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 The star of Delhi that has been keeping guard over it for centuries is the beautiful Qutub Minar. This graceful architectural splendour was initiated in Delhi by Prthviraj and his uncle Vigraharaja as a symbol of their victory over the Tomar Rajputs. However it was left incomplete, the reason still not known. Historians believe that it was completed by Qutubuddib and Iltutmish in 1200 AD as the inscriptions of Iltutmish are all over the minaret.
Cutting through the sky with a height of 234 metres, this minaret stands as the tallest ancient monument. It is even taller than its western peer the Leaning tower of Pisa in Italy and the oriental delight Great Pakoda in Pekin, China. The 378 steps that take you to the peak of the Minar will leave you breathless and exhausted.
But with the enchanting view at the top all exertions evaporate. You get a resplendent feeling of being in one of the oldest monuments of the world and a bird’s eye view of Delhi city. The Hauz Khaz is visible on your left while the walls of Jahapanah and Siri on the right. One can also see the walls of Tughlaqabad, Purana Qila, Humayun’s Tomb, Jama Masjid and Firoz Shah Kotla.
As wars from neighbouring kingdoms were imminent, kings also used the minaret to keep a watch over Delhi. The Khilji and Tughlaq kings used it as a watch tower to check over the Mongol hordes that always posed a threat to the city.
The Qutub Minar stands today in all its ancient vigour thanks to many who restored it as and when it bore damages. The top two floors of the monument crumbled in an earthquake during the rule of Firoz Shah who repaired it. The floors built by him are of marble and smooth as against the other and hence stand out. Sikandar Lodi restored it when it was damaged in the 1505 earthquake. It survived another earthquake in 1794 as Major Smith repaired it back. However he replaced the Firoz Shah pavilion with his own. In 1848 Lord Hardinge removed the pavilion and now it is visible between the minar in the garden and the Dak bungalow.
A closer look at the Minaret and it will appear tilted to one side. This is because of centuries of wear and tear it has suffered. Yet as it stands tall it speaks aloud of our culture and heritage. Tourists flock from the country and world over to see the monumental splendour of our country. Hence extreme conservation and care is taken by authorities to retain the Qutub Minar in all its grandeur.
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