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Qutub Minar

Delhi · UNESCO World Heritage

The Qutub Minar is a fluted tower of red and buff sandstone, around 73 metres high, begun in about 1199 by Qutb ud Din Aibak, the first Sultan of Delhi. It stands among the ruins of the Quwwat ul Islam mosque, one of the earliest in India.

The complex is in south Delhi and is usually included on a full day Delhi tour with Humayun's Tomb, India Gate and the Red Fort.

What to see

  • The minaret. Look for the bands of carved inscriptions and the balconies on each of its five storeys. Visitors can no longer climb inside.
  • The iron pillar. A seven metre pillar more than 1,500 years old that has barely rusted, a puzzle for metallurgists.
  • Quwwat ul Islam mosque. Its colonnades reuse carved pillars from earlier Hindu and Jain temples.
  • Alai Darwaza and Alai Minar. An elegant domed gateway, and the stump of a far larger tower that was never finished.

Multi-day tours that visit Qutub Minar

Every tour here includes Qutub Minar in its itinerary. Best rated first.

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Combine it with

Red Fort

UNESCO

Shah Jahan's red sandstone palace fortress in Old Delhi, where India's Prime Minister speaks every Independence Day.

Visitor guide →

Taj Mahal

UNESCO

The white marble tomb Shah Jahan built for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and the reason almost every first trip to India passes through Agra.

Visitor guide →

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Qutub Minar: questions

Can you climb the Qutub Minar?

No. The staircase inside has been closed to visitors since 1981.

How much is the Qutub Minar entry fee?

Foreign visitors pay around INR 550. Fees change from time to time, so check before you go.

How long do I need at Qutub Minar?

About an hour is enough to see the minaret, the iron pillar and the mosque ruins.

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