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Tomb of Iltutmish: Architecture and History of Iltutmish Tomb

Shams Ud-Din Iltutmish was the third of the Mamluk kings who ruled the former Ghurid territories in northern India. He was the first Muslim sovereign to rule from Delhi and is thus considered the effective founder of Delhi Sultanate.

The tomb of Iltutmish, Qutub Minar Complex, was built in 1235 A.D. It is situated just outside the north-west corner of the Quwwat-ul-Islam near the Qutub Minar. The central one of these is located higher than the other two and is profusely decorated with marble.

Inside the tomb of Iltutlish, there are three prayer niches. This tomb is quite simple, but its entrance is intricately carved with geometrical and arabesque patterns make it a beautiful example of India’s heritage to the world. Basically, the area surrounding the Qutub Minar is called Qutub Complex.

Tomb of Iltutmish History

There have many important pieces of information about the tomb of Iltutmish. Qutbu’d-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Minar in AD 1199 for the use of the muezzin (crier) to give calls for prayer. In 1220, Aibak’s successor and son-in-law Iltutmish added three tiers to the tower.

It is the highest tower in India. In 1369, lightning destroyed its top tier completely and Firoz Shah Tughlaq carried out restoration work replacing the damaged tier with two new tiers every year.

There are many proverbs about the naming of this tower. Some historians say that it was named after the first Turkic sultan Qutub-Ud-din Aibak and some claims that it was named to honor Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a saint.

It is surrounded by several historically significant monuments, which are historically connected with the tower and are part of the Qutub Complex. Tomb of Iltutmish information includes the Iron Pillar of Delhi, Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Alai Darwaza, the Tomb of Iltutmish, Alai Minar, Ala-Ud-din’s Madrasa and Tomb. The iron pillar in the Qutub Minar complex has not rusted after some 2000 years.

This 4th-century pillar, originally made as a flagstaff in Vishnu’s honor, is a tribute to ancient Indian metallurgy. This 7m-high pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque and it was here a long time prior to the mosque’s construction.

The Qutub Minar complex is large and includes Qutub Minar, Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid, Ala’i Minar, Ala’i Darwaza, Iron Pillar, Iltutmish’s Tomb. At the foot of the Qutub Minar stands the first mosque to be built in India, known as Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid.

Ala-Ud-din ensures the completion of the south gateway of the building, the Ala’i Darwaza; it was built of red sandstone in 1311 and located just southwest of the Qutub Minar.

Tomb of Iltutmish (Built-in 1235,) lies in the northwest of the compound, midway along the west wall of the mosque. It is the first surviving tomb of a Muslim ruler in India. It got the tag of the world heritage site in 1993. From this, you can know about the tomb of Iltutmish history too.

Tomb of Iltutmish Architecture

Iltutmish History

Qutb Minar Complex, the tomb of Iltutmish was built in the early 13th century a few kilometers south of Delhi. The red sandstone tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5 m high, tapering from 2.75 m in diameter at its peak to 14.32 m at its base to give calls for prayer.

Its surrounding contains Alai-Darwaza Gate, the masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built-in 1311). The building process of Qutub Minar took a long time (about 75 years). Its construction was started by Qutub-Ud-din Aibak in 1193 and finished by Iltutmish.

Qutub Minar is known as the tallest brick minaret in the world. It is made of red sandstone and has Arabic inscriptions on it. The monuments in the Qutb complex in Mehrauli, pre-eminent among which is the Qutb Minar, illustrate the development of early Sultanate architecture (13th and early 14th century).

The tomb of Iltutmish architecture is basically an Indo Islamic architecture. Situated at a site which was earlier a center of the Rajput Tomars and Chauhans, the complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site: though most structures are in ruins, they are nonetheless awe-inspiring and give a sense of what their grandeur would have been when intact.

But with so much cultural heritage tied to one monument, it would be a shame to visit and not appreciate the story of the tomb of Iltutmish history behind it.

How to reach Iltutmish Tomb

Qutub Minar is a very famous monument located in Mehrauli, Delhi. It is easy to reach Qutub Minar by local bus, metro or taxi. The historical information about the tomb of Iltutmish gives you goosebumps.

  • Address – Aurobindo Marg, Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi – 110030.
  • Nearest Metro Station – Qutub Minar Metro Station (3Km away from the monument)
  • Timings – Daily 7a.m. – 10p.m.
  • Entry Fee – Rs. 35 for Indians and Rs. 250 for foreigners.

There are some other famous monuments around Qutub Minar in the Qutub Complex that deserve to be visited. Early morning is the best time to visit Qutub Minar. Weekends often get too crowded so it’s better to visit during weekdays.

Conclusion

Qutub Minar Complex has always been shrouded in mysteries galore and conflicting views. According to historians, the minaret was named after Qutb-Ud-din Aibak. As you enter, the tomb of Iltutmish architecture, the glorified plaques greet you giving you the slice of history and what Qutub Minar stands for.

But Qutub Minar is many things for many people. It has been elevated to a different rank and entered the realms of romantics. What with many fine dining, swish eating houses in Mehrauli offering its patrons the moonlit views of the minaret establishing the monument as one of the most idyllic places in the city. Visit and know about the tomb of Iltutmish information.

Places to visit near the Tomb of Iltutmish

References:

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iltutmish
  • https://archnet.org/sites/1569
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qutb_Minar_complex

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