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Qutub Minar " Delhi
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Qutub Minar commands an important place in the
history of Indian Monumental Heritage. It is the tallest freestanding
stone tower in the entire Indian subcontinent and one of the landmark
architecture of the Mughal’s in India. Situated in the capital
city of New Delhi, the tower is the most sought after spot for visitors
to the country. The tower is built of red sandstone and is about
73 meters in height. Bands of inscriptions picked from the Holy
Quran graces the walls of the tower. All the four storeys of the
tower are surrounded by splendid balconies with elaborately decorated
brackets.
It is said that the minar was erected to commemorate
the victory of Mohammed Ghori over the Rajputs in 1192. His viceroy
and the first Sultan of the slave dynasty, Qutubuddin Aibak, commenced
the construction of the tower and completed a part of it, while
the rest was completed successively by the later Mughal rulers.
However, it is also said that the tower was intended to serve as
a minaret to the adjoining mosque, which was used by muezzins of
that time. Whatever may be the reason behind the origin of this
tower, but the pride and charm it evokes is unsurpassable even today.
Close to the vicinity of the tower lies another
interesting and curious structure of iron in the form of a flagstaff.
The iron pillar, dating back to the 4 th century AD was erected
in honor of Hindu God, Vishnu and in commemoration of the Gupta
king –Chandragupta II. This age-old mystical iron pillar showcases
the ancient India’s achievements in metallurgy and has stood
1,600 years without rusting and decomposing.
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