Tourist Sites In Delhi

Qutab Minar Complex

Alai Darwaza
Described as one of the most treasured gems of Islamic architecture, this gate built by Alauddin Khalji in 1311AD. This gateway formed the main access through the southern wall to the enlarged Quwwat Ul islam mosque. It is the first building employing whole islamic principles of acurate construction and geometric ornamentation. The darwaza is a square, domed building with intricate carvings in red sandstone and marble.
He also started building another entrance to the north, another to the east and 6 more arches at the west, starting from Iltutmish's tomb. Altogether the area of the mosque enclosure was doubled , though the work was interrupted by Khalji's death and never got completed.
The Alai Darwaza also betrays certain Saljuqian features in the form of its wide and bulging dome with a central knob, pointed horse shoe shaped arches and the lotus bud fringed embellishments on the underside of the arches.

Top - The entrance to the darwaza.
Middle - The carving on the gate in white marble and red sandstone.
Bottom - The dome from inside
Left - Lattice work on the windows on the eastern side.
Click on the pictures for larger views

Its fine proportions, profuse carvings on the exterior, inscriptional bands of white marble in bold naskh characters and other decorative details in red stone make it a unqiue structure. The geometrical decoration in its interior is reminiscent of delicate timber ornamentations.

Imam Zamin's Tomb
To the east of the Alai Darwaza is the tomb of the saint Imam Zamin, who carried out his duties in the Quwwat ul Islam Mosque. Left - The tomb with the Qutab Minar in the background and the Alai Darwaza to the left.
Below - The lattice work on the walls of the tomb.
Click on the pictures for larger views

During Sikandar Lodi's reign, Imam Zamin came to Delhi from Turkestan. his tomb is small and attractive with a dome rising from an octagonal drum and latticed screens at the sides.

Sundial

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Alai Darwaza Described as one of the most treasured gems of Islamic architecture, this gate built by Alauddin Khalji in 1311AD. This gateway formed the main access through the southern wall to the enlarged Quwwat Ul islam mosque. It is the first building employing whole islamic principles of acurate construction and geometric ornamentation. The darwaza is a square, domed building with intricate carvings in red sandstone and marble. He also started building another entrance to the north, another to the east and 6 more arches at the west, starting from Iltutmish's tomb. Altogether the area of the mosque enclosure was doubled , though the work was interrupted by Khalji's death and never got completed. The Alai Darwaza also betrays certain Saljuqian features in the form of its wide and bulging dome with a central knob, pointed horse shoe shaped arches and the lotus bud fringed embellishments on the underside of the arches.	Top - The entrance to the darwaza. Middle - The carving on the gate in white marble and red sandstone. Bottom - The dome from inside Left - Lattice work on the windows on the eastern side. Click on the pictures for larger views
Its fine proportions, profuse carvings on the exterior, inscriptional bands of white marble in bold naskh characters and other decorative details in red stone make it a unqiue structure. The geometrical decoration in its interior is reminiscent of delicate timber ornamentations.
Imam Zamin's Tomb To the east of the Alai Darwaza is the tomb of the saint Imam Zamin, who carried out his duties in the Quwwat ul Islam Mosque.	Left - The tomb with the Qutab Minar in the background and the Alai Darwaza to the left. Below - The lattice work on the walls of the tomb. Click on the pictures for larger views
During Sikandar Lodi's reign, Imam Zamin came to Delhi from Turkestan. his tomb is small and attractive with a dome rising from an octagonal drum and latticed screens at the sides.
Sundial