Ghur of Afghanistan, captured Delhi in 1206 and declared himself the first Sultan of the Slave dynasty after his master retired to his homeland. Lal Kot saw slaves like Qutubu’d-din Aibak (founder of Mamluk Dynasty), Iltutmish, Balban and an Empress, Raziya Saultan occupying the throne.

In this walk we cover structures including the Qutub Minar, Quwwatu’l- Islam mosque, Iron pillar, Ala’i- Darwaza, Tomb of Imam Zamin, Tomb and Madrasa of Alauddin Khalji, Tomb of Shamsu’d-Din Illutmish (a self-built tomb), Ala’I Minar, Mosque, a Serai or rest house and a garden of the late Mughal Period.

The Qutub Minar is the tallest stone tower in India or highest single tower in the world initiated by Qutubu’d-Din Aibak as a tower of victory attached to Quwwatu’l- Islam mosque. Qutubu’d-Din constructed the first storey while the second, third and fourth were completed by his successor Iltutmish. The fourth storey was rebuilt into two storeys by Feroz Shah Tughluq. Every storey has decorative, inscription (calligraphy) bands. A Mughal Tomb is a resting place of Imam Zamin, a native of Turkestan who came to India during Sikander Lodhi’s time. He performed religious duties associated with Quwwatu’l- Islam mosque and died during the reign of Humayun. The Iron pillar dating back to the 4th century AD is the oldest structure weighing 6000 KGs and is made of pure iron, demonstrating the excellent metallurgical knowledge of ancient India. Ala’i Darwaza is a square shaped domed building with intricate carvings in red sandstone and marble with horse shaped arches and lotus bud fringes on the arches. This complex received the national award for the best maintained tourist friendly monument 2007-08. Overshadowed by the world famous monument, the Qutub Minar, it will quite interesting to explore the other buildings in the complex.

Tips: carry a bottle of water

Extra costs: entry to the monument