Smith’s Folly is a pillared, red sandstone cupola resting on the lawns of the Qutb Minar complex. It appears as an elegant, open-air pavilion, yet its presence in the garden is the result of a nineteenth-century architectural controversy.…
Qutub Minar Complex
This self-guided walk explores the grand monuments of Delhi's premier victory complex, highlighting its soaring towers, historic tombs, and ancient metallurgy.
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1. Smith's Folly
2. Imam Zamin's Tomb
The tomb of Imam Zamin is a compact, square structure identifiable by its sandstone dome resting on an octagonal base, set within the broader Qutb Complex. It features twelve pillars supporting the roof, with intricate stone lattice…
3. Alai Darwaza
The Alai Darwaza is a square, domed gatehouse clad in red sandstone and inlaid with white marble bands. Built in thirteen eleven by Sultan Alauddin Khalji, it served as the southern gateway to an ambitious expansion of the Quwwat-ul-Islam…
4. Qutb Minar
The Qutb Minar is a tapering tower of red and buff sandstone that rises seventy-two and a half meters above the landscape, distinguished by its five storeys, projecting balconies, and alternating angular and rounded flutings. It stands as…
5. Iron Pillar of Mehrauli, Delhi
The Iron Pillar of Mehrauli rises from the central courtyard of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, its smooth, dark surface contrasting with the weathered stone ruins of the surrounding Qutb complex. Standing over seven meters tall and weighing…
6. Alauddin Khilji Tomb & Madrasa
The Tomb and Madrasa of Alauddin Khilji is identified by its L-shaped layout and ruined stone walls that enclose a central, quadrangular courtyard. Located in the southwest corner of the Qutub Complex, this site is distinguished by a…
7. Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish Tomb
The tomb of Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish is a plain, square red sandstone chamber that sits near the northwest corner of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. While the structure appears modest from the outside, its interior walls are covered in…
8. Alai Minar
The Alai Minar is a massive, unfinished circular base of rubble masonry that sits within the Qutb complex. You can identify it by its rough, unhewn appearance, which stands in stark contrast to the nearby, finished monuments of the…