Jantar Mantar - One of the most important protest place in Delhi

Jantar Mantar, an important place for protest rallies in the Captal of India- (Yantra - instruments, mantra - formulae) was constrcted in 1724. Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur who built this observatory went on to build other observatories in Ujjain , Varanasi and Mathura. Jai Singh had found the existing astronomical instruments too small to take correct measurements and so he built these larger and more accurate instruments. The instruments at Jantar Mantar are fascinating for their ingenuity, but accurate observations can no longer be made from here because of the tall buildings around.

The Qutub Minar - Highest Stone Tower in India

The Qutub Minar happens to be regarded as the highest stone tower in India, with a height of 388ft- having a total of 379 steps-making it a five storied stone structure; it would be strange surprise to know that the height of the Qutub Minar happens to be 5ft less than that of the Taj Mahal. The tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone; the fourth and fifth storeys are of marble and sandstone. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. An inscription over its eastern gate provocatively informs that it was built with material obtained from demolishing '27 Hindu temples'. The main mosque comprises of an inner and outer courtyard, decorated with shafts and surrounded by piller. Most of these shafts are from the 27 Hindu temples, which were plundered to construct the mosque. It is, therefore, not surprising that the Muslim mosque has typical Hindu ornamentation. Close to the mosque is one of Delhi's most curious antiques, the Iron Pillar. A 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque. It is said that if you can encircle it with your hands while standing with your back to it your wish will be fulfilled. (It is now restricted to the public). The origins of Qutub Minar are shrouded in controversy. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India, others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer. The construction of the Qutub Minar has involved not just one emperor but three Mugal emperors. Qutbud- Din Aibak started the construction of the minar as a tower of victory, he completed the first storey, after his death his successor Lituimish completed the second, third and fourth storey. The minar was struck by the lightening – the renovation work was carried out by Firuz Tughluq – further adding another storey—therefore now the final Qutub Minar as we see it today is a five storied stone structure. The construction of the minar speaks for its might making it a perfect example of a stone minar known to exist anywhere.