Qutub Minar

Constructed at the end of the 12th Century, the sprawling Qtub Minar complex houses India's oldest mosque and is one of the cities most famous landmarks. When it was completed, it was in the heart of the city, but the modern centre of New Delhi is now 15km to the north. The complex is an important fusion of Indian and Islamic architecture, incorporating elements recycled from Hindu temples and foreshadowing the developments of later Mughal architecture.

The complex is dominated by the famous minar or tower, at 73m tall the tallest brick-built minaret in the world. At the time of its construction, this victory tower marked the eastern limit of the Islamic empire and still dominates the skyline as you fly into the city. The complex also houses several important tombs and pre-Islamic monuments, the most famous of which is the Gupta Pillar, a column of iron of exceptional purity that has stood for over 1,500 years without rusting. The Qutb Minar and its monuments are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.