QUTUB MINAR

Presented by:FAYAZ ALIB.Arch 3rd Yr

INTRODUCTION MINAR

Manar or manara, the Arabic words meaning either "place of fire" (nar or “place of light“ nur. Minaret is one of the popular symbols of Islam both politically and spiritually.Although the minaret is one of the most distinctive architectural features of a mosque, philologists noted that many mosques, including many in North Africa, were built without minarets at all; furthermore, in contrast to the mihrab or minbar, the minaret is rarely mentioned in Arabic literature. It is the oldest form in Islamic architecture according to Muslim tradition, the call to prayer was invented, in reaction to the Jewish use of the HORN and the Christian use of the WOODEN CLACKER to summon worshippers.

QUTUB COMPLEX

QUTAB MINAR QUWWAT-UL- ISLAM MASJIDSCREENIRON PILLAR ILTUTMISH TOMB ALAI DARWAZAIMAM ZAMIN’S TOMBALAUDDINS TOMB & MADRASSA ALAI MINAR

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ALAUDDIN’S TOMB & MADRASSA

ALAI DARWAZAIMAM ZAMINS TOMB

PLAN OF QUTUB COMPLEX

QUTUBMINAR

ALAI MINAR

IRONPILLAR

ALAIDARWAZA

MOSQUE

ILTUTMISH TOMBSCREEN

HISTORYThe Qutub complex was built by Qutub Ud-Din Aybak (reg. 1206 - 1211) who established the first Islamic sultanate in the Indian subcontinent in Delhi in 1192. It is located within the citadel of Qal'a-e-Rai Pithora (Qila Rai Pithora) where Qutb Ud-Din also set up his administrative quarters and residence. Also known as Quwwat ul Islam, meaning the 'might of Islam,' the Qutub complex was created with the dismantling and reassembling of the 27 existing Hindu and Jain temples on the site.

THE COMPLEXQutub complex consists of a mosque and two minarets enclosed within a series of cloistered precincts. This rectangular complex measures about 235 m (north-south) by 155 m (east-west) along the exterior. It was entered via four monumental gates along the north, east and south walls, of which only the southern gate (Alai Darwaza) remains. The mosque, known as the Qutb or Quwwat ul Islam Mosque, occupies the southwest corner of the complex. It consists of rectangular enclosures, all the later work of Aybak's successors. The Qutb Minar (minaret) stands in the southeastern part of this enclosure. The unfinished Alai Minar (minaret) stands in the northeastern part of the complex. A tall screen wall with pointed archways runs along the western edge of the precinct, creating a qibla wall for the prayer spaces. In addition to these elements, the complex also contains several smaller buildings: the Tomb of Iltutmish, Ala al-Din Khalji's madras a, and the Imam Zamin Mosque.

LOCATIONQutub minar is situated in southern part of Delhi, in Mehrauli.

QUTUBMINAR

Qutub Minar (Architecture) FEATURES: At the base, the diameter of the

minaret is a little over fourteen meters and it tapers towards the top, where it is only slightly under 3 meters wide. It has a circular stairway made of three-hundred-seventy-nine steps to reach the top for a spectacular view. The Minar comprises of several superimposed flanged and cylindrical shafts separated by balconies.

All the storeys have a balcony that circles the Minar with stone brackets for support. The Minar is decorated throughout with floral motifs and arabesque. Also it bears inscriptions that are verses from the Koran and messages from the Sultans.

QUWWAT-UL-ISLAM MASJID

To mark his victory over Rai Pithora, Qutub-ud-Din Aibak built the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid (Might of Islam) in 1192 which was completed in 1198. It is the earliest extant mosque in India, having a rectangular court. The court is enclosed by cloisters which were erected with carved columns and other architectural members from the 27 Hindu and Jain temples, which were later demolished

BRAHMANICAL MOTIFS LIKE THE

KALASA AND LOTUS ON PILLARS

The walls and pillars are having intrinsic Hindu architectural motifs.

Pillars of the mosque: “as a whole, a confused and somewhat incongruous improvisation”. (Percy Brown)

IRON PILLAR

It is said to have been brought to Delhi by the Tomar king Anangpal, somewhere in the 11th century from Udaygiri. There are no other relics from the same period in this site.

The Iron Pillar dates back to the 4th century BC. It bears inscriptions that dedicate it as a flagstaff to honor the Hindu god Vishnu and in memory of Gupta king Chandragupta II (375-413 AD). The pillar is a symbol of the progress of metallurgy in ancient India. It is made of 98 percent wrought iron and has survived 1,600 years without rusting.

The pillar was cast in its present form not forged. Length 7.2m of which 93 cm is underground.

Diameter - 0.41 m.

Garuda idol at top missing.

ILTUTMISH TOMBIt is located in the complex Tomb, northwest to the Iron Pillar. Iltutmish died in 1236, but had his tomb built a year earlier in 1235. It is made of red sand stone, situated northwest of the minaret. It is a landmark in Indo-Islamic architecture. It is believed to have had a dome which was later damaged.There are 3 entrances on all 3 sides, but the west, which was for the mihrabs. It is a simple square chamber, covered originally by a circular dome that was carried on a form of squinch arch. Dome was constructed using concentric rings, but Hindu artisans couldn’t make it last long. Inside is decorated and elaborated with Quranic verses. Marble is used in mehrab and cenotaph.

