Old Delhi - Qutub Minar

The Qutub Minar was started in the 12th C and it was completed in the 13th C. This ornate tower attracts many international visitors who climb to the top for breathtaking views of the surrounding area.

The Qutub Minar rises over 230 feet in the air, has five stories and is covered with intricate carvings. The first three stories are made of red sandstone, the fourth and fifth stories were built with marble and sandstone. The carvings feature the history of Qutub and inscriptions from the Koran.

The complex surrounding the Qutub Minar includes the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid, a mosque located at the base of the tower; the gateway built in 1310; the tombs of Altamish, Alauddin Khalji and Imam Zamin, and a 2000 year old Iron Pillar- the Alai Minar.

It has been struck by lightning and survived several earthquakes, despite the wear and tear the Qutub Minar has a slight tilt but has weathered the centuries well.