Saturday, October 25, 2008

QUTUB MINAR , NEW DELHI , INDIA

Qutab MinarThe Qutab Minar is the pride of Delhi. This located at a small village called Mehrauli in South Delhi. Started in 1192 by the slave king, Qutab-ud-Din Aibak, the tower was built in three stages. Qutab-ud-Din completed the first storey while the other three were built by Iltutmish in 1230. The Minar was damaged in 1322 and then repaired by Mohammad Bin Tughlak and again in 1368 by Firoz Shah Tughlak.

The word 'Qutab Minar' means 'axis minaret'. Qutab Minar with a height of 72.5m (239ft), is the highest stone tower in India and can be ascended by a circular stairway for a view that is breathtaking. The monument tapers from a 15-meter diameter base to just 2½ metres at the top. This majestic tower in the capital city is a prime attraction for tourists world over. The Qutab Minar, the first monument of Muslim rule in India, heralded the beginning of a new style of art and architecture that came to be known as the Indo-Islamic style.

The tower comprises of five different storeys, with a prominent balcony. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone, the fourth and fifth of marble and sandstone. The decoration of the Qutab Minar is consistently Islamic in character from base to top.The Qutab Minar is covered with intricate carvings and deeply inscribed verses from the Koran. Beautiful calligraphy adorns the adjacent edifices. The minar has survived a series of lightening bolts and earthquakes during the past centuries.

Air : All major international airlines in the world fly through Delhi. Indira Gandhi International Airport is located at Central Delhi and the domestic terminal at Palam is 5km away from the international terminal.


» Bus : Buses from all the major places in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are available for getting to Delhi. Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) operates special services from railway stations to different parts of the city.

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