Qutub Minar

The Qutub Minar is a 72.5 m minaret in Mehrauli, south Delhi, built of red and buff sandstone in five tapering storeys and banded with carved Quranic inscriptions. It is the tallest stone minaret in India, about 14 m wide at the base and under 3 m at the top.

Qutb ud-Din Aibak, the first Sultan of Delhi, began the Qutub Minar around 1199 to mark the arrival of Islamic rule, and his successor Iltutmish added the upper storeys. After lightning damaged the top in the 14th century, Firuz Shah Tughlaq rebuilt it, adding marble to the upper levels. The complex around the Qutub Minar was inscribed by UNESCO in 1993. The inside stair has been closed to visitors since 1981.

What to see

• The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, built from the pillars of earlier temples
• The Iron Pillar, over 1,600 years old and still largely rust-free
• The Alai Darwaza gateway of 1311, with its fine carved screens
• The unfinished base of the Alai Minar
• The tomb of Iltutmish, with dense stone carving inside

What to wear

The Qutub Minar complex is an archaeological site with no religious dress code, but modest clothes suit it. Paths are gravel and stone, so wear comfortable shoes. There is little shade, so bring a hat, sunscreen and water from April to September, and a warm layer on winter mornings. In Delhi you will see women in salwar kameez and sarees and men in kurta pyjama, especially at festivals and weddings.

Local food to try

Mehrauli village, around the complex, has small eateries for chole bhature, kachori and chaat, and south Delhi's markets nearby serve Punjabi and Mughlai food, with kebabs, butter chicken and dal makhani. Cafes and restaurants overlook the minaret from the Mehrauli side. Vegetarian food is easy to find, and halal meat is common in the Mughlai places.

Good to know

• Best from October to March; go early morning for soft light and fewer people
• Open daily, sunrise to sunset
• About ₹35 for Indians and ₹550 for foreigners; online tickets available
• Allow one and a half to two hours
• About 15 km south of Connaught Place; Qutub Minar metro station is about 1.5 km away
• The tower cannot be climbed; tripods may need permission

Nearby places

The Lotus Temple is about 9 km east, and Surajkund is about 12 km south-east. Indira Gandhi International Airport is close, which makes the Qutub Minar a good first or last stop.