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| Qutub Minar |
The Qutub Minar was built in the 12th century by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi. The construction of the tower began in 1193 and was completed by Qutb-ud-din's successor, Iltutmish. The tower was built to commemorate the victory of the Muslim armies over the last Hindu kingdom in Delhi.
The tower was also used as a minaret for the calls to prayer and as a watchtower to keep an eye out for invading armies. The tower has five distinct stories, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15-meter diameter at the base to just 2.5 meters at the top. The architectural design of the tower is an example of the fusion of ancient Hindu and Islamic styles.
In the 14th century, lightning struck the top storey of the minaret and destroyed it. Firoz Shah Tughlaq replaced the damaged storey with two new storeys made of red sandstone and white marble. In the 19th century, the British attached a staircase to the tower to make it more accessible to visitors.
The Qutub Minar and its surrounding complex, including other ancient and medieval structures like tombs and mosques, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Today, the Qutub Minar is a popular tourist destination and an important symbol of India's rich history and culture
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