Forgive me! I am two days late with my blog, but I had quite of bit of homework. Hopefully this still counts, since I had a valid excuse...
Well, yesterday I traveled to the Qutub Minar (or Qutb Minar or Qutab Minar). I had to do a little research for school on the minaret, and in all the books I found it was spelled differently! I think I'll stick to Qutub, since it was what appeared the most, but who knows? Getting there was the difficult part, since there was traffic and the tuk tuks (as always) were rather annoying.
Although upon arrival, after entering the actual Qutub complex, I exhaled. The sight of the huge 72 meter minaret was breathtaking, especially knowing it was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. No scaffolding, no cranes and yet they still managed to make the world's tallest stone structure in the world! The Qutub Minar has withstood earthquakes, lightening bolts, and the wear and tear most structures deal with over 800 years, and yet it still stands majestically.
Before I moved to India, I was a bit ignorant of the Indian landmarks. I knew there was the Taj Mahal, and I assumed that was about it. I had little knowledge of the Indian history before the British colonial period, and didn't even think that India had been ruled by any dynasties, let alone the Moghul Dynasty. It was one of the greatest that has ever ruled India, for under the Moghul rule India was at its finest, riches were everywhere! The greatest examples of the Moghul rule and India's wealth are the most famous landmarks in India - Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Qutub Complex.
What's more, is that in the Qutub Complex there isn't just the Qutub Minar. Iltutmish's tomb is there, along with multiple Mosques, the ruins of the Alai Minar (supposed to be double the Qutub's height, but the ruler died before it could be completed), the ruins of 27 Hindu and Jain temples, and the monolithic Iron Pillar from 400 BCE. If that isn't enough, behind the Qutub Complex is the Mehrauli district that also happens to be full of ruins. This trip, if anything, has taught me that when Indians have the ability to do something, they go all out.
Here are a few pictures of my trip:
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| The Qutb Minar |
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Me and the minaret!
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| Intricate carvings on the minaret |
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| Iltutmish's Tomb |
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| The white marble was imported from Persia! |
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