हेरिटेज वाक् ..Heritage Walk: A Tryst with Qutub Minar

Soaring high, kissing the sky, the majestic minaret is pride of saddi Dilli...It's one name that instantaneosuly comes to one's mind as one thinks of must see places in the capital. However, QM to me was just another picnic spot worth a visit for school kids...until I randomly decided to take a Heritage Walk organised by IHC.

The walk was a bagful of surprises for me. The minaret is far more beautiful than I had thought and our guide Beeba Sobti made the early morning trip to Mehrauli extremely interesting.

There are somethings you take for granted just like that. Though born and bought up in Delhi, I had never taken pride of the jewels I am surrounded with. It was here when I saw world's tallest brick minaret staring at me that I was full of admiration and appreciation for the graceful monument. Just then I heard Beeba saying it's one of the most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.


It is the tallest brick structure in the world and is 72 metres high having 379 steps leading to the top of the tower. It is made up of red sandstone, covered with verses from the Quran.

According to the Archeological Survey of India, the site at which Qutab Minar is located was once occupied by 27 Hindu and Jain temples.




Everyone is familiar with the history but just a quick summary: Qutab-ud-din Aibak, had laid the foundation stone of the minar. However, he could not complete it during his lifetime. It was built as Tower of Victory, used to give calls for prayer. His successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish took on the task of making it a 7-storeyed structure.

However, over a period of time, it received some damage because of earthquakes but was renovated by the respective rulers. During the rule of Feroz Shah, the minar's two top floors got damaged due to earthquake. But it still stands tall to tell its tale and remind us of the glorious past our ancestors had...

Do go for the Heritage Walk if you have tad interest in history, culture and architecture.