Balban's tomb, Mehrauli Archaeological Park

The Tomb of Ghiyas ud din Balban is located in Mehrauli, New Delhi, India. Built in circa 1287 CE in rubble masonry, the tomb is a building of historical importance in the development of Indo-Islamic architecture, as it was here that first Islamic arch made its appearance in India, and according to many, the first Islamic dome as well

Balban's tomb, Mehrauli Archaeological Park

The grave of the emperor is found here, where he lies peacefully; and to the East of this tomb can be found a rectangular structure where Balban’s son – Khan Shahid is said to have been buried.

Jamali Kamali Tomb & Mosque

After his death in 1535, Jamali was buried in his tomb alongside Kamali. Jamali belonged to a merchant family and was a very popular poet known for his famous works such as ‘The Mirror of Meanings’, ‘The Sun and Moon’ and ‘The Spiritual Journey of the Mystics’ etc. According to legend, it’s said that both these men - Jamali and Kamali, were deeply in love with each other

The Ruins of Mehrauli

Mehrauli is the second of the seven cities, built around 1206AD by Qutub ud din Aibak, a former slave and general of Mohammed Ghori, who set up the first Sultanate of Delhi

The Ruins of Mehrauli

Delhi’s architectural vestiges, the remains of its seven original cities, represent its complex and convoluted history. The spectacular rise of empires and the disasters and conflicts that led to their fall, writ large on every crumbling stone..

The Ruins of Mehrauli

The Mehrauli Archaeological Park is a legacy of Delhi Sultanate Dynasty of the medieval India and the architecture evolution that came with it. It houses numerous monuments that are peppered like milestones as you take a walk in this heritage park.

The Ruins of Mehrauli

The Archaeological Park in Mehrauli is the site of many a monument and the abode of history. Every lane and stone in it is historical, for here flourished many kings, princes, princesses, wazirs, generals, warriors, saints and mendicants.

The Qutb Complex

The Qutb complex refers to an array of monuments and buildings at Mehrauli in Delhi, India, the Qutub Minar standing out as the most famous. Qutb-ud-din Aybak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty, and his successor Iltutmish (aka Altmash) first constructed the complex in their new city, called the Qila-Rai-Pithora, near Prithivraj Chauhan's older city. Many subsequent rulers, including Iltutmish and Ala ud din Khilji as well as the British added to the complex.

The Qutb Complex

Apart from Qutub Minar, other important buildings and structures stand in the Qutb complex, including the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the Ala-I-Darwaza, the Alai Minar, and the Iron Pillar. Twenty-seven previous Jain temples had been destroyed and their materials reused to construct the minar and other monuments of the complex. That resulted in the creation of a unique, Indo-Muslim architecture, blending the gods of Jainism and Hinduism with the symbols and architectural designs of Islam.

The term ‘Qutub Minar’ is derived from Arabic which means ‘pole’ or ‘axis’

Built-in red sandstone, Qutub Minar is a real masterpiece of Mughal Islamic craftsmanship. The design is based on the Minaret of Jam located in Western Afghanistan, which marks where the ancient city of Firuzkuh once stood

Qutub Minar

The construction of Qutub Minar took 28 years to complete; the first storey was constructed under Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, though the remainder of the storeys were constructed by his successors. Restoration works/additions were also made in 12th century, 14th century and 19th century due to natural disasters, so the different architectural styles from the time of Aibak to Tuglak are clearly visible in the Qutub Minar.

The Resilience of Qutub Minar

Indeed, the environmental threat to the monuments in the complex is quite serious. It has been damaged several times by natural disasters. Apart from two lightning strikes in 1368 and 1503, an earthquake in 1802 toppled the cupola. The minar tilts just over 65 cm from the vertical, which the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) considers safe; it also feels that the strong base of the minar precludes any extensive damage owing to human-made factors

Qutub means victory

Qutub-ud-Din Aibak of Slave Dynasty laid the foundation of Minar in A.D. 1199 for the use of mu'azzin (crier) to give calls for prayer and raised the first storey, to which were added three more storeys by his successor and son-in-law, Shams-ud-Din Itutmish (A.D. 1211-36). All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with honey-comb design, more conspicuously in the first storey.

