Finding smiles in stones-Qutub Minar

The whole week may push and chase us anywhere, everywhere but just when the weekend plunges, there is this blanket of monotony " flickering" from everywhere   ..."where to go" life in the four walls seems too obvious, the city dwellers run out of travel ideas when it comes to a day tour. "Malls...no not our zone", "The coffee shop"..."So how would that help my 9 year old"...."ok the nearby market place...".ok yes napkins, safety pins, tea-pot, "masala daani"...please give me a break"  left over refuge ......street hopping, bucket full of fried chicken or may be a chicken burger and a glass full of that insipid  drink and back home...that was all for a weekend outing? Was it all...not at all

At the entrance

So now what? The cliché prevailed “uff...don’t like the city life” just then the idea popped into our mind....why don’t we tour some of the heritage sites in NCR. Just a few kms drive. Exploring those relics, stone lanes, ancient historical sites, tombs, carvings, heritage, culture....all scattered in and around Delhi. Every time we passed by, our  fingers pointing out high from the window shield, showcasing those ancient glories to many outsiders or  NRI’s promising a visit next time and finishing off with "So many places to visit in India."

But just as those autumn leaves gathered, there was this faintest breeze all over, afternoon seemed a bit crispier, golden and it had this tinge of provocation. We planned this ultimate outing to our first historical site visit.

Green leaves of Autumn outside at the entrance

Destination-Qutub-Minar

Qutub Minar- Considered as the 2^nd tallest Minar, the Minar is 74mts in height. The Minar has a unique blend of old world charm surrounded by lush green area and medieval monuments. It is called the queue complex which is a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Guide map

Tallest Stone Tower in India

Located at the Mehrauli area in Delhi, it’s an easy gateway for many residents who cherish and relish ancient and historical architecture. The very presence of such a unique historical monument amidst the hustle bustle of city  has its own relevance and charm.

The stone pillars with carvings

As we collect tickets and get inside, the whole surrounding has this inevitable charm blended with shades of ancient mughal carvings, archtecture and verses from Koran. The minar is made of red sandstone, built in 1193 by Qutab –ud-din Aibak.It has 379 steps.The base measures 14.32 meters and the top structure is 2.75 mts.The view from the top is one of its kind.

Snippets from Koran

The tower has 5 storeys; each one is embellished by 5 balcony and tapers.

At the foot of the tower is the Quwaat-ul-Islam Mosque. It was the first mosque built in India.

Carvings on stone

A brief history about the origin

With Bricks & Stones from Mughal Age

The controversial bytes

There is a doze of controversy saying  the inscription on its eastern gate was built with materials derived from demolishing “27 Hindu Temples”...may be

Controversy rules

The iron pillar was standing tall 7m high at the courtyard of the mosque. We actually had a few shots clicked amidst the minar and the iron pillar. The wish fulfilling area was actually in this place. Well, we had  some, we uttered those unaware, unheard in chaos, in solitude:)

Iron Pillar

Living in a concrete jungle and passing over  this monument every time, I had planned a visit but  never really imagined that it could have such an alluring view. A bygone era, those old scattered relics, the intricate carvings, the colours of the veteran bricks all  reminded us of history in flash of seconds. Away from the modern architectural sites, it was one of its kinds. 

One of the finest monuments in India, there were tourist spiralling here and there with their cameras hanging from their shoulders clicking shots of this wonder.

Qutub –ud-din Aibak the first Muslim ruler constructed the Qutub Minar in 1200AD but he could only finish the basement. Successor Iltutmish constructed 3more storeys. In 1368 Firoz Shah Tughlak built the 5^th and the last storey.

The journey continues......