Qutub-ud-din Aibak began the Minar in 1193 to announce a new power in Delhi, and successive rulers kept adding storeys until it reached seventy-three metres — still the world's tallest brick minaret. Its five storeys alternate fluted sandstone and marble, banded with Quranic calligraphy cut deep enough to read from the ground.
The complex around it is a palimpsest: mosque colonnades built from earlier temple pillars, the enigmatic Iron Pillar that has refused to rust for sixteen centuries, and the ambitious stump of Alai Minar — a successor tower abandoned at one storey when its patron died.
Visiting Well
- Early morning brings slanted light through the colonnades and the complex nearly to yourself.
- The wider Mehrauli Archaeological Park behind it hides stepwells and tombs most visitors never find.
- Pair with lunch in Mehrauli's garden restaurants for Delhi's best heritage half-day.
How Elevated India Arranges It
We treat Qutub as the opening chapter of Delhi's story — first city of the seven — then walk the Mehrauli park's unvisited ruins while the coaches queue at the gate.
Questions, Answered
What is the Iron Pillar at Qutub Minar?
A 7-tonne iron column from around the 4th century CE that has stood essentially rust-free for some 1,600 years — a celebrated feat of ancient Indian metallurgy, standing in the mosque courtyard beside the Minar.
Can you climb the Qutub Minar?
No — the tower's interior staircase has been closed to visitors since 1981. The complex is experienced from the ground, which its carving amply rewards.
Journeys That Take You There
Explore the destination guide: Delhi, North India ↗