Qutub Minar 673v2t

QUTUB MINAR Manar or manara, the Arabic words meaning either "place of fire" or “place of light“. Minaret is one of the popular symbols of Islam both politically and spiritually. It is the oldest form in Islamic architecture according to Muslim tradition, the call to prayer was invented, in reaction to the Jewish use of the HORN and the Christian use of the WOODEN CLACKER to summon worshippers.

 QUTAB MINAR PLAN OF  QUWWAT-ULISLAM MASJID  SCREEN  IRON PILLAR  ILTUTMISH TOMB  ALAI DARWAZA  IMAM ZAMIN’S TOMB  ALAUDDINS TOMB & MADRASSA  ALAI MINAR

QUTUB COMPLEX

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HITORY OF QUTUB COMPLEX: The Qutub complex was built by Qutub Ud-Din Aybak (reg. 1206 - 1211) who established the first Islamic sultanate in the Indian subcontinent in Delhi in 1192. It is located within the citadel of Qal'a-e-Rai Pithora (Qila Rai Pithora) where Qutb Ud-Din also set up his istrative quarters and residence. Also known as Quwwat ul Islam, meaning the 'might of Islam,' the Qutub complex was created with the dismantling and reassembling of the 27 existing Hindu and Jain temples on the site.

THE COMPLEX : Qutub complex consists of a mosque and two minarets enclosed within a series of cloistered precincts. This rectangular complex measures about 235 m (north-south) by 155 m (east-west) along the exterior. It was entered via four monumental gates along the north, east and south walls, of which only the southern gate (Alai Darwaza) remains. The mosque, known as the Qutb or Quwwat ul Islam Mosque, occupies the southwest corner of the complex. It consists of rectangular enclosures, all the later work of Aybak's successors. The Qutb Minar (minaret) stands in the southeastern part of this enclosure. The unfinished Alai Minar (minaret) stands in the northeastern part of the complex. A tall screen wall with pointed archways runs along the western edge of the precinct, creating a qibla wall for the prayer spaces. In addition to these elements, the complex also contains several smaller buildings: the Tomb of Iltutmish, Ala al-Din Khalji's madras a, and the Imam Zamin Mosque.

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QUTUB MINAR ( ARCHITECTURE ) :

FEATURES: At the base, the diameter of the minaret is a little over fourteen meters and it tapers towards the top, where it is only slightly under 3 meters wide. It has a circular stairway made of three-hundred-seventy-nine steps to reach the top for a spectacular view. The Minar comprises of several superimposed flanged and cylindrical shafts separated by balconies. All the storeys have a balcony that circles the Minar with stone brackets for . The Minar is decorated throughout with floral motifs and arabesque. Also it bears inscriptions that are verses from the Koran and messages from the Sultans. By Sathish & Aarish

QUWAT-UL-ISLAM MASJID : To mark his victory over Rai Pithora, Qutub-ud-Din Aibak built the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid (Might of Islam) in 1192 which was completed in 1198. It is the earliest extant mosque in India, having a rectangular court. The court is enclosed by cloisters which were erected with carved columns and other architectural from the 27 Hindu and Jain temples, which were later demolished

IRON PILLAR : The Iron Pillar dates back to the 4th century BC. It bears inscriptions that dedicate it as a flagstaff to honor the Hindu god Vishnu and in memory of Gupta king Chandragupta II (375-413 AD). The pillar is a symbol of the progress of metallurgy in ancient India. It is made of 98 percent wrought iron and has survived 1,600 years without rusting. The walls and pillars are having intrinsic Hindu architectural motifs. It is said to have been brought to Delhi by the Tomar king Anangpal, somewhere in the 11th century from Udaygiri. There are no other relics from the same period in this site.

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ILTUTMISH TOMB : It is located in the complex Tomb, northwest to the Iron Pillar. Iltutmish died in 1236, but had his tomb built a year earlier in 1235. It is made of red sand stone, situated northwest of the minaret. It is a landmark in Indo-Islamic architecture. It is believed to have had a dome which was later damaged. There are 3 entrances on all 3 sides, but the west, which was for the mihrabs. It is a simple square chamber, covered originally by a circular dome that was carried on a form of squinch arch. Dome was constructed using concentric rings, but Hindu artisans couldn’t make it last long. Inside is decorated and elaborated with Quranic verses. Marble is used in mehrab and cenotaph.

ALAI DARWAZA : It is the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ulIslam mosque, and is a gem of Islamic architecture in India. It was built by Alla-ud-din Khilji in 1311. It is 17.2m square and pierced by ached openings that echo the contours of the covering dome. The arch to the north is semicircular while the others are of pointed horse shoe shape. It has intricate carvings in red sandstone and marble. It has red stone jali screens.

ALAI MINAR : Ala-ud-Din wanted to build a second tower of victory twice as high as Qutab Minar but when he died the tower had reached only 24.5 meters and later no one was willing to continue his over ambitious project. It stands to the north of the Qutab Minar and the mosque. It was to have ramps instead of stairs. Windows are at regular quadrant heights, for a gradual ramp to be made.

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MATERIALS : The first three stories are made of sandstone and the next two of marble and sandstone. Firoz Shah Tughlaq added marble to the top storey. The Minar is in fact believed to have been built to aid the Muezzin of the mosque for prayer calls.

NATURAL HAZARDS : Qutub Minar has survived a series of lightning bolts and earthquakes till date. The minar is unharmed except for a slight tilt, some two feet off the perpendicular. The 1 st lightning struck in 1368 AD and knocked off the top storey. Later in 19 th century an earthquake destroyed Toothless cupola. Major Smith replaced it with a bengal style chhatri which was removed by Lord Hardinge as it sat ill with the architecture style of Qutub Minar. Its kept on the ground to the left of the entry path and is known as the Smiths folly.

RESTORATION : On 1st August 1803, the old cupola was thown down due to Earthquake. After 2 years, repairing of the structure began and completed in 1828 by Major Smith. His work on By Sathish & Aarish

the doorway has been criticized because of being gothic and different from the minar. The materials used are proper. Restoration work is carried out during the nights also, when needed. After a series of accidents in the early 1980’s, visitors are no longer allowed to climb the Qutub minar.

ACCIDENT : Before 1974, the general public was allowed access to the top of the minar, via the internal staircase. On 4 December 1981, the staircase lighting failed. Between 300 and 400 visitors stampeded towards the exit, and 45 were killed in the crush. Most of these were children. Subsequently, public access to the inside of the tower has been stopped.

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