A Mosque lies at the foot of Qutub Minar

A Mosque lies at the foot of Qutub Minar which is a special site in itself; a beautiful blend of Indo-Islamic architecture that showcases how the Mughal Empire (1562) influenced Indian culture.

The Qutb Complex : UNESCO world heritage site

UNESCO has declared the highest stone tower in India as a world heritage.

The Qutb Complex with Qutub Minar in the background

The Qutb complex and early Sultanate architecture

Qutab Minar

The exterior walls of Qutub Minar reveal its history of construction, with chiseled Parso-Arabic and Nagari character carvings. The inscriptions clearly describe the motive, way, the time taken and every minute detail about this monument. From the intricate carvings, you’ll note an aura of Afghanistan pattern, blended with local artistic conventions having garlands and lotus borders. Fortunately, renovations of the minaret throughout time have maintained the original charm of the building.

The "Never Rusting" Iron Pillar

One of the most outstanding elements is the pillar highlighting ancient India’s achievements in metallurgy. The most astonishing fact is that the pillar is made of iron and has stood tall for 1,600 years without rusting.

Alternating circular and triangular ribs in Qutub Minar

Each of the five different storeys has a projected balcony that circles the Minar (backed by stone brackets). The first three storeys are made with red sandstone while the remaining were constructed using marble and sandstone. If you look closely the cylindrical shaft has inscriptions of the Quran.

Alauddin Khilji's Alai Minar

Ala al-Din also began construction of a minar that would have been considerably taller than the Qutb Minar, had it been completed—the unfinished base rises 80 feet in height. All that was built is the rubble core of the structure; the minar would have eventually been faced with stone, perhaps in a fashion and with adornment similar to that of the Qutb Minar.

Iltutmish’s open-air tomb

The square base of the tomb structure is transformed into an octagon overhead with ogee squinch arches. These arches are constructed with corbels rather than with true arches. The structure has no dome or other roof. It has been conjectured that the original dome collapsed; it has also been noted that the exterior walls of the tomb are comparatively thin (2.2 meters), and might not have been able to support the outward thrust generated by a dome.

Alai Darwaza

Alai Darwaza is one of the oldest doors in Delhi and is said to be the jewel of Islamic architecture. Alai Darwaza was built in 1311 AD by Alauddin Khilji, the second ruler of the Khilji dynasty of Delhi Sultanate.

Iltutmish's open-air tomb

The entrance and parts of the exterior are laid with quartzite, and the gates are decorated with carvings; however, the real decorative richness of the tomb is found within. Elaborate epigraphy on walls, arabesques, and geometrical designs adorn the western niches and mihrab. The inscription panels include Kufic, Tughra and Nakshi scripts illustrating chapters of the Quran. Hindu motifs such as lotus flowers and bells on chains are also found in the sandstone carvings.

Sunset frame of Qutub Minar

The Qutb Minar is inspired by the Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, it is an important example of early Afghan architecture, which later evolved into Indo-Islamic Architecture. The Qutb Minar is 72.5 metres (239 ft) high, making it the tallest minaret in the world built of bricks.

Sunset view of Qutub Miner

Iron Pillar in the Evening Glory

Evening beauty of Qutb Complex

Qutb Complex dazzles in the evening sky

Rajon ki Baoli : A medieval step-well

Constructed by Daulat Khan during Sikander Lodi's reign between 1498-1517 AD, the baoli is a rectangular structure and has four different stages with rooms on either side at each level. These rooms were built for masons/ travellers to rest. Four levels down, the baoli holds clear water that time

Rajon ki Baoli : A medieval step-well

Delhi was never a city with ample of water and despite having the Yamuna as its major source of water, Delhi always faced water crisis. During the time of medievals, the kings ordered the construction of Baolis all across Delhi to tackle the water crisis. One such outlive Baoli is the Rajao ki Baoli. was commissioned by Daulat Khan in 1506 CE.