INTERIOR OF ILLTUTMUSH’S TOMB

EXTERIOR OF TOMB

ALAI DARWAZA

It has intricate carvings in red sandstone and marble. It has red stone jali screens.

It is the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, and is a gem of Islamic architecture in India. It was built by Alla-ud-din Khilji in 1311. It is 17.2m square and pierced by ached openings that echo the contours of the covering dome. The arch to the north is semicircular while the others are of pointed horse shoe shape.

VIEW OF ALAI DARWAZA FROM IMAM ZAMIN’S TOMB

FACADE OF ALAI DARWAZA

The arched entrances and jalis are decorated by fringes of lotus buds.

JALI WORK IN THE WINDOWS

ALAI MINARAla-ud-Din wanted to build a second tower of victory twice as high as Qutab Minar but when he died the tower had reached only 24.5 meters and later no one waswilling to continue his over ambitious project. It stands to the north of the Qutab Minar and the mosque.It was to have ramps instead of stairs. Windows are at regular quadrant heights, for a gradual ramp to be made.

A GLOOMY VIEW OF QUTUB MINARFROM ALAI MINAR.

ALAUDDIN’S MADRASSA It is located in south west of themosque. It is built around aquadrangular court entered on theNorth through a triple gateway.Alauddin constructed this madrassa,but few historians say that it wasIltutmush who made it.

ALAUDDIN’S TOMBIt is on the south side of the court. It is a square structurewith no dome now. There are only remains of a boldlyprojecting portico. It was combined to the madrassa, probably a Saljuqian tradition-being its first appearance in India.

IMAM ZAMIN’S TOMBThis tomb was made in the memory of Mohammad Ali, imam zamin.Its on the east of alai darwaza. Its 7.3m square. It is surmounted by a sandstone dome rising from an octagonal drum, the lodhi style.It is decorated with double row of kangooras and marble panelling above the chajja.The tomb has no integral connection with the Qutub group.

But it still stands there without any damage and that’s worth praise.

QUTUB MINAR

QUTUB MINAR

HISTORYBuilt In : 1193 (started) Built By ; Qutub-ud-din Aibak

Spearing its way proudly into the sky, Qutab Minar with a length of 238 feet, commands a panoramic view of the green fields extending into a sprawling city of 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. Projected balconies supported by stone brackets surround each of the storeys. The stone brackets are decorated with honeycomb design, more conspicuously in the first storey. The tower is further decorated with floral motif and arabesque. Firoz Shah renovated the top floor and added marble to the building

The purpose for building this beautiful monument has been speculated upon, apart from the usual role of a minaret - that of calling people for prayer in a mosque- in this case the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. Other reasons ascribed to its construction are as a tower of victory, a monument signifying the might of Islam, or a watch tower for defense. Controversy also surrounds the origins for the name of the tower. Many historians believe that the Qutub Minar was named after the first Turkish sultan, Qutub-ud-din Aibak but others contend that it was named in honour of Khwaja Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiar Kaki, a saint from Baghdad who came to live in India who was greatly venerated by Akbar.

A CLOSE STUDY

MATERIALS:The first three stories are made of sandstone and the next two of marble and sandstone. Firoz Shah Tughlaq added marble to the top storey. The Minar is in fact believed to have been built to aid the Muezzin of the mosque for prayer calls.

THE ENTRANCE CARVINGS

THE WALL FORM OF 1ST PART

Projected balconies supported by stone brackets

THE RUINED WALL

PERSPECTIVES

Up close: Qutub Minar.

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.

Indo-Islamic style is neither a local variant of Islamic art, nor a modification of Hindu art; it is an assimilation of both the styles, though not always in an equal degree. This amalgamation of exotic and indigenous architectural styles was possible due to a variety or factors-the Muslim rulers had to use, in most cases, Indian craftsmen and sculptors who were schooled in their own art traditions. Another factor that inadvertently contributed to this fusion of style was that during the early Muslim invasions, mosques were often built out of materials from Hindu and Jain temples and sometimes temples themselves were modified into mosques.

BIRTH OF INDO-ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

NATURAL HAZARDS

Qutub Minar has survived a series of lightning bolts and earthquakes till date. The minar is unharmed except for a slight tilt, some two feet off the perpendicular. The 1st lightning struck in 1368 AD and knocked off the top storey.

Later in 19th century an earthquake destroyed Toothless cupola. Major Smith replaced it with a bengal style chhatri which was removed by Lord Hardinge as it sat ill with the architecture style of Qutub Minar. Its kept on the ground to the left of the entry path and is known as the Smiths folly.

RESTORATION

On 1st August 1803, the oldcupola was thown down due toEarthquake. After 2 years, repairingof the structure began and completed in1828 by Major Smith. His work on thedoorway has been criticized because ofbeing gothic and different from the minar.The materials used are proper.TODAY: Restoration work is carried outduring the nights also, when needed.After a series of accidents in the early1980’s, visitors are no longer allowed toclimb the Qutub minar.

NEWS LINE“Surging crowds at Qutub Minar has ASI worried…….” SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, NEW DELHI APRIL 20, 2008

Archeological Survey of India(ASI) is planning to built separate entry and exit points for the monument.5000 visitors daily. Sanitation is on stake. Conservation complexed.ASI is working on the redevelopement plan of Qutub complex since 2 yrsUnlike other monuments, Qutub minar is visited by all categories of Visitors.