Last weekend we planned to visit the nearby areas of Mehrauli – Gurgaon road. So we covered Qutub Minar , Ahinsa Sthal & Chattarpur Mandir on the same day. These spots can be visited within a day as they lie on the same path. Visiting these spots is a good time spend for whole of the day.
Qutub Minar
We started our visit with Qutub Complex .Being a holiday the place was full of visitors One can see the following places in the Qutub Complex:-
Parking space in Qutub Complex
1. Qutab Minar
2. Alai Minar
3. Quwwat ul Islam Mosque
4. Tomb of Iltutmish
5. Alauddin Khilji’s tomb & madarsa
6. Alai Darwaza
7. Iron Pillar
Qutub Minar
I had been to Qutab Minar long back, may be 25 years ago. And for the last 14 years I have been watching it from far while going home from my office while taking a left turn from Lado Sarai T- point
Entrance of Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar
The Qutab Minar is one of the historic monuments listed in a UNESCO World heritage Site situated at Mehrauli – South Delhi was constructed in 1192 by Qutub-ud-din-Aibak , Viceroy & General in Mohammad Ghori of Ghazni’s army to mark their victory over Delhi . It is an excellent example of Indo-Islamic architecture. The Qutub Minar has beautiful calligraphy in Arabic. There are many carvings as well on the Qutub Minar. Qutab Minar is tallest brick minaret in the world inspired by the minaret of Jam in Afghanistan.
Qutub Minar - Carving
The construction of Qutab Minar also marked the end of Hindu Kingdom in India & the beginning of Muslim rule in India which ended with the arrival of the British.
According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the place where Qutub Minar stands today was once occupied by about 27 Jain and Hindu temples. These were demolished and the stones reused to build the present complex.The temples columns were used to build the Mosque Quwwat ul Islam (translated as the Might of Islam) by Qutb ud din.
Qutub Minar
The first floor was made by Qutub-ud-din-Aibak in 1192n AD, later his son – in law & successor Iltutmish added second , third & fourth floor , which was later forwarded by his successor Firoz Shah Tughlaq who constructed fifth & the last floor in 1368 AD.
Qutub Minar
The Tower has a diameter of 14.32 m at the base & 2.75 m at the top with a height of 72.5 m & ascended by 379 steps.
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar - Close View
After an accident involving school children, entry to the Qutub Minar is closed to public since 1981.
Iron Pillar
The Iron Pillar is 7.21 m high & the weight of the pillar is 646 kg, was originally belonged to Chandragupta II (375 -414 AD) and was brought here by Muslims. The iron is extremely old has not rusted.
Iron Pillar
According to the traditional belief any one who can hold the pillar with his arms with the back towards the pillar considered lucky. Now for the couple of the years touching the pillar is not possible as it is fenced with metal grill.
Alai Darwaza
The Alai Darwaza is the main gateway from southern side of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. It was built by the first Khilji Sultan of Delhi, Ala –Ud-Din Khiliji in 1311 AD. This is the first building in India to employ Islamic architecture principles in its construction and ornamentation.
Alai Darwaza
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
It was built by Qutub –Ud-Din Aybak, founder of Mamluk or Slave dynasty. It was the first mosque built-in Delhi after the Islamic conquest of India. Th QM was built simultaneously with the Mosque for the muezzin to perform adhan (call for prayer).
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
The Mosque was built by the parts taken by destruction of twenty-seven Jain temples built previously during Tomers & Prithvi raj Chauhan.
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
The Mosque is in ruins today but indigenous corbelled arches, floral motifs & geometric pattern can be seen among the Islamic architectural structure.
Tomb of Iltutmish
Tomb of Iltutmish
The tomb of the slave dynasty ruler Iltutmish, the second sultan of Delhi is also part of Qutub Complex.
Tomb of Iltutmish - carving inside wall
Tomb of Iltutmish - carving outside
The main cenotaph, in white marble is place on a raised platform in centre of chamber. The façade is known for its ornate carving, both at the entrance & interior walls.
Tomb of Iltutmish
Alauddin Khilji’s Tomb & Madarsa
At the back of the Qutub Complex, southwest of the mosque, stands an L-shaped construction , consisting of Alauddin Khilji’s Tomb and a Madarsa.
Alauddin Khilji’s Tomb & Madarsa
Alai Minar
The unfinished Minar is named after Alauddin Khilji who had doubled the size of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and had started the construction of another Minar, twice the size of Qutub Minar but because of his death the construction of the tower could not be completed.
Alai Minar
Mosque
The first story of the Alai Minar , a giant rubble masonry core , still stands today, which was evidently intended to be covered with dressed stone later on.
AHINSA STHAL
Ahinsa sthal
Ahinsa Sthal is located on the main Mehrauli Road at the peak of a small hill. It is situated at the intersection of Mehrauli Badarpur Road and Aurobindo Marg. This place of non-violence or peace as the name suggests is so named because a 14 feet large statue of Lord Mahavira stands here and it is now considered a sacred place by followers of Jainism. The statue was set up here in the mid 1980s and the area around the sculpture has been developed into a lush green park, over time.
Ahinsa Sthal
View from Ahinsa Sthal
Chhattarpur Mandir
Chhattarpur temple
Details of the Chhattarpur Mandir will be in next Post.
Till then Happy Ghumakkari.
Dear Mahesh,
Beautiful pictures, and Qutab and area around is very well covered.
Qutab really stand tall in your pictures :-)
Thanks Manish for liking the post. As a father of a growing children I thought lets start visiting some of the historical monuments also.
I am in complete agreement with you. Travelling, visiting places help kids also to have a broader outlook. And Delhi has been such a historical town :-:-)
Thanks :-)
Your pictures are very enchanting. And makes one feel go there immediately. :)
Dear Nisha,
Thanks for your appreciation.
Same here. I was last there about 4 odd years back, and want to go again. I guess I should do that before it gets too sunny and hot.
Delhi has so much of stuff, we often take it for granted. Just a few days back, i.e. on 26th Jan, I went past QMinar. Beautiful structure. Thanks Mahesh for the guided tour.
Thanks Nandan. Yes you are right , Delhi has so much of stuff after all its a historical city.
Beautiful pics of a beautiful heritage filled Delhi.I am born and brot up in Mumbai,but have loads of relatives in Delhi,and visit every year.There is a deep sense of pride one feels in visiting the historical monuments and temples in Delhi.
Dear Subhashini,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Dear Mahish,
No doubt a very good post for a person planning a trip there. One suggestion i.e. information on few points like visit timings to the monument, route to be taken, possible bus numbers or parking spaces if going by own vehicles, cost of parking tickets, entry tickets, camera tickets, things allowed or not allowed etc would have been made this post more informative for fellow ghummakars.
Wonderful pics with details.
Dear Avinash,
Thanks for liking the post and for your suggestion. Qutub Minar is open all the seven days from morning to evening. Ticket Charges are Rs. 10/- for Indians & Rs. 250/- for foreigner, kids below 12 years are free. Regarding the Bus route Nos. I don’t have much idea but buses for Meharuli are available from all corners of Delhi. No charges for still camera & Rs. 25/- for video Cam. Parking space is sufficient.
Now Delhi Metro is the best option to reach Qutub Minar. Beautiful photographs and description of all parts of complex, very informative to new visitors like me :) in future.
Dear Deependra,
Thanks for going through the post & living comments.
Hi…
Hi.. see this too…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/infoshri/5876034037/in/photostream