Delhi! The capital and heart of India!

This is a place that has a lot of history. Some of it being part of Islamic History also. It’s a place where several Muslim dynasties ruled many 100s of years ago.

Muslims travelled around the globe for many purposes and whilst doing this became the cause of a growing Muslim population in these places.

India has a population of 172 million Muslims with 13% of Muslim Indians living in Delhi.

Within New Delhi, there is an 800 year old minaret, the foundation of which was built around the year 1193 [589 AH]. This minaret was of course built alongside a mosque – known as Quwwat al-Islam – with a minaret being one of the most important part of the Mosque. It is a minaret that forms part of the entire Qutab complex and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building was started by Qutb al-Din Aibak, the founder of the Mamluk Dynasty and the first Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate.

Some have actually claimed that this minaret was actually from one of the first Islamic structures built by Muslims in India. This minaret is known to be the tallest minaret in India and one of the tallest in the world with Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain beating it. Qutub Minar stands at a staggering 72.5m height with Giralda Tower being 100m.

When visiting the complex you will notice many ruins as well as beautiful gardens. It is a place where history manifests itself. I would recommend visiting either early morning or just before sunset. The sunrise and sunset makes the experience all the more better.

Just to note, if you do need to perform your Salah or perform Wudhu [ablution], either ask one of the guards present or remember the following. As soon as you enter the complex, on your right hand side there is a small mosque with washing facilities. You can perform Wudhu and Salah there.

Getting There: Take a metro to the station called Qutub Minar and then take an auto rickshaw for 30 – 40 INR to the entrance.
Address: Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi 110030, India
Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily [although it we were there after 6PM and were also told its open till 9PM. Its just that the ticket office and luggage storage closes around 6PM]
Price: 500 Rupees

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