Unfinished 1-story tower built during the Khalji dynasty to commemorate military victories.
At a glance
#11 of 22 Historical landmarks in New Delhi #31 of 49 Tourist attractions in New DelhiLocalGuideWorld score: 4.40
Rating breakdown
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5 ★59%
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4 ★27%
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3 ★10%
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2 ★1%
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1 ★2%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Alai Minar?
- Alai Minar is rated 4.4 out of 5 based on 868 reviews.
- How does Alai Minar rank in New Delhi?
- Alai Minar is #11 of 22 Historical landmarks in New Delhi by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is Alai Minar located?
- G5GP+84M, Qutub Minar Complex Rd, Ladha Sarai, Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi 110030, India — 2.8 km from the center of New Delhi.
It's really an amazing unfinished monument near to the qutub minar... Well maintained around the minar..Must Visit this alai minar if you planning to visit delhi...
Alai Minar is a partially built historical monument that was made by one of the most rebellious Sultans of Delhi Aladdin Khilji, in 1300 CE, in an attempt to make it reach a height of more than four times what Qutub Minar was. This minar stands 80 feet tall and is located near the Qutub Minar but was left abandoned soon after Allaudin Khilji died in 1361 CE. Khilji was so proud of his achievements that he wanted a minar that was double the size of Qutub Minar.
Alai minar is biggest evidence that qutab minar was not build by aaludin Khilji, he just modify already builded structure because later on he trying to build structure like qutub minar that is called alai minar now!! Alai minar is just not completed bcoz of they are not capabile to bulid like structure like qutub minar is.
Alai minar is biggest evidence that qutab minar was not builded by Mughals! Anyways go and see yourself
Alai minar is biggest evidence that qutab minar was not builded by Mughals! Anyways go and see yourself
The Alai Minar is an unfinished minaret located in the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli, New Delhi, India. It was commissioned by the Delhi Sultanate ruler, Alauddin Khalji, in the early 14th century as a symbol of his military might and ambition.
Alauddin Khalji was a powerful ruler who expanded the Delhi Sultanate through a series of military campaigns. He commissioned the Alai Minar in 1311 CE as a towering victory tower, taller than the nearby Qutub Minar, to celebrate his victories and establish his legacy. The minar was meant to be twice the height of the Qutub Minar, but it was never completed.
The Alai Minar is made of red sandstone and stands at a height of about 25 meters. It is adorned with intricate carvings and inscriptions in Arabic and Persian. The base of the minaret is a massive square, which was intended to support the weight of the tower. However, the tower was never completed, and only the base and a few layers of the tower were constructed.
There are several theories as to why the Alai Minar was never completed. Some historians believe that it was abandoned due to financial constraints or the death of Alauddin Khalji, while others suggest that the tower was abandoned due to structural issues.
Today, the Alai Minar is a popular tourist attraction and serves as a reminder of the Delhi Sultanate's architectural and artistic achievements. Despite its unfinished state, it remains an impressive structure, and its imposing size and intricate design continue to inspire awe and wonder.
Alauddin Khalji was a powerful ruler who expanded the Delhi Sultanate through a series of military campaigns. He commissioned the Alai Minar in 1311 CE as a towering victory tower, taller than the nearby Qutub Minar, to celebrate his victories and establish his legacy. The minar was meant to be twice the height of the Qutub Minar, but it was never completed.
The Alai Minar is made of red sandstone and stands at a height of about 25 meters. It is adorned with intricate carvings and inscriptions in Arabic and Persian. The base of the minaret is a massive square, which was intended to support the weight of the tower. However, the tower was never completed, and only the base and a few layers of the tower were constructed.
There are several theories as to why the Alai Minar was never completed. Some historians believe that it was abandoned due to financial constraints or the death of Alauddin Khalji, while others suggest that the tower was abandoned due to structural issues.
Today, the Alai Minar is a popular tourist attraction and serves as a reminder of the Delhi Sultanate's architectural and artistic achievements. Despite its unfinished state, it remains an impressive structure, and its imposing size and intricate design continue to inspire awe and wonder.
