Red Fort

Qutub Minar

Introduction:

• It is also known as Qutb Minar and Qutab Minar, is the tallest minaret in India, originally an ancient Islamic Monument, inscribed with Arabic inscriptions.

• Construction was started in 1192 by Qutub-ud-din Aibak and was completed by Iltutmish.

• Located in Delhi, 28.524355°N 77.185248°E, the QutubMinar is made of red sandstone and marble.

• It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, collectively known as the Qutubcomplex.

Pictures of Qutub Minar

History of Qutub Minar

• According to history books, the minar was started by Prithviraj or his uncle Vigraharaja who won Delhi from the Tomar Rajputs.

• However, it is assumed and historians believe that Qutubuddib and Iltutmish finished it though the minar may have been commenced by Prithviraj or Vigraharaja.

• The minar was completed in 1200 A.D and since then the tall structure has been there upright and ever beautiful keeping an eye to Delhi just like a sentry.

Structure of Qutub Minar

• The structure of the wall is made as such that it widens from top to bottom, just to make the minar stronger.

• The Qutub Minar is made of fluted red sandstone covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Qur'an.

• The Qutub Minar comprises several superposed flanged and cylindrical shafts, separated by balconies carried on Muqarnas corbels.

• Qutub Minar tilts just over 60 cm from the vertical, which is considered to be within safe limits, although experts have stated that monitoring is needed in case rainwater seepage further weakens the foundation.

Architecture of Qutub Minar

• This architecture was started in 1199, taken around twenty years to complete and then established itself as the greatest historical building in 1219.

• It is the great example of Mughal's architecture.

• Height of this Minar is 72.5 meters, its diameter is 14.3 meters and its upper diameter is around 2.7 meters.

• There are 379 steps in this Minar from bottom to top.

• There is also certain word in Kupee language, which means that this tower was established to reflect the shadow of the God in both east and west direction.

Architecture of Qutub Minar

Decorative motifs on upper levels of QutbMinar, showing both Hindu and Islamic elements.

Inscriptions of Qutub Minar• The minar made with numerous superimposed flanged and

cylindrical shafts in the interior, and fluted columns on the exterior, which have a 40 cm thick veneer of red and buff coloured sandstone; all surrounded by bands of intricate carving in Kufic style of Islamic calligraphy, giving the minar the appearance of bundled reeds.

• It stands just outside the Quwwatul mosque, and an Arabic inscription suggests that it might have been built to serve as a place for the muezzin, to call the faithfuls for namaz.

• Also marking a progression in era, is the appearance of inscriptions in a bold and cursive Thuluth script of calligraphy on the QutbMinar, distinguished by strokes that thicken on the top, as compared to Kufic in earlier part of the construction

• Inscriptions also indicate further repairs by Sultan Sikander Lodi in 1503, when it was struck by lightning once again.

Inscriptions of Qutub Minar

Inscription panels of Arabic calligraphy running around the ornate balcony, QutbMinar.

Inscriptions in the Kuficstyle of calligraphy, form regular bands throughout the QutbMinar.

Details of muqarnascorbel under the balcony, Qutub Minar.

Introduction:• The Red Fort(also called Lal Quila) is one of the most

important symbols of not just India’s history but also one of her greatest prides, her democracy.

• Built in almost 20 years (1639-1648), by the Mughalmonarch Shahjahan, who shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi had a great significance in historical Delhi.

• The Fort, built in red sandstone and one of the most prominent architectural masterpieces of the Mughal era, is also the venue to the annual flag hoisting ceremony when the Prime Minister of India unfurls the Indian tricolor on India’s Independence Day on 15th August each year.

History of Red Fort

• The Red Fort (usually transcribed into English as Lal Qil'ah or Lal Qila) is a 17th-century fort complex constructed by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in the walled city of Old Delhi (in present day Delhi, India) that served as the residence of the Mughal Emperors.

• The fort was the palace for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's new capital, Shahjahanabad, the seventh city in the Delhi site.

• He moved his capital here from Agra in a move designed to bring prestige to his reign, and to provide ample opportunity to apply his ambitious building schemes and interests.

• It served as the capital of the Mughals until 1857, when Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled by the British Indian government.

Red Fort in Delhi, c. 1905

Structure of Red FortThe Red Fort is a medieval complex comprising of a number of palaces,

offices, workshops, halls, mosques as well as market places. Built around an area of 120 acres, this UNESCO certified world heritage site consists of Mughal and non Mughal architectural structures. These include:

• The Diwan-i-Khas or the Hall of Private Audience :Decorated with precious and semi-precious stones, this was the court

of the Mughal Emperor where he sat in conference with the ministers of his council.

• The Diwan-i-Aam or the Hall of Public Audience:The court in which the emperor addressed the pleas of his citizens, this

is a rectangular hall with three aisles and nine multiple arches, which housed the royal throne beneath a marble canopy decorated with precious stones and floral motifs.

• The Rang Mahal (Palace of Colors) or the Imtiaz Mahal :Consisting of six apartments divided by arched pillars constructed in a

typically Mughal style of architecture, this beautiful palace is built over a basement that in turn is built around a main hall with rooms at each end.

Structure of Red Fort

• The Khas Mahal (Private Palace) The emperor’s personal palace, this exotic structure

consisted of the following chambers:The Taasbikhana (Chamber of Telling Beads), The Khwabgah (Sleeping Chamber), Baithak (Sitting Room), Muthamman Burj or Jharokah-i-Darshan(Showing Balcony).

• The other notable structures of the Red Fort are: The Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque ,The Hayat-Baksh

Bagh or the Life-giving Garden Zafar Mahal ,The Hamam or the Bath .

Structure of Red Fort

Diwan-i-AamThe Rang Mahal

Diwan-i-Khas

Architecture of Red Fort• The Red Fort covers a total area of about 254.67 acres

enclosed within 2.4 kilometres of defence walls.

• The walls are punctuated by turrets and bastions.

• They vary in height from 18 m on the river side to 33 m on the city side.

• The fort is shaped like an octagon with the north-south axis longer than the east-west axis.

• The use of marble, floral decorations, double domes in the buildings inside the fort exemplifies the later phase of Mughalarchitecture.

• The art work in the Fort is a synthesis of Persian, European and Indian art which resulted in the development of unique Shahjahani style which is very rich in form, expression and colour.

Pictures of Architecture

Inscriptions of Red Fort

Inscription says that if there's indeed heaven on earth, it is here -- Diwan-I-Khas at Red Fort, Delhi.