At 73-m, the Qutab Minar, located in Mehrauli in South Delhi, is the world’s tallest brick minaret and a wonderful example of Indo-Islamic architecture. It was built in 1193 with five distinct stories, each covered with intricate carvings and writings from the Koran. There are several other sights of historical interest in the immediate vicinity, including India’s first mosque, the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, and the Ashokan pillar, an 7.2 m wrought iron column believed to be at least 1600 years old and marking the former site of a Jain temple. These days, it functions as a lucky totem. Stand with your back against the pillar, stretch your arms around it, then make a wish.
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The Qutab Minar
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