Alauddin Khalji started building the Alai Minar, after he had doubled the size of Quwwat ul-Islam mosque built before 1300AD. He conceived this tower to be two times higher than Qutb Minar in proportion with the enlarged mosque.The construction was however abandoned, just after the completion of the 25-metre-high (82 ft) first-story core; soon after the death of Alauddin in 1316, and never taken up by his successors of Khalji Dynasty. The first storey of the Alai Minar, a giant rubble masonry core, still stands today, which was evidently intended to be covered with dressed stone later on. Noted Sufi poet and saint of his times, Amir Khusro in his work, Tarikh-i-Alai, mentions Ala-ud-din's intentions to extend the mosque and also constructing another minar.
A short distance west of the enclosure, in Mehrauli village, is the Tomb of Adham Khan who, according to legend drove the beautiful Hindu singer Roopmati to suicide following the capture of Mandu in Madhya Pradesh. When Akbar became displeased with him he ended up being heaved off a terrace in the Agra Fort. Several archaeological monuments dot the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, including the Balban's tomb, Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb.
There are some Mughal summer palaces in the area: the Zafar Mahal, the Jahaz Mahal next to Hauz-i-Shamsi lake, and the tombs of the later Mughal emperors of India, inside a royal enclosure near the dargah shrine of Sufi saint, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. Here an empty space between two of the tombs, sargah, was intended for the last Mughal emperor of India, Bahadur Shah Zafar who died in exile in Rangoon, Burma, in 1862, following his implication in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Also standing nearby is the Moti Masjid mosque in white marble.
A short distance west of the enclosure, in Mehrauli village, is the Tomb of Adham Khan who, according to legend drove the beautiful Hindu singer Roopmati to suicide following the capture of Mandu in Madhya Pradesh. When Akbar became displeased with him he ended up being heaved off a terrace in the Agra Fort. Several archaeological monuments dot the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, including the Balban's tomb, Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb.
There are some Mughal summer palaces in the area: the Zafar Mahal, the Jahaz Mahal next to Hauz-i-Shamsi lake, and the tombs of the later Mughal emperors of India, inside a royal enclosure near the dargah shrine of Sufi saint, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. Here an empty space between two of the tombs, sargah, was intended for the last Mughal emperor of India, Bahadur Shah Zafar who died in exile in Rangoon, Burma, in 1862, following his implication in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Also standing nearby is the Moti Masjid mosque in white marble.
Originally intended to be twice as big as the Qutub Minar, the Alai Minar's construction was stopped after the death of the ruler who commissioned it's construction.
(Part of the visit to to the Qutub Minar complex, no additional charges)
(Part of the visit to to the Qutub Minar complex, no additional charges)
Visited the Alai Minar. Really amazing historical monument.
Alauddin Khalji started building the Alai Minar, after he had doubled the size of Quwwat ul-Islam mosque built before 1300AD. He conceived this tower to be two times higher than Qutb Minar in proportion with the enlarged mosque. The construction was however abandoned, just after the completion of the 25-metre-high (82 ft) first-story core; soon after the death of Alauddin in 1316, and never taken up by his successors of Khalji Dynasty. The first storey of the Alai Minar, a giant rubble masonry core, still stands today, which was evidently intended to be covered with dressed stone later on. Noted Sufi poet and saint of his times, Amir Khusro in his work, Tarikh-i-Alai, mentions Ala-ud-din's intentions to extend the mosque and also constructing another minar.
Alauddin Khalji started building the Alai Minar, after he had doubled the size of Quwwat ul-Islam mosque built before 1300AD. He conceived this tower to be two times higher than Qutb Minar in proportion with the enlarged mosque. The construction was however abandoned, just after the completion of the 25-metre-high (82 ft) first-story core; soon after the death of Alauddin in 1316, and never taken up by his successors of Khalji Dynasty. The first storey of the Alai Minar, a giant rubble masonry core, still stands today, which was evidently intended to be covered with dressed stone later on. Noted Sufi poet and saint of his times, Amir Khusro in his work, Tarikh-i-Alai, mentions Ala-ud-din's intentions to extend the mosque and also constructing another minar.
The Alai Minar is an unfinished tower in the Qutub Complex, construction of which was started by Alauddin Khilji. After Khilji had doubled the size of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque he decided to constructed a tower which would be twice the height of the Qutub Minar. Construction of the Alai Minar came to a halt in 1316 following the death of Alauddin Khilji. Today the Alai Minar, a massive red rubble structure stands at a height of 2.5 meters.
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