Qutb Minar in New Delhi is a 73-metre red sandstone minaret begun by Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
Construction started around 1199, soon after Aibak established the Delhi Sultanate’s rule in northern India. Later rulers, including Iltutmish, continued the tower, giving it a layered architectural history rather than a single-period design.
The tower has five distinct storeys, with projecting balconies separating the levels. Its lower sections use red sandstone, while later repairs and additions also incorporated marble. Quranic inscriptions and decorative bands cover much of the exterior.
The Qutb Minar is the centerpiece of the Qutb complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the Iron Pillar, and other medieval remains. It is often confused with Delhi’s Alai Minar, an unfinished tower planned to be much larger.