Quick answer: The Iron Pillar of Delhi is a 1,600-year-old wrought-iron column, 7.21 metres tall, that stands in the Qutb Minar complex in Mehrauli, south Delhi. Its Sanskrit inscription honours a king named Chandra, generally identified as the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II, and it is famous for having resisted rust for centuries. You see it on the Qutb Minar ticket; as of October 2026 Delhi Tourism lists ₹50 (cash) or ₹35 (online) for Indian visitors, with hours from sunrise to 8 pm.
Iron Pillar at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Courtyard of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Qutb Minar complex, Mehrauli, New Delhi |
| Made | Late 4th or early 5th century CE, Gupta period |
| Height | 7.21 m in total, of which about 1.12 m is below ground |
| Weight | More than 6 tonnes |
| Entry (Qutb complex ticket, per Delhi Tourism, October 2026) | Indian, SAARC and BIMSTEC visitors: ₹50 cash / ₹35 online; other foreign visitors: ₹600 cash / ₹550 online; children up to 15 free |
| Timings (per Delhi Tourism) | Sunrise to 8 pm |
| Nearest metro | Qutub Minar (Yellow Line) |
| Heritage status | Part of “Qutb Minar and its Monuments”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 |
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) sets the fee for the Qutb complex, so confirm the current price on the ASI e-ticket portal (asi.paygov.org.in) before you go.
Physical features
The pillar is 7.21 metres (23 feet 8 inches) from top to bottom, with 1.12 metres buried below the ground, and is about 41 cm across. It weighs more than six tonnes and was made by forge-welding pieces of wrought iron. The top is a bell-shaped capital. A deep socket at the very top suggests that it once carried an image, probably of Garuda, the eagle mount of the god Vishnu.
Since 1997 a fence has surrounded the pillar. It was put up because of a popular custom: visitors would stand with their backs to the pillar and try to make their hands meet behind it, believing this brought good luck. Constant touching was wearing the lower part of the pillar, so it is no longer possible to try.
An earlier version of this article gave several conflicting figures for the pillar’s height, weight and base (including “24 feet”, “6.5 tons”, “5,865 kg” and “48 cm”). They have been replaced with the measurements above.
The inscription of King Chandra
The oldest inscription on the pillar is a Sanskrit poem in the Gupta script. It praises a king named Chandra for his conquests and records that the pillar was set up as a dhvaja (standard) of Vishnu on a hill called Vishnupada, “the hill of Vishnu’s footprint”. The inscription is undated and does not name the king’s dynasty.
Most scholars identify Chandra with the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II, who reigned from about 375 to 415 CE. The script and poetic style fit that period; Chandragupta II was a devotee of Vishnu; and “Chandra” is the short name used on his gold coins. An earlier version of this article left the question open between Samudragupta and Chandragupta II; the scholarly consensus now favours Chandragupta II.
The inscription was first studied in the 1830s. James Prinsep, the British scholar who deciphered the Brahmi script, published a reading and translation in 1838 based on an ink impression. An earlier version of this article described him as an Indian curator, which was incorrect. Later scholars, including Bhau Daji Lad in 1875 and John Faithfull Fleet in 1888, improved the reading.
Where did the pillar come from?
The pillar was almost certainly not made for its present site. Where it first stood, and when it was moved, are still debated:
- Original site: The metallurgist R. Balasubramaniam and Meera Dass argued in 2004 that Vishnupada was at Udayagiri in Madhya Pradesh, a site closely tied to Chandragupta II and to the worship of Vishnu. Mathura was suggested earlier, but it has no real hill.
- Moved by the Tomar king Anangpal: A short inscription on the pillar, read by Alexander Cunningham as recording that Anangpal “peopled Dilli” in Samvat 1109 (1052 CE), led him to suggest that the Tomar ruler brought the pillar to Delhi. Later scholars have read the inscription differently.
- Moved by Iltutmish: Another view is that Sultan Iltutmish (r. 1210–1236) brought it to Delhi as a trophy after attacking Vidisha, near Udayagiri, in the 13th century, and placed it in the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque courtyard.
An earlier version of this article said the pillar was built in 1300 CE and that Mathura was mainly Buddhist “at the time”. The first statement is wrong, and the second has been replaced by the clearer account above.
Why the Iron Pillar does not rust
The pillar is not completely rust-free, but it has corroded remarkably little in about 1,600 years. Research by R. Balasubramaniam of IIT Kanpur, published in the journal Current Science, explains why:
- The iron contains a high level of phosphorus, because ancient smiths did not use lime in their furnaces, unlike modern blast furnaces.
- Small particles of slag and unreduced iron oxide in the metal, together with Delhi’s cycle of wet and dry weather, help a thin protective film form on the surface.
- Over time this film becomes a dense layer of crystalline iron hydrogen phosphate that seals the metal from further rusting. In 1,600 years it has grown only about one-twentieth of a millimetre thick.
The cannonball mark
About 4 metres above the courtyard floor there is a clear dent in the pillar, which has been shown to be the result of a cannonball fired at close range. No record of the event survives. Many historians think it happened during Nadir Shah’s invasion of Delhi in 1739, but this cannot be proved.
How to reach
- Metro: Qutub Minar station on the Yellow Line. From there, take an auto-rickshaw or shared e-rickshaw to the complex entrance.
- Bus: Delhi Transport Corporation buses serve Mehrauli, and the Mehrauli bus terminal is close to the complex.
- Taxi: Taxis and app cabs can drop you at the Qutb Minar entrance on Aurobindo Marg.
Tips for visitors
- Buy your Qutb complex ticket online to save time; the online fee is lower than the cash fee.
- Go early in the morning to avoid crowds and the heat, especially from April to June.
- October to March is the most comfortable season for exploring the whole complex.
- Carry water and wear comfortable shoes; the complex is large and partly unshaded.
Nearby places
Inside the same complex are the Qutub Minar, the Alai Darwaza and the tomb of Iltutmish. Next door, in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, is the Tomb of Balban, home to India’s first true arch. The Garden of Five Senses is about 2 km away, and the Tughlaq-era Khirki Mosque is a short drive east.
Frequently asked questions
Who built the Iron Pillar of Delhi?
Its inscription honours a king named Chandra, generally identified as the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II (about 375–415 CE). It was moved to its present site in Delhi later, probably by the 13th century.
Why doesn’t the Iron Pillar rust?
The iron’s high phosphorus content, together with Delhi’s wet and dry cycles, has formed a thin, dense layer of crystalline iron hydrogen phosphate that protects the metal underneath.
Can you touch the Iron Pillar?
No. A fence has surrounded the pillar since 1997 to stop the wear caused by visitors trying to encircle it with their arms.
Is there a separate ticket for the Iron Pillar?
No. The pillar is inside the Qutb Minar complex, so you need the complex ticket. As of October 2026, Delhi Tourism lists ₹50 in cash or ₹35 online for Indian visitors; confirm on the ASI portal.
How tall is the Iron Pillar?
It is 7.21 metres from top to bottom, with about 1.12 metres below ground, so roughly 6.1 metres is visible.
Details checked in October 2026 against Delhi Tourism’s Qutb Minar page, published research on the pillar’s inscriptions and metallurgy, and records of the Qutb complex’s World Heritage listing. Ticket prices are set by the ASI and can change, so check before you visit.
