Qutb Minar (Persian: قطب منار) is a minaret and ‘victory tower’ in the Mehrauli (Hindi: महरौली) area of New Delhi (नई दिल्ली), India. It is one of most visited tourist spots in the city due to it being one of the earliest that survives in the Indian subcontinent.
Qutb Minar is 72.5 meters high, making it the tallest minaret in the world built of bricks. The tower tapers, and has a 14.3 metres base diameter, reducing to 2.7 metres at the top of the peak.
The whole tower contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps. It is elaborately decorated with inscriptions and geometric patterns.
Qutb Minar is surrounded by several historically significant monuments of the Qutb complex. It was added to the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1993.
Qutb Minar was built under the reign of Delhi Sultanate (سلطنت دهلی), which was an Islamic empire based in Delhi that stretched over large parts of the Indian subcontinent for 320 years (1206–1526).
You can also visit the tomb of Iltutmish, which is still preserved well. Qutb Minar was completed under the reign of Iltutmish.
Shams ud-Din Iltutmish, (شمس الدين التتمش; r. 1211–1236) was the third king of Delhi Sultanate who ruled northern India. He was the first Muslim sovereign to rule from Delhi, and is thus considered the effective founder of the Delhi Sultanate.
Not too far from the tomb is the relic of another tower, it is said that the successor of Iltutmish wanted to build another tower which is taller than Qutb Minar, but the dynasty collapsed after the base was built and left unfinished.
