Qutub Minar - Delhi’s Ancient Minaret
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The Indian capital of Delhi is crammed full of history, ancient sites and incredible ruins. After playing host to a string of empires, invaders and colonisers Delhi boasts a wealth of history and a unique mix of cultures. From the Muslim Empires of the Mughals, to the Hindu rulers and British invaders Delhi has taken in influences from everywhere and melded them into something uniquely Indian.
Rising against the grey skies of South Delhi is a beautiful example of the Muslim architecture of India, the Qutub Minar.
What is the Qutub Minar?
The Qutub Minar can also be spelled Qutb Minar or Qutab Minar, confusing to google but understandable when its name has been translated out of a non-roman alphabet.
The Qutub Minar is a giant minaret tower, standing over 70 metres tall and having over 300 steps to the top. The Qutub Minar is also a “victory tower” commemorating the victory of the Muslim ruler Mohhamed Ghori over the Hindu Prithviraj Chauhan and symbolising the start of Muslim rule in India.
The Qutaub Minar itself is part of the much larger Qutub complex. The Qutub complex is an incredible collection of buildings and ruins. There is the massive domed red stone gateway of the Alai Darwaza, the beautiful Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque, the enigmatic Iron Pillar, the ruined, never constructed Alai Minar as well as many tombs and other ornate ruins.
The tower and the complex have both been recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites due to their beauty and historical significance.
Where is the Qutub Minar?
The Qutub Minar sits in South Delhi here. It is south of central Delhi and most of Delhi's attractions but is not difficult or time consuming to get to.
How to get to the Qutub Minar?
Taxi / Rickshaw
The easiest way to get to the Qutub Minar is via rickshaw, either hailed from the street or summoned via Uber or Ola. We would recommend getting an Indian SIM card and using Uber or Ola as it will remove the hassle of negotiation and stop any attempt at a scam. Rickshaw scams are one of the most common scams tourists can fall victim to whilst in Delhi (have a look at our Paharganj article for more common scams to avoid), so save yourself a headache and request a ride online.
If you would like to arrange your SIM card in advance of landing in India, why not check out the eSIM packages available on Airalo. Just make sure you install the App and eSIm on your phone before landing in India.
Metro
The closest metro station to the site is the Qutub Minar station on the yellow metro line. From the station itself, it’s a 1.6km (23 minutes) walk to the entrance or a short rickshaw ride.
Neither rickshaw, taxi or Metro should cost you much at all, our rickshaw from Mohammadpur / Hauz Khas area cost us 115 rupees (£1.10 or $1.39) via Uber for the 7 kilometre journey.
How much are tickets to enter?
Entrance tickets cost 500 rupees each (£4.77 or $6.03). This was the foreigner price, if you are an Indian national the entrance is only 30 rupees (£0.29 or $0.36)!
This is one of the more expensive attractions we visited in Delhi but it is 100% worth the price of admission. The Qutub complex is a huge site and is crammed full of incredible monuments.
When is the Qutub Minar open?
The Qutub Minar is open everyday from 7am in the morning until 9pm at night.
The site gets extremely busy during the weekends, so if you can, visit during the week. In any case we would recommend heading to the Qutub Minar first thing in the morning to minimise the heat and the crowds.
What to expect? Our experience of visiting the Qutub Minar
We had a fantastic day out at the Qutub complex. We went in not really knowing what to expect. We had seen a few clips on our favourite YouTuber’s channels but had no grasp on just how large a site the complex was or just how much it contained!
We jumped down from our rickshaw, paid our entrance fee and were quickly blown away by the place. As soon as you walk in, the massive arched ruins of tombs, mosques and monuments stretch away from you in all directions, all the while the Qutub Minar looms overhead like a huge sundial.
The ruins of the Quwwat-Ul-Islam mosque are stunning with vast stone archways framing the Qutub Minar and Delhi skyline. Its marble and red sandstone cloister is very well preserved. The Quwwat-Ul-Islam (“glory to Islam”) mosque was, like the rest of the complex, built in celebration of the Muslim rule of India around 1196AD.
In the courtyard of the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque stands the curious “Iron Pillar”. Over seven metres tall this iron shaft is a relic of (or possibly a tribute to) the Hindu ruler Chandragupta the 2nd. An odd thing to have in the centre of a mosque’s courtyard.
The pillar is shrouded in mystery, why was it brought to the mosque? Its inscriptions clearly show it was originally displayed elsewhere. Why does it not rust? Why is there a cannonball scar on the pillar? There are many theories for all of the above but, regardless of the facts and mysteries, the pillar is a striking monument in the middle of an amazing mosque's courtyard.
The Alai Darwaza gateway is similarly impressive. A huge domed cube of a gatehouse marking the southern entrance to the mosque. The Alai Darwaza was a later addition to the complex (around 1300AD) and was originally meant to be one of four gateways to the Mosque. It was commissioned by Sultan Alauddin Khaji of Delhi but he passed away before any more than the southern gateway could be completed. The Alai Darwazza is one of the earliest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture to be built using traditional Islamic methods, The older elements of the Qutub complex having been built using native methods and Hindu workers.
