| A bustling mega metropolis of monumental proportion, | | | | that dates back to 1193 encircle the structure. The red |
| Delhi is not just your average Indian city. With a good | | | | sandstone remnants of a second tower - the Alai |
| helping of most of the world’s cultures, the city is | | | | Minar is also visible alongside its sky scraping |
| an ethnic melting pot of colour and vibrancy that is | | | | predecessor. The top storey of the Alai Minar was |
| hard to find anywhere else in the nation. The former | | | | made of gleaming white marble by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. |
| imperial headquarters of British colonizers, Delhi is a | | | | Built under the patronage of Qutbuddin Aibak, the |
| delectable cocktail of old meets new and east meets | | | | premier islamic sovereign of Delhi, the Qutub Minar |
| west where all of India’s intrinsic diversity is | | | | minaret aspired to be a structure similar to that of the |
| concentrated and celebrated. | | | | Jam in Afghanistan. Similar to Ghurids and Ghaznavids |
| Although the city is home to a plethora of illustrious | | | | towers, the Qutub consists of cylindrical shafts held up |
| museums and some of the country’s most | | | | by Muqarnas corbels and divided by balconies. |
| recognizable landmarks, none dominates its landscape | | | | Constructed of red sandstone with quotations from |
| more than the sky piercing Qutub Minar tower. | | | | the Quran, elaborate carvings cover the surface of |
| Pleasantly situated in a complex of ancient Hindu | | | | the tower. Built on the former site of the Lal Kot, the |
| temple ruins, the 72.5 meter high tower is the tallest | | | | Qutub Minar is constructed from the debris of the 27 |
| brick minaret in the globe. Built as far back as 1193, | | | | Hindu temples. |
| this red hued monument is also one of the finest | | | | The sacred message engraved on the tower states |
| examples of Indo-Islamic architecture in existence. | | | | “Shri Vishwakarma prasade rachita" which |
| A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Qutub complex | | | | translates to “Conceived with the grace of |
| comprises of a number of medieval buildings and ruins | | | | Vishwakarma”. Believed to have been built to call |
| which surrounds the minaret. Attracting nearly 4 million | | | | the faithful to prayer in the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, |
| tourists from across the globe the minaret even beat | | | | the view from the top of the minaret is unrivalled as it |
| the Taj Mahal as one of India’s most frequented | | | | is breathtaking. Famed landmarks that can be viewed |
| monuments. Three hundred and seventy eight steps | | | | from the summit include the Humayun's Tomb and the |
| lead visitors to the summit of the monument whose | | | | walls of Firoz Shah Kotla, Tughlaqabad, Jama Masjid |
| base diameter is 14.3 meters and 2.75 meters at the | | | | and Purana Qila while the Hauz Khaz is also visible. |
| top most point. Exquisite examples of Indian artwork | | | | |