Quick answer: Qutub Minar (also spelt Qutb Minar) in Mehrauli, south Delhi, is a 72.5-metre sandstone tower begun by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1199 and completed by his successor Iltutmish, with later repairs by Firuz Shah Tughlaq. Together with the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the Iron Pillar and other monuments, it forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As of October 2026, Delhi Tourism lists it as open from sunrise to 8 pm, with tickets at ₹35 online or ₹50 in cash for Indians, and ₹550 online or ₹600 in cash for foreigners; you cannot climb the tower.
Qutub Minar at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | Qutb complex, Mehrauli, South Delhi |
| Timings | Sunrise to 8 pm (Delhi Tourism, checked October 2026) |
| Entry fee | Indians and SAARC/BIMSTEC citizens: ₹35 online, ₹50 cash. Other foreign visitors: ₹550 online, ₹600 cash. Children up to 15: free (Delhi Tourism, checked October 2026) |
| Heritage status | UNESCO World Heritage Site (1993), “Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi”; ticketed ASI monument |
| Height | 72.5 metres, 379 steps (interior closed to visitors) |
| Nearest metro | Qutab Minar (Yellow Line) |
| Time needed | 1.5 to 2 hours (general guidance) |
What is closed: visitors have not been allowed inside the tower since a stampede in 1981. According to an ASI reply under the Right to Information Act reported by The Pioneer in September 2026, the first floor of the “Hindu remains” corridor in the complex and the Jamali Kamali tomb in the neighbouring Mehrauli area are also out of bounds, and accessibility improvements are under way.
An earlier version of this article listed the timings as 7 am to 5 pm and the fees as ₹30 for Indians and ₹500 for foreigners. Those figures were out of date and have been replaced with Delhi Tourism’s current listing.
History of Qutub Minar
In 1192, Muhammad of Ghor defeated the Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan, and his general Qutb-ud-din Aibak took control of Delhi. Aibak later became the first sultan of the Mamluk (Slave) dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. According to Delhi Tourism, which follows the ASI’s account, Aibak laid the foundation of the Minar in 1199, for the muezzin’s call to prayer, and completed its first storey. His successor and son-in-law, Shams-ud-din Iltutmish (ruled 1211–36), added three more storeys.
The tower was built as a minaret for the adjoining mosque and as a symbol of victory. Its name is usually linked to Qutb-ud-din Aibak; some historians link it instead to the Sufi saint Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki.
The Minar has been repaired many times:
- 14th century: after lightning damaged the top storey (the date usually given is 1369), Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq (ruled 1351–88) rebuilt it as two storeys, giving the tower its present five storeys. An earlier version of this article gave the date as 1368.
- Early 16th century: inscriptions record repairs by Sikandar Lodi (ruled 1489–1517).
- 1803: an earthquake badly damaged the tower. Major Robert Smith of the British Indian Army restored it in the late 1820s and added a pillared cupola as a sixth storey. The Governor-General, Lord Hardinge, had the cupola removed in 1848; it now stands on the lawn and is known as “Smith’s Folly”.
- 1981: on 4 December 1981 the staircase lighting failed and visitors inside stampeded towards the exit. About 45 people, many of them schoolchildren, were killed. The interior has been closed ever since. An earlier version of this article gave the toll as 47.
Architecture
The Minar is built of red and buff sandstone, with marble in the upper storeys. It tapers from a diameter of 14.32 metres at the base to about 2.75 metres at the top. Each storey has a projecting balcony supported by stone brackets decorated with honeycomb (muqarnas) work, most richly on the first storey. Bands of carved inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari scripts wrap around the shaft and record its history.
The fluting changes from storey to storey: the first storey has alternating angular and rounded flutes, the second only rounded ones and the third only angular ones. The ASI notes that keeping the same alignment throughout gives the tower its pleasing vertical look. The design is often compared with the 12th-century brick Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, built a decade or so earlier.
UNESCO describes the Qutb Minar as the tallest masonry tower in India.
