Qutub Minar and the complex

• published: 12 Feb 2014
• views: 838

Let's learn more about the Qutab complex and the larger expanse of heritage around the Qutab Minar as opposed to only the spire that everyone now so easily recognizes with Delhi. Qutab complex, New Delhi Delhi, the capital of India, has been blessed with many important historical monuments. One such iconic monument located in Mehrauli, is the Qutub Minar, - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stands 72.5 meters tall and has 379 steps to get to the top. The tower is made of red sandstone and marble. Suicide attempts and accidents from the top of this structure in the past have led to a ban on people entering the Qutub Minar since 1981. However, the nearby archeological area is still open to public. The construction of the Qutub Minar is full of mystery and enigma. Built over close to two centuries, from 1192 to 1386 it went through various stages of construction. Intended to celebrate the victory of Mohammed Ghori over Prithviraj Chauhan, Qutub-ud-din Aibak started its construction but only the base of the tower was completed during his lifetime. Qutub-ud-din's son-in-law, Shams-ud-din Iltutmish later added three levels to the tower during his reign from 1211 to 1236. The tower got its fifth and final floor from the ruler Firoz Shah Tughlaq who was in power from 1351 to 1388. Quwwat-ul-islam is another structure built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, which literally translates into the 'might of Islam'. It is also known by the names Qutub Mosque and the Great Mosque of Delhi. Its construction started simultaneously with that of the Qutub minar to immortalize the victory of the ruler over the Rajputs. The structure stands on a raised and paved courtyard with surrounding pillars that were later added by Iltutmish. The grand arches frame the path going towards the prayer hall and give the building a regal look. The mosque is in ruins today but its stylized pillars, geometric patterns, floral themes and Arabic inscriptions display its bygone glory. Later added to the mosque was its prim entrance the Alai Darwaza or the Gateway built by Alauddin Khilji, which is an important part of the Qutub complex. The Alai darwaza stands today as the formal gateway to the Quwwat-ul-islam mosque. It is believed to be the first building in India to employ Islamic architectural principles in its construction and decoration. Standing at a height, the monument has a free flowing cool breeze, making it a pleasant experience for visitors. Another engineering marvel in the Qutub complex is the Iron pillar of Delhi estimated to have been built as early as 912 BC. It is supposedly the strongest and the oldest edifice one can see. It has been in the open for years and seen many climatic changes. Strangely it has resisted corrosion for over 1600 years, which makes it a subject of study for Archeologists and Metallurgists. The monuments of the Qutub complex take you on an unwinding journey through various stages in Indian history. Conceived with a definite purpose, these monuments need more from us than just a visit. Witnesses to bygone eras these monuments are a symbol of the heroes of the past and the empires they wanted to build which is what defines us as a city or even as a nation today. This footage is part of the professionally-shot broadcast stock footage archive of Wilderness Films India Ltd., the largest collection of HD imagery from South Asia. The Wilderness Films India collection comprises of tens of thousands of hours of high quality broadcast imagery, mostly shot on HDCAM / SR 1080i High Definition, Alexa, SR, HDV and XDCAM. Write to us for licensing this footage on a broadcast format, for use in your production! We are happy to be commissioned to film for you or else provide you with broadcast crewing and production solutions across South Asia. We pride ourselves in bringing the best of India and South Asia to the world... Reach us at rupindang @ gmail . com and admin@wildfilmsindia.com.