2025-05-02 Fri

The next stamp in the Archaeological and Historical Monuments Definitive series from 1949 showcases the incredible Qutb Minar or Qutub Minar! This imposing minaret is nestled in the Mehrauli area of Delhi and is a UNESCO world Heritage Site. It is the tallest brick minaret in the world with a diameter of 14.32 m at the base and an impressive height of 72.5 m.

The Minar presents examples of a new era of architecture in India known as the indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The Qutb Minar is a grand example of the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, which represents a new era of #designs in India. Made from beautiful RED sandstone and marble, it features a circular staircase with 379 steps. It all started back in 1199 CE when the first Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, laid the #foundation. His successor and son-in-law, #Iltutmish, later added three more storeys. After a #Lightning strike caused some damage in the 14th century, #FirozShahTughlaq came to the rescue and restored it, even adding two new storeys. Numerous inscriptions in #Arabic and #Nagari characters in different places of the Minar tell the story of monument's history, construction, and verses from #Quran. The inscriptions in Arabic and #persian speak about the victories of Delhi Sultans and hence it is also known as a #VictoryTower.

The Qutb Minar complex was built on the ruins of Lal Kot. The region was part of the Tomar Rajput kingdom, with Lal Kot (later #QilaRaiPithora) as a fortified CITY established by AnangpalTomar II in the 8th–11th centuries. Archaeological evidence suggests settlements dating back to the #IronAge (c. 1000 BCE), with artifacts like pottery and tools.

The area had several Hindu and #Jain temples, some of which were dismantled during the #Construction of the Quwwat-ul-#Islam Mosque and Qutub Minar under Qutb-ud-din Aibak. Inscriptions and architectural fragments like carved PiLLARS were reused in the mosque indicate these temples were dedicated to deities like Vishnu and Jain Tirthankaras, dating to the 10th–12th centuries, originally had 27 Hindu and Jain temples.

Each level of the Minar has a #balcony, held up by #stone brackets that feature honeycomb #designs. The Minar is surrounded by several historically significant monuments of the Qutb complex including the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Iron Pillar, tomb of Iltutmish, AlaiDarwaza and AlaiMinar.

This stamp featuring the Qutb Minar has a face value of Rs 10. Additionally, it includes an elegant watermark design of multiple stars, enhancing the overall aesthetic and significance of the stamp!