Other monuments in the Qutb complex
- Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque: built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak from 1198, it is the earliest surviving mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. According to Aibak’s own inscription on the eastern entrance, its colonnades were built with carved columns and other parts taken from 27 demolished Hindu and Jain temples, and the temple carving is still visible. Iltutmish and Alauddin Khalji later enlarged it. An earlier version of this article called it the oldest mosque in northern India; the precise claim is the earliest extant mosque of the Delhi Sultans.
- The Iron Pillar: in the mosque courtyard stands a 7.21-metre iron pillar (about 1.12 m of it below ground) weighing more than six tonnes. Its Sanskrit inscription in Gupta Brahmi script records that it was set up as a standard of Vishnu on a hill called Vishnupada in memory of a king named Chandra, identified with Chandragupta II (about 375–415 CE). A socket on top probably once held an image of Garuda. The pillar has resisted rust for about 1,600 years, which scientists attribute to a protective layer that forms on its high-phosphorus iron. See our guide to the Iron Pillar of Delhi.
- Tomb of Iltutmish: built in 1235, a square red sandstone chamber richly carved inside with inscriptions and geometric patterns. UNESCO notes it began the tradition of royal tombs in India.
- Alai Darwaza: the southern gateway of the mosque, built by Alauddin Khalji in 1311. Delhi Tourism calls it the first building to employ Islamic principles of construction and ornamentation.
- Alai Minar: an unfinished tower north of the Qutub Minar, begun by Alauddin Khalji, who meant it to be twice the size of the Qutub. Only the first storey was built, now about 25 metres high. An earlier version of this article gave its height as 27 metres.
- Alauddin Khalji’s madrasa and tomb, the first example in India of a tomb standing alongside a madrasa.
How to reach Qutub Minar
- By metro: Qutab Minar station on the Yellow Line is the nearest. The monument is a short auto or e-rickshaw ride from the station.
- By road: the complex is in Mehrauli, off Aurobindo Marg, and is well served by buses, autos and app cabs.
- From the airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport is in south-west Delhi; travel time by road depends heavily on traffic.
Tips for visiting
- Go early in the morning for softer light and fewer people, especially on weekends and holidays.
- Book online on the ASI’s portal (asi.paygov.org.in) to pay the lower cashless rate.
- Look closely at the mosque columns and the Alai Darwaza; the carving is some of the finest in Delhi.
- The Qutub Festival of music and dance has been held at the complex, usually in November or December; check Delhi Tourism’s website for whether and when it is held this year.
- Still photography is allowed; drones and commercial filming need permission.
Nearby places to visit
The Qutb complex sits next to the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, which has dozens of tombs, mosques and stepwells, including the Tomb of Balban. A short drive north, the medieval reservoir and ruins of Hauz Khas make a good next stop, and the Garden of Five Senses is close by in Saidulajab.
Frequently asked questions
Who built Qutub Minar?
Qutb-ud-din Aibak began it in 1199 and built the first storey. Iltutmish added three storeys, and Firuz Shah Tughlaq rebuilt the top in the 14th century, giving it five storeys.
How tall is Qutub Minar?
72.5 metres, with 379 steps inside. UNESCO calls it the tallest masonry tower in India.
Can you go inside Qutub Minar?
No. The interior has been closed to visitors since a stampede on 4 December 1981.
What is the Qutub Minar entry fee?
As of October 2026, Delhi Tourism lists ₹35 online or ₹50 cash for Indians and SAARC/BIMSTEC citizens, ₹550 online or ₹600 cash for other foreigners, and free entry for children up to 15.
Which metro station is nearest to Qutub Minar?
Qutab Minar station on the Yellow Line.
Details checked in October 2026 against UNESCO’s World Heritage listing, the Archaeological Survey of India’s monument page, Delhi Tourism’s Qutab Minar page and published histories of the complex. Timings and fees can change, so check the ASI portal before you visit.
