500+ Words Essay on Qutub Minar
Delhi is full of masterpieces of the Indo Islamic architecture, and the Qutub Minar is another example of it. It is situated in the Mehrauli area of Delhi, India. Standing at 73 metres high, it was built as a minaret and a victory tower. Minarets were mostly built near mosques.
They served as visual focal points and were used for the Muslim call to prayer. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The closest minaret in height to Qutub Minar is the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan. It is built at a place where it is not easily accessible. It stands at an altitude of 62 metres and is made up of only red bricks.
Construction and Architecture of Qutub Minar
The construction of the tower had started long back in 1192 by Qutub Ud Din Aibak and was completed by his successor Illtutmish. Aibak managed to complete the construction of 2 storeys whereas Illtutmish added the other three.
It was constructed to show the dominance of the Mughal rulers after they achieved victory against the Rajput rulers. More than 25 Hindu and Jain temples were demolished to obtain the raw material for building the minaret.
The monument took a long period of 20 years to be completed. Its basic purpose during the time of the Mughals was to keep the defence forces in check. It has a spiral staircase consisting of 379 steps, and the whole structure is built up of sandstone and marble.
It comprises five storeys or levels, and each of these 5 is quite different from one another. Qutub Minar also has the first mosque of India built at its foot. The monument is surrounded by a beautiful and lush green garden on all sides.
The top of the minaret provides a splendid view of Delhi and is breath-taking. The verses of the Holy Quran can be seen carved on the walls of the Qutub Minar. The monument has been attacked by lighting and earthquake several times, but still remains intact till date.
The Qutub Minar – A Tourist’s Paradise
Qutub Minar is one of India’s most famous tourist attractions, attracting more than 3.9 million visitors per year. It is fondly loved by tourists who love to see it as well as by architectural students who love to study it.
One reason why tourists look forward to visiting Qutub Minar so much is that it is situated in the Qutub complex which houses not just one, but many historically significant monuments.
The Qutub complex houses – the Qutub Minar, the Iron Pillar, the Alai Darwaza, the Tomb of Alauddin Khilji, etc. The iron pillar was built during the Gupta period in remembrance of Chandragupta II.
The most bewildering fact about it is that it is made up of almost 98 percent iron and still stands rust less even after more than 1600 years. The Qutub Minar is open for tourists on all days from sunrise till sunset, i.e. 7 am to 7 pm.
The ticket charges for adults is Rs. 30 and children up to the age of 15 are free. The entry ticket for foreigners costs Rs. 500. The months from December to March are most preferable to visit Qutub Minar and its nearby places.
The weather during these times quite chilly and you are not bothered by the punishing hot winds. There are a lot of street food stalls to indulge oneself in a while visiting Qutub Minar.
They constitute of finger-licking foods like Chaat, Papdi, Tandoor Momos and Chole Bhature. It indeed serves as a foodie’s paradise. One can even do street shopping in Khan Market and Janpath.
Accidents at the Qutub Minar
A fatal accident that occurred on 4th December 1981 led to the staircases to the top of the minaret being closed for the common public. Due to electricity failure, the lighting of the monument had gone out. Because of a blackout, all of the 500 to 600 visitors rushed towards the stairs which led to them collapsing. This collapse of the stairs injured many people and led to do the death of more than 45 persons.
On 4th May 2020, a car crashed straight into the boundary of the monument and burst up in flames. The driver was found to be under the heavy influence of alcohol and was rescued by the guards on duty. He was a 31 year old man who suffered severe burns on his hands, legs and face.
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