The Qutub Minar rising between the ruined arches and pillared colonnades of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque

Heritage · Mehrauli, South Delhi, Delhi

Qutub Minar Complex

The 72.5 m sandstone minaret and early Sultanate monuments of Mehrauli, south Delhi

Ambient sound · similar settingEarly-morning birds and crickets in an Indian city garden

Photo: Akshat Jhingran (@akshat_jhingran) / Unsplash

Discover Qutub Minar Complex

The Qutub Minar rises from the ruins of south Delhi like a giant fluted column, its red and buff sandstone storeys bound by bands of carved calligraphy and balconies. UNESCO describes it as the tallest masonry tower in India, and after more than eight centuries it still dominates the skyline of Mehrauli.

Around it lies a whole complex of early Sultanate monuments: the colonnades of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque with its reused temple pillars, the mysterious rust-free Iron Pillar, the elegant Alai Darwaza gateway and the richly carved tomb of Iltutmish. It is one of the best places in India to see how Islamic architecture first took root on the subcontinent.

Don’t miss

01The fluted, five-storey Qutub Minar with bands of carved calligraphy
02The Iron Pillar, with a 4th-century Brahmi inscription, in the mosque courtyard
03Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and its colonnades of carved reused pillars
04Alai Darwaza, Alauddin Khilji's domed gateway of 1311
05The unfinished stump of the Alai Minar
06The carved tomb of Iltutmish

History & culture

The story of Qutub Minar Complex

Qutb ud-din Aibak, founder of the Delhi Sultanate, began the minaret around 1199 and built its first storey; his successor Shamsuddin Iltutmish added three more. According to Incredible India, the tower was later repaired by Firuz Shah Tughlaq and Sikandar Lodi. UNESCO gives its height as about 72.5 metres, with a base diameter of 14.32 m narrowing to 2.75 m at the top.

The adjoining Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, built partly from materials of earlier Hindu and Jain temples, is described by UNESCO as the oldest mosque in northern India. In its courtyard stands the Iron Pillar, whose Brahmi inscription dates it to the 4th century CE. Alauddin Khilji added the Alai Darwaza, a domed gateway, in 1311, and began the Alai Minar, intended to be twice the height of the Qutub, but only its first storey, about 25 m high, was completed. The tomb of Iltutmish, from the 13th century, marks the beginning of India's tradition of royal mausoleums.

Local life & traditions

Mehrauli is one of Delhi's oldest continuously inhabited areas, and the Qutub complex sits among villages, Sufi shrines and modern restaurants. Families picnic on the lawns, school groups come to study Delhi's early history, and the area around the complex has become a popular dining district with views of the floodlit minaret.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Give yourself one to two hours to walk around the minaret and through the ruins of the mosque, pausing at the Iron Pillar and the delicate inlaid stonework of the Alai Darwaza. Look closely at the mosque pillars, where carvings from earlier temples are still visible.

The complex is illuminated after dark, and the warm lighting on the tower makes an evening visit memorable. Mehrauli Archaeological Park, with many more medieval ruins, is next door for those who want to explore further.

When to go

October to March is the best time to explore, with clear, cool days ideal for walking around the ruins, although winter smog can sometimes reduce visibility. Summer (April to June) is very hot, so visit early or in the evening. The monsoon months bring humidity and rain but also greener lawns.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Opening hours: Sunrise to sunset (may vary by season). Source: incredibleindia.gov.in ↗
Height: 72.5 metres, the tallest masonry tower in India. Source: whc.unesco.org ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

The tower interior has been closed to climbers for decades, so plan to admire it from the grounds.
Take the Delhi Metro Yellow Line to Qutub Minar station and a short auto-rickshaw ride to the entrance.
Book tickets online through the official ASI portal to skip the queue.
Visit in the late afternoon and stay into the evening to see the minaret illuminated.
Wear comfortable shoes and carry water, as there is little shade among the ruins.
Bring a wide-angle lens or step back across the lawns to fit the whole tower in a photograph.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Qutub Minar Complex: food, markets & places to stay

Mehrauli Archaeological Park, with tombs, stepwells and mosques from several dynasties, lies next to the complex, and the Mehrauli village area has the dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki and many restaurants. Qutub Minar metro station on the Yellow Line is the closest stop. South Delhi neighbourhoods such as Saket and Hauz Khas offer a wide choice of places to eat and stay.