Shariq H Naqvi: Qutib Minar

The foundations of world famous tower, known as the Qutib Minar, were laid by the Qutbbiddin Aibak of the Mamulk dynasty towards the end of the twelfth century. The construction was interrupted at the first storey by his death and the remaining three storeys were completed in matching material and the style by his successor Iltutmish commonly known as Altamash in A.D. 1230. In A.D.1368 the Minar was damaged by lightning. Later, Feroz shah Tughluq (A.D. 1351-88) replaced the top storey by the existing two stores faced with the marble Sikandar Lodhi (A.D. 1489- 1517) also executed some repairs to the Minar in A.D. 1503, when it was again by lightning. The tower has a diameter of 14.32m at the base and of about 2.75m at the top with a height of 72.5m and ascended by 379 steps; it is the highest stone tower in India and a perfect example of Minar known to exist anywhere. The variegated plan of its three lower storeys, the projecting balconies with stalactite, pendentive brackets and ornate bands of inscriptions on its facades heighten its decorative effects.

Alia Minar
In 1311 A.D.

This unfinished Minar with his, extent height of 24.5 m, was commenced by Alauddin Khalji (A.D.1296 -1316) it had hardly reached its storey when he died. He had conceived this Minar to be double to the height of the Qutib Minar, in order to be proportionate with the Quwwatul -Islam mosque, as extended by him.Amir Khusru in Tarikh-I-Alia mention about the intentions of Alauddin Khalji to increase the area of the mosque and construct of another Minar.

College and Tomb of Alauddin Khalji.

This quadrangle enclosed by high walls with rooms along the side and the entrance on the west, was originally a college (madrasa), and built by Alauddin Khalji (A.D.1296-1316), to impart traditional instruction. His tomb was perhaps located in the centre of the southern wing of the enclosure. The conception of a combined college and a tomb appears here in India for the first time and is inspired by Saljuqian tradition.