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The Daily Insight

Why Qutub Minar is an important source of information for the Sultanate period

Author

Sophia Dalton

Updated on April 20, 2026

Built as a Victory Tower, to celebrate the victory of Muhammad Ghori over the Rajput king, Prithviraj Chauhan, in 1192 AD, by his then viceroy, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, later the first Sultan of Mamluk dynasty. Its construction also marked the beginning of Muslim rule in India.

Why is Qutub Minar an important source of information for the Sultanate period?

Built as a Victory Tower, to celebrate the victory of Muhammad Ghori over the Rajput king, Prithviraj Chauhan, in 1192 AD, by his then viceroy, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, later the first Sultan of Mamluk dynasty. Its construction also marked the beginning of Muslim rule in India.

Where is Qutub Minar located How does it serve as an important source to study the Delhi Sultanate?

Explanation: Qutub Minar located in the Qutub complex in New Delhi is one of the many historical and magnificent monuments in the capital city of New Delhi. It is located adjacent to the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and is considered as its name suggests is the pillar of faith.

What is the importance of Qutub Minar?

The Qutub Minar is a towering 73 meter high tower built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in 1193. The tower was built to celebrate Muslim dominance in Delhi after the defeat of Delhi’s last Hindu ruler. This tower is the highest tower in India, complete with five storeys and projecting balconies.

What information do the monuments of the Sultanate period provide about the Sultanate era?

Explanation: Reflects the distance between the rulers and the ruled, the despotism of the sultans: Each monument reflects the tastes of the sultan as because of their scale each sultan tried to build according to his likes to expand his glory.

What happened in Qutub Minar?

45 visitors, most of them students, died in a stampede inside the minar on December 4, 1981. Demands to reopen the monument have been made over the years, but no government wants to risk the blame for another tragedy. Long ago, you could climb to the top of Delhi’s Qutub Minar.

What are the features of Qutub Minar?

  • Originally, the Qutub Minar had four storeys and stood at an impressive height of 71.4 meters. …
  • It has five storeys tapering as they ascend. …
  • Verses from the Holy Quran and some complex carvings and floral motifs are inscribed on the walls of the tower.

How is the Qutub Minar conserved and protected?

The entire base of Qutub Minar has been made water-tight to ensure that water does not percolate into the foundation of the monument, Rajya Sabha was told today. … Water-tightening and ‘pointing’ are key procedures in conservation of monuments.

What is the real name of Qutub Minar?

The original name of the so called Qutub Minar was “Raja Prithviraj Temple”. In fact, it was known to local Hindus as “Raja Prithviraj Temple” until 1900.

What is the present condition of Qutub Minar?

Delhi’s Qutub Minar is under renovation after 50 years owing to the damage caused by bird excreta. Bats enter inside the cracks of old Sal wood doors and window panels. Qutub Minar is under renovation after 50 years owing to the damage caused by bird excreta.

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What makes the Qutub Minar The most unique structure of its kind?

The height of Qutb Minar is 72.5 meters, making it the tallest minaret in the world built of bricks. The tower tapers, and has a 14.3 metres (47 feet) base diameter, reducing to 2.7 metres (9 feet) at the top of the peak. It contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps.

What did the Qutub Minar signify to the Hindus after it was erected?

The origins of Qutab Minar are shrouded in controversy. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer.

What was the main source of revenue collection during the Sultanate period?

Their main source of revenue came from agricultural land. Most of the Sultans , collected revenue based on the maesurement of land.

What was the main source of income of Delhi sultan?

The main source of income of the state was land revenue termed as Kharaj. This denoted all taxes including Jaziyah raised from the non-Muslims. AlauddinKhilji raised the land tax from the earlier one-sixth and one-half of the gross produce.

What is meant by Delhi Sultanate?

The Delhi Sultanate refers to the five short-lived Muslim kingdoms of Turkic and Pashtun (Afghan) origin that ruled the territory of Delhi between 1206 and 1526 CE. In the 16th century, the last of their line was overthrown by the Mughals, who established the the Mughal Empire in India.

What is written on Qutub Minar?

(Entrance doorway of the Qutub Minar with inscriptions saying, ‘He who builds a mosque for God, God will build for him a similar house in paradise. ‘)

Where is Qutub Minar located answer?

Note: The Qutub Minar is located in New Delhi.

Who rebuilt Qutub Minar?

It was reconstructed by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who added the fifth and final story to the tower while the entrance to Qutub Minar was built by Sher Shah Suri. Around 300 years later, in 1803, the tower again suffered severe damages in an earthquake.

Why we Cannot go inside the Qutub Minar?

Each storey has a balcony that encircles the tower. However, because of a fatal stampede in 1981, visitors are not allowed inside anymore.

Why are visitors not allowed in Qutub Minar?

Banned Entry Inside Tower: Due to an accident, the government banned the entry inside the tower. A good number of tourists reached there to visit Qutub Minar and about 300 – 400 people were inside it. Moreover, outside the tower, many were pushing for entry.

Why can't we climb Qutub Minar?

Unfortunately, it’s no longer possible to climb up to the top of the Qutub Minar. The monument was closed after a lighting failure resulted in a stampede, killing nearly 50 people, in 1981.

Where was Alauddin Khilji buried?

The tomb attributed to Alauddin Khalji is located in the central room of the southern wing of the L-shaped madrasa in Qutb Minar complex, Delhi. It is located south west of the Qutub Minar and Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque.

Is Qutub Minar a Hindu architecture?

Qutab Minar was not originally a Hindu monument, say experts.

Who made Vishnu Stambh?

* Varahmihir — prominent mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, came to Indraprastha and constructed/erected a seven-storied polar pillar connoting an astronomical observation tower famous by different names such as Meru Stambh/ Dhruv Stambh/ Vishnu Stambh which is now termed as ‘Qutub Minar’ or astronomical studies …

How was Qutub Minar damaged?

The beautiful monument was struck by lightning twice. In 1368, the topmost floor of the Qutub Minar was damaged and was re-built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

Which one is highest Taj Mahal or Qutub Minar?

Taj Mahal is taller than Qutub Minar. The Taj Mahal, standing at a height of 73 metres, is taller than the Qutub Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world, which measures 72.5 metres.

Who made India Gate?

The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin.

Why Qutub Minar has a broad base compared to its top?

Explanation: For buildings, it is important that the surface area of the ground floor be made large so that the building can stand on it properly. In order for a building to stand properly, the surface area should be huge.

Why is Qutub Minar called Vishnu Stambh?

Why is it called Vishnu Stambh? Qutub Minar points in the north direction, and hence the name Dhruv Stambh was coined. This name implies the astronomical importance of the tower and unlikely of many other Islamic monuments.

Who among the following did not contribute to building the famous Qutub Minar?

Hence, it is clear from the above points that Ghiyas ud din Balban did not contribute to building the famous Qutub Minar.

What do you know about the architecture of Sultanate period?

Sultanate era marked the evolution and development of a new-type of Hindu-Muslim architecture in which decorative exuberance of the Hindu architecture was toned down and its place was taken by new elements such as use of geometrical shapes, calligraphy, inscriptional art etc.