Qutab Minar
The purpose for building this monument has been variously speculated
upon. It could take the usual role of a minaret, calling people for
prayer in the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the earliest extant mosque built
by the Delhi Sultans. Other possibilities are a tower of victory, a
monument signifying the might of Islam, or a watch tower for defense.
Controversy also surrounds the origins for the name of the tower. Many
historians believe that the Qutb Minar was named after the first Turkish
sultan, Qutb-ud-din Aibak but others contend that it was named in
honour of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a saint from Baghdad who came to live
in India and was greatly venerated by Iltutmish.The nearby Iron Pillar is one of the world's foremost metallurgical curiosities, standing in the famous Qutb complex. According to the traditional belief, anyone who can encircle the entire column with their arms, with their back towards the pillar, can have their wish granted. Because of the corrosive qualities of sweat the government has built a fence around it for
