Qutb complex

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Qutab Minar and its Monuments, Delhi


State Party = IND
Type = Cultural
Criteria = iv
ID = 233
Region = Asia-Pacific
Year = 1993
Session = 17th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/233The Qutab complex, also spelled "Qutb" or "Qutub", is an array of monuments and buildings at Mehrauli in Delhi, India, the most famous of which is the Qutb Minar. This complex was first constructed by Qutab-ud-din Aibak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty, and his successor Iltutmish (aka Altmash) in his new city called the Qila-Rai-Pithora near Prithivraj Chauhan's older city. The complex was added to by many subsequent rulers, including Iltutmish and Ala ud din Khilji as well as the British. [Page, J. A. (1926) "An Historical Memoir on the Qutb, Delhi" "Memoirs of the Archaeological Society of India" 22: [http://worldcat.org/oclc/5433409 OCLC 5433409] ; republished (1970) Lakshmi Book Store, New Delhi, [http://worldcat.org/oclc/202340 OCLC 202340] ]

The most famous monument situated in the complex is the Qutub Minar; other important constructions in the complex are the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque, the Alai Gate, the Alai Minar and the Iron pillar. Twenty-seven previous Jain temples were destroyed and their materials reused to construct the minar and other monuments of the complex.

Alai Gate

The Alai Gate ("Ala-i Darwaza") is the main gateway in the complex. The gateway was built by the first Khilji sultan of Delhi, Ala ud din Khilji. The domed gateway is decorated with red sandstone and inlaid marble decorations, latticed stone screens and showcases the remarkable craftsmanship of the Turkish artisans who worked on it.

It is considered to be one of the most important buildings built in the sultanate period. with its pointed arches, it adds grace to the quw'at'ul islam mosque to which it served as an entrance.

Qutb Minar

Qutb Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world, and an important example of Indo-Islamic Architecture. The Qutb Minar is 72.5 metres (239 ft) high. The diameter of the base is 14.3 metres wide while the top floor measures 2.7 metres in diameter. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with surrounding buildings and monuments.

Alai Minar

Ala ud din Khilji started building the Alai Minar, which was conceived to be two times higher than Qutub Minar. The construction was abandoned, however, after the completion of the 24.5 meter high first storey; soon after death of Ala-ud-din. The first story of the Alai Minar still stands today.

Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque

Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (Might of Islam) (also known as the "Qutb Mosque" or the "Great Mosque of Delhi") was built by Qutb-ud-din Aybak, founder of the Mamluk or Slave dynasty. The mosque construction started in the 1190s when Aibak was the commander of Muhammad Ghori's garrison occupied Delhi. The mosque is said to be built by the parts taken by destruction of twenty-seven Hindu and Jain temples.Historical records compiled by Muslim historian Maulana Hakim Saiyid Abdul Hai attest to the iconoclasm of Qutb-ud-din Aybak. The first mosque built in Delhi, the "Quwwat al-Islam" was built after demolishing the Jain temple built previously by Prithvi Raj and leaving certain parts of the temple outside the mosque proper.Maulana Hakim Saiyid Abdul Hai "Hindustan Islami Ahad Mein" (Hindustan under Islamic rule), Eng Trans by Maulana Abdul Hasan Nadwi] This pattern of iconoclasm was common during his reign, although an argument goes that such iconoclasm was motivated more by politics than by religion. [ [http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routes/1200_1299/index_1200_1299.html Index_1200-1299] ,"Columbia.edu"] It was the first mosque built in Delhi after the Islamic conquest of India and the best surviving example of Ghurid's architecture.

Expansion of the mosque continued after the death of Qutub. His successor Iltutmish extended the original prayer hall screen by three more arches. By the time of Iltutmish, the Mamluk empire had stabilized enough that the Sultan could replace most of his conscripted Hindu masons with Muslims. This explains why the arches added under Iltutmish are stylistically more Islamic than the ones erected under Qutb's rule.

The mosque is in ruins today but indigenous corbelled arches, floral motifs, and geometric patterns can be seen among the Islamic architectural structures.

To the west of the Quwwat ul-Islam mosque is the tomb of Iltutmish which was built by the monarch in 1235.

Iron pillar

The iron pillar is one of the world’s foremost metallurgical curiosities. The pillar, almost seven metres high and weighing more than six tonnes, was erected by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (375–414 CE). It is the only piece of the Jain temple remaining, which stood there before being destroyed by Qutb-ud-din Aibak. A fence was erected around the pillar due to the popularity of a tradition that considered it good luck if you could stand with your back to the pillar and make your hands meet behind it.

Tomb of Iltutmish

The tomb of Slave Dynasty ruler, Iltutmish, is also part of the Qutb complex at Mehrauli. Though the dome of the structure has collapsed the front facade with its ornate carving is still standing at far end of the Qutb complex.

Gallery

References

See also

* Indian architecture
* Islamic architecture

External links

* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/233 Entry in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List]
* [http://www.islamicarchitecture.org/architecture/quwwatalislammosque.html Quwwat Al-Islam Mosque]
* [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/seta/2002/09/12/stories/2002091200090200.htm Corrosion resistance of Delhi iron pillar]
* [http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/jun252005/1948.pdf Nondestructive evaluation of the Delhi iron pillar] "Current Science", Indian Academy of Sciences, Vol. 88, No. 12, 25 June 2005 (PDF)
* [http://www.indiamonuments.org/ - Photographs of Qutb Minar and other sites in Delhi]
* [http://www.ianandwendy.com/OtherTrips/India/Delhi/Qutb%20Minar/slideshow.htm Photo gallery of the Qutb complex]