Qutab Minar

Situated in Mehrauli, this medieval victory tower is named after the Delhi sultan Qutabuddin Aibak, who laid its foundations in 1193 AD. Over 73 metres high, the tower has five storeys, which taper from the bottom towards the top. While Aibak could only finish the first storey during his lifetime, construction was continued by his successor Iltutmish who added three more storeys. The final storey was added by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1368 AD. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Qutab complex also houses the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the first mosque to be built in north India; a magnificient domed gateway called the Alai Darwaza; and the tomb of Aibak's successor Iltutmish. However, the oldest structure in the entire complex is a 7 m high iron pillar which is attributed to the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II. Dating back to the 4th century, it is considered to be a metallurgical achievement since it hasn't rusted over the centuries.