Qutub Minar: A Tale of Triumph, Tragedy, and Timelessness

Qutub Minar, a wonder of architecture in Delhi, is the tallest minaret made of bricks in the world. Its imposing height has weathered centuries, but its path to completion was not without hiccups. It was started in 1193, but it took almost two centuries, eventually completing its fifth and final floor in 1368.
This historical monument is an unmissable site for anyone visiting Delhi. From childhood, we’ve read about its magnificence in textbooks, but the real experience is awe-inspiring. An outstanding example of Indo-Islamic architecture is Qutub Minar, which was constructed using marble and red sandstone. According to historians, it was built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim monarch of India, who overthrew the last Hindu king of Delhi.Its lengthy construction history came to a close in 1368 when Firoz Shah Tughlaq completed the final floor.


Historians are still debating this, with some claiming it is false. However, the mosque's architectural mix of Islamic and Hindu traditions reveals a lot about India's complicated history.


The 72.5-meter (238-foot) tall minaret, which is accessed via a 379-step spiral staircase, is an engineering marvel. Its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site demonstrates India's rich cultural past. However, few people are aware of the tragedy and mystery that the minar contains. Let's discover some of its amazing yet little-known facts.



Constructing such a tall structure with 12th-century technology was no easy undertaking.
The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, known as India's first mosque, is located next to the minar. According to legend, this structure was built from the remains of 27 Hindu temples that had been destroyed. The minar wasn't constructed all at once—it had to be rebuilt several times because of calamities. The first mishap occurred in 1369 when lightning hit, reducing its upper parts to rubble. Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq then undertook the task of repairing the destroyed tower and even incorporated new elements into the building.


Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who had conceived the monument, was able to finish only its base before his death. His successor, Iltutmish, carried forward the work and constructed three more stories, thus bestowing the grandeur upon it that we behold today.

Though Qutub Minar is a marvel, it has also seen tragedy. Until 1974, tourists could climb to the top and take in panoramic views of Delhi. But on December 4, 1981, a ghastly stampede took place within the minar.Tourists were alarmed when the spiral staircase went dark due to a power outage. In the subsequent mayhem, 45 people were slain.


Following the disaster, officials decided to permanently close the Qutub Minar's interior to tourists. Despite suggestions of reopening it, inexplicable accidents and safety concerns have kept it closed. Tourists are no longer permitted to climb the building's summits; they can only view it from the exterior.
The Qutub Minar is a monument whose past is both interesting and frightening, serving as a silent testament to millennia of history and a symbol of architectural talent. Whether you consider it a marvel or a mystery, one thing is certain: it continues to stand tall, defying fate.