The Qutb Minar is the Delhi victory tower begun by Qutb al-Din Aibak in 1199 and standing about 73 metres tall.
Qutb al-Din Aibak began the first storey after establishing the Delhi Sultanate. His successor, Iltutmish, added three further storeys, and later repairs and alterations followed after lightning strikes and earthquakes. The tower’s five distinct storeys are marked by projecting balconies.
Its exterior carries bands of Arabic inscriptions and geometric decoration. The fluted shaft uses both angular and rounded forms, creating a changing pattern as the tower rises. It forms part of the wider Qutb complex, which includes the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and the unfinished Alai Minar.
The Qutb Minar is often described only as a minaret, but its original purposes included commemorating conquest and proclaiming the power of the new sultanate. Its exact symbolic use remains debated.