AHistoryIndependent states
The Qutb Minar
The 72.5-metre minaret raised in Delhi by the Turkic Mamluk sultans: the tallest brick minaret in the world, a World Heritage site.
Construction of the Qutb Minar was begun in 1199 by Qutb al-Din Aibak, a commander of the Ghurids of Turkic origin who in 1206 founded the Delhi Sultanate and its first, "Mamluk" (Slave), dynasty. The minaret was completed by his son-in-law and successor Shams al-Din Iltutmish.
The minaret has five storeys of red and buff sandstone covered with Quranic verses and carved ornament. The Quwwat al-Islam Mosque beside it is one of the earliest mosques in India. The complex was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.
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Updated: November 12, 2026