Throughout the Qutub complex you will see incongruous reminders of its construction. The site was built using the remains of Hindu and Jain temples destroyed by the new Muslim rulers. You will be passing a wall for the mosque and see Ganesh carved into the stone, or be passing a tomb and see half a face staring back from a wall. It is a fascinating reminder that India is always built upon India, with each new ruler taking over and reforging what was there before.
The Qutub Minar itself is stunning, a vast pillar piercing the sky and visible from all around. It is almost like an optical illusion, you can always see it in the background but as you approach it, it is still a shock to see just how large it is! The tapered tower of the Qutub Minar is the tallest brick built minarete in the world, its base and walls made of alternating rounded and squared columns (we’re sure an architect can give the correct term for these in the comments!). The tower is banded in beautiful Islamic calligraphy, with verses from the Quran circling the structure.
The Qutub Minar was built by a fascinating character - Qutb-Ud-Din-Aibak. A former slave turned general in the army of Mohhamad of Ghor, the Muslim ruler who conquered much of India, Qutub-Ud-Din-Aibak became Sultan in the north after the death (and a lot of infighting) of Mohhamad of Ghor. The Qutub Minar and Qutub complex were built on the ruins of Lal Kot fort in commemoration of the victories of Mohhamad of Ghor.
There are openings and balconies set at regular levels into the tower and inside are over 300 steps to the top. Sadly, due to some tragic accidents, the tower can no longer be climbed so you just have to appreciate it from the outside!
Nearby to the Qutub Minar lies the never finished ruins of what was to be its big brother. The Alai Minar was, like the Alai Darwaza, ordered to be built by by Sultan Alauddin Khaji of Delhi. The Alai Minar was to be double the size of the Qutub Minar to reflect the doubling of the size of the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque that was achieved under the sultan's reign. Unfortunately and also like the Alai Darwaza, the sultan died before construction was completed. The Alai Minar only had the core of the first layer completed. However, it is obvious from the massive size of this rubblestone core, just how big the completed minar would have been. The base level is enormous and a treat to walk around and admire.
The Qutub Minar Complex is a vast sprawling site of beautiful ruins and fascinating history. We happily spent half a day wandering its pathways and admiring its architecture. We would highly recommend adding the Qutub Minar Complex to any Delhi itinerary.
Do I need a guide for the Qutub Minar Complex?
Maybe? It all depends on your travel style. We love just getting lost by ourselves in a place and looking up the facts either before or later (or just reading the signs). However, in places like the Qutub Minar complex you may find you get more out of them with an expert guide.
Check out TripAdvisor or GetYourGuide, or Viator for guided tours. You can also combine a few sites into one tour if you're short on time in Delhi.
Where to stay?
There are plenty of accommodation choices close by to the Qutub Minar whatever your budget or comfort level.
If you’re backpacking and looking to stay in a hostel, we can recommend a stay at JHouse Hostel. Set in the quiet village district of Mohammadpur, this hostel offers both dorms and private en-suites rooms as well as a rooftop common area and kitchen. Read more about our stay here.
We can also highly recommend a stay at Zostel Delhi in the Paharganj area of Old Delhi. With a cafe, comfy common room and rooftop lounging area the Zostel makes a great oasis in the heart of Old Delhi. The hostel offers both private and dorm rooms. For more of our experiences getting to and in Paharganj, check out our article here.
If hostels aren’t your thing, then check the map below to see what else is on offer:
Where to go after?
Delhi has a huge range of attractions and sights to see. You could take a food tour through the ancient markets of Chandni Chowk, check out Delhi’s most popular tourist attractions at the Red Fort or wander the beautiful grounds and spectacular ruins of Safdarjung’s Tomb. There are also the serene Lodhi Gardens and the stunning Sunder Nursery as well as the Agrasen Ki Baoli stepwell and the astronomical observatory of the Jantar Mantar. You should never be bored in Delhi!
If you’re short on time and want to combine as many Delhi attractions as possible, why not have a look at whats on offer from Get Your Guide.
Conclusion
The Qutub Minar and Complex is a fantastic place to explore. Full of the ruins of one empire built on top of and out of an older still civilisation. The towers, mosques, tombs and ruins are stunningly beautiful, full of surprising details and intricate craftsmanship. It is, as mentioned, one of the more expensive ticket prices in Delhi but at just over five pounds it is well worth your money. The grounds are spectacular, the history fascinating and the architecture amazing, definitely do not miss out!
Thanks for reading,
John & Ellie x
#adventuresofjellie
Photo Gallery of the Qutb Minar
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If you’re looking for something different to do in Delhi, check out the National Railway Museum. This open air train yard is stuffed full of engines, exhibits, turntables and carriages and is a great day out or adults and children alike! Read our guide for all the information you need for visiting this train filled wonderland.