The word 'Qutab Minar' means 'axis minaret'.
The tower which dominates the countryside for miles around
has five storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony.
The tower was built in three stages.
Qutab-ud-Din completed the first storey.
Second, third and the fourth were completed by his successor and son-in -law, Illtutmish in 1230. The minar was first struck by lightening in AD 1368
and the fallen top storey was replaced by two storeys's,
the fourth and the fifth in 1370 AD by Feroz Shah Tughlaq (AD 1351-88).

Qutab Minar with a height of 72.5m (239ft),
is the highest stone tower in India
and has a diametre of 14.32 metres at the base
and about 2.75 metres at the top.
The first three storeys are made of red sandstone
and are heavily indented with different styles of fluting,
alternately round and angular on the bottom floor,
round on the second and angular on the third.
The fourth and fifth floors are made of marble and sandstone.




Click HERE to visit Vika's splendid photogalleries.