Qutab Minar

It's more than a bit amazing that on all of my previous trips to India I never made it to Qutab Minar, especially since it was actually on the itinerary before. It is truly quite extraordinary, and dates back to the Delhi Sultanate, which is the first Muslim dynasty in Indian history, and also makes it, at least its origins, around nine hundred years old. The main structure, the actual minaret which provides the Minar of Qubar Minar, is over two hundred feet tall.

As we know, like all bad photographers I always fall into the clumsy trap of framing pictures.

A closeup of the over two hundred foot tall minaret. I was trying to sort out with the guides the last time that the call to prayer was actually sung by a muezzin at the minaret, but no one had any idea.

One of several mihrabs, the recess in a mosque that provides the direction of the qibla, that is, the direction of Mecca where a Muslim would pray.

Some of the remarkably intricate stone work.

More stone work, and yet another reminder, as if I needed another, of my need to learn Arabic.

And a more elaborate mirhab, that was located next to a tomb.

As we've discussed, nature and repeating geometric patterns are classic aspects of Islamic architecture.

And to your right, Ashoka's pillar, and iron pillar that dates back to the ruler Ashoka, a converted to Buddhism and was the first of several rulers who tried, unsuccessfully, to make Buddhism the main religion of India. Because it is associated with Ashoka we knows that it's over two thousand years old.

The mosque itself was made with stones stolen from older Hindu temples, which means that the images of human/god imagery had to be defaced.

Another example.

For some reason I really like this picture although it's awfully simple and more than a bit off-center.