Raat Ke Afsane : Night Walk in Qutub Minar
Walking tours in Delhi, Historic trails in Delhi, the heritage walk, Sightseeing in Delhi, Exploring Delhi History, Monument Walks, Historic Walking Tour, History of Delhi
Night walks in Delhi are a fantastic way for visitors to connect to the history of Delhi, appreciate its cultural richness and create lasting memories of their journey through time and history. The historic walking tours conducted in these monuments allow visitors to explore these iconic sites in a different light, quite literally.
Introduction
One such experience is the Raat ke Afsane: Historic walking tour segment, conducted by Enroute Indian History in the Qutub Minar. Enroute Indian History, is a women led organization, established in 2019, trying to make Indian heritage accessible and fun through research and heritage walks.
Qutub Minar is a magnificent historical monument located in Mehrauli, New Delhi. It is one of the most famous and iconic landmarks in the city that holds significant architectural importance. Admire the intricate carvings and inscriptions on the minar and learn about its architectural style, which combines Indo-Islamic influences. Visit the tomb of Iltutmish, walk through the Alai Darwaza and experience one of the earliest and the most significant mosques of India. The Qutub complex’s monuments are beautifully lit at sunset, creating a magical and ethereal ambience.
The heritage walks conducted by Enroute Indian History are led by knowledgeable and passionate professionals who are well-versed in history and the cultural significance of various monuments and landmarks in Delhi. A 1.5-hour guided walk through the Qutub Complex, the Raat ke Afsane: Night Walk, will undoubtedly be a memorable experience that offers a unique perspective on the city’s history.
These walking tours in Delhi are also a great way to meet new like-minded people. If you are someone who enjoys sightseeing in Delhi and exploring heritage but are hesitant to go alone, these monument walks are an easy, affordable and a fun option for you to indulge yourself in the history of Delhi. Check out our website www.enrouteindianhistory.com to register for our signature Raat ke Afsane. Do follow us on instagram @enroute_indian_history_ .
About
Qutub Minar has given a new lease of life, beautifully lit up and piercing the darkness of the night sky like a blazing beam of light. It is a visual to behold more beautiful than Eiffel Tower in Paris. The heritage walk will take you inside the Qutub Complex and tell you stories of the art, architecture and history of the Qutub Minar and the other monuments in the complex.
The Qutub Minar, also spelled Qutub Minar and Qutab Minar, is a minaret and “victory tower” that forms part of the Qutub complex, which lies at the site of Delhi’s oldest fortified city, Lal Kot, founded by the Tomar Rajputs. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mehrauli area of South Delhi, India. It is one of the most visited tourist spots in the city, mostly built between 1199 and 1220.
The Qutub Minar can be compared to the 62-metre all-brick Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, which was constructed a decade or so before the probable start of the Delhi tower. The surfaces of both are elaborately decorated with inscriptions and geometric patterns. The Qutub Minar has a shaft that is fluted with “superb stalactite bracketing under the balconies” at the top of each stage. In general, minarets were slow to be used in India and are often detached from the main mosque where they exist.
A Synthesis of South Asian and Islamic Architecture
This victory tower is a symbol of the synthesis of traditional Islamic architecture and Southwestern Asian design. Elizabeth Lambourn’s Islam Beyond Empires: Mosques and Islamic Landscapes in India and the Indian Ocean studies the introduction of Islam in South Asia and how the region influenced the Islamic religious architecture. These newly arrived Muslims from the Islamic West escaped the Mongol Empire and emigrated to India, where they constructed religious centers.
The Qutub Minar serves as a central marker to these new Muslim communities as well as being a reminder of Islam’s presence in the area. The architecture of the minaret varies greatly from that of the typical style and design of the mosques constructed in the Middle East. Local architecture such as the Indic temples heavily influence the style of these structures. This affected the different materials, techniques, and decoration that were used in the construction of the Qutub Minar.
The Patrons and Architects
Qutub-ud-din Aibak, a deputy of Muhammad of Ghor, who founded the Delhi Sultanate after Muhammad of Ghor’s death, started construction of the Qutub Minar’s first story in 1199. Aibak’s successor and son-in-law Shamsuddin Iltutmish completed a further three stories.[15] After a lightning strike in 1369 damaged the then top story, the ruler at the time, Firuz Shah Tughlaq, replaced the damaged story and added one more. Sher Shah Suri also added an entrance while he was ruling and the Mughal emperor Humayun was in exile.
Instructions
- Pre-registration and booking mandatory.
- For any queries mail at – enrouteindianhsitory@gmail.com or call us at 9667218424
- You will receive the details of the heritage walk when you book the tickets.
- No guided fees for kids under 5.
- Medium of communication : Hindi and English
- In case of unavoidable external reasons such as (weather conditions, political rallies, VIP movement, powercut), we may cancel the walk. The participant has the liberty to take another walk by the company against the payment they have made within 30 days since the date of the registered walk. The company does not have refund policy.