Qutub Minar Essay

Qutub Minar is the tower of victory. Its erection started in the year 1199 under the supervision of Qutb-ud-din Aibak. The entire minaret was completed by the contemporary rulers of Delhi. This Qutub Minar essay will tell us about its history and facts. The long and short essay on Qutub Minar in English is written in a simple format for the school students. Study it and write a short note on Qutub Minar easily.

Long Essay on Qutub Minar

One of the fascinating tourist spots in Delhi is Qutub Minar. With a height of 72.5 m, this is the tallest minaret constructed using bricks in the world. It is considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This minaret is considered to be the epitome of victory. Qutub-Ud-In Aibak, a deputy employed by Muhammad of Ghor, started establishing this minaret in Delhi as a memoir of victory. It is considered as the sign of the Delhi Sultanate.

The architecture of Qutub Minar was inspired by the construction of Minaret of Jam. It is 62 meters tall and was constructed in the year 1190. The architect of Qutub Minar is Varahamihira, a Hindu by birth. This is why the architectural aspect of this minaret has both Indo-Islamic and Afghan styles conglomerated to form a unique design. The tower slowly tapers at the top and has 379 spiraling steps. It has five stories built in different timelines and represents different historical events. The base diameter is 14.32 meters whereas the top diameter is 2.75 meters. There are beautiful balconies projecting from each storey making it a unique minaret. Due to its immense historical significance, it is counted as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in India. India’s first mosque named Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid was constructed on the northeastern side of this minaret in 1198.

Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the founder of Delhi Sultanate and the emperor of the Ghurid Dynasty, started building this minaret after defeating the last Hindu king of Delhi, Prithviraj Chauhan. His victory earmarked the beginning of the rules of Muslim emperors in India. He built the first base and was used for prayer summons. He was unable to complete more than one level. Shams-ud-Din Iltutmish, the successor of Aibak and his son-in-law constructed three more levels under his supervision. The tower was made of marble and red sandstone. Its unique red color represents the texture of red sandstones used. After almost 169 years, the contemporary Delhi Sultan named Firoz Shah Tughlak renovated the lighting-hit tower and added two more stories. He also added a dome or cupola at the top and ended the construction. These stories were made of marble and white sandstone. The difference in color is quite significant in this tower.

This dome is not visible today as an earthquake shook the minaret and suffered a fall. In the British era, Major R. Smith, one of the Royal Engineers of the British Empire, restored the top portion with a ‘Chhatri’, a Bengali-styled architecture, in the year 1823. This top portion is still visible above the 5th storey.

The significance of this minaret in Indian history is remarkable. It has a long history of construction and restoration were done by so many rulers of India. It is also an example of the diverse Indian culture originating from several dynasties. The perfect mix has created a heritage that all the countries in the world admire.

Small Qutub Minar Essay

Short Paragraph on Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar is the world’s tallest minaret made of brick. Its height is 72.5 meters and its construction was initiated by Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak. The minaret was built following the architecture of the Minaret of jam located in Afghanistan. The construction started in 1199 by Qutub-ud-din Aibak and completed by Ittutimish in 1220. It is considered as the symbol of victory as it earmarked the beginning of the Delhi Sultanate in India. Aibak was unable to complete the minaret.

Iltutmish, the successor of Aibak and his son-in-law constructed three more levels under his supervision. Almost after 169 years, the rest of the tower’s levels were constructed by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. It had a beautiful dome above the 5th floor. It got devastated due to an earthquake. Later, the British Engineer, Major R. Smith designed a Bengali cupola or ‘Chhatri’ and restored its glory. In this paragraph on Qutub Minar, you can see how so many cultures shared their knowledge of architecture to build this minaret. This is why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every year, thousands of tourists from all over the world witness the magical conglomeration of Afghan and Indo-Islamic architecture. This minaret has a distinct red tinge from the red sandstone in the first three levels and a white tinge in the rest of the levels.

Qutub Minar is one of the oldest minarets in the world. It is the symbol of our diverse culture and heritage evolved from several dynasties of the historical era.

Summary

A few lines about Qutub Minar scribed in the form of a long and a small essay describes India’s historical heritage and culture. This monument is the ultimate example of architecture and master craftsmanship. It is a very popular tourist site in India and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.

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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Why was Qutub Minar Constructed?

Qutub Minar was the symbol of victory for the Ghurid Dynasty. When Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak defeated Raja Prithviraj Chauhan, the last Hindu ruler of Delhi, he ordered the construction of this minaret to immortalize his step in the Indian subcontinent.

2. Who Completed the Construction of Qutub Minar?

In the paragraph on Qutub Minar, we have learned that the completion of the construction of this minaret happened under the supervision of Firoz Shah Tuglaq.

3. Why Does Qutub Minar Have a Bengali-Styled Dome on Its Head?

The restoration work done by the British Engineer named Major R. Smith in 1823 symbolizes a Bengali architecture on the dome. He restored the broken dome that Firoz Shah Tughlaq made.