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
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.
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| Green leaves of Autumn outside at the entrance |
Destination-Qutub-Minar
Qutub Minar- Considered as the 2nd 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.
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| The Guide map |
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Carvings on stone |
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| A brief history about the origin |
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| 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
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| 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:)
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| 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 5th
and the last storey.
The journey continues......
