Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar the tallest stone tower in the Indian subcontinent. It is situated on the southern suburb of Delhi near Mehrauli. The construction of the tower was started in the year 1192 by Qutbuddin Aibak the founder of Slave dynasty near Quwwat ul Islam Mosque. During his lifetime only the first storey of the tower was completed made of red sandstone.
The second, third and fourth storey were constructed by his successor Iltumish(1211-36). It was struck by a major lightening in the year 1368 during the period of Firuz Shah Tughlaq and the fourth storey was damaged . It was replaced by him along with an additional fifth storey. Later in 1503 Sikandar Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty renovated the top stories with marble stones.
The total height of the Minar is 238 feet and there are 329 revolving steps inside it to go to the top. The angular and circular fluttings on the lower storeys, projecting balconies and decorative inscriptions on the walls add to its beauty. It is said artisans from Samarkand and Bukhara in the middle east Asia were brought to do the decorations.
Another major earthquake struck the Minar in 1803 and the top Cupola was damaged. The East India Company Governor General authorised Major Robert Smith Garrison Engineer stationed at Delhi to do the repair. He replaced the top with a Hindu style Cupola and work was completed by 1828. But it was not in tune with the Islamic architecture of the Minar and ultimately in 1848 Lord Hardinge ordered the removal of it and it now lies in the corner of the ground. It used to be called Smiths folly.
Our people are enamoured by the modern day skyscrapers of the western hemisphere without appreciating the one in our backyard constructed 800 years back.
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