Qutb Complex, Mehrauli, Delhi, India

Qutb Complex is one of the most important tourist destinations in Delhi. As the name suggests, Qutb Complex encopasses world famous Qutb Minar and many other important historical monuments in this complex. It is located near Mehrauli in Delhi.

Qutb Minar

The Qutb Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world. The initial construction of the Minar was initiated by Qutbuddin Aibak - the first Sultan of Mamluk Dynasy (also know as Slave Dynasty) in 1192. Aibak could only finish the first storey of Minar. The next there floors were build by the his successor Shams ud-Din Iltutmish. In 1368, Firoz Shah Tughlaq replaced the fourth floor with two new floors when the minar was struck by lightning. The top two floors hence have a distinctive design using white marble and sandstone. In 1505, the Minar was again repaired by the then Sultan Sikandar Lodi after it was stuck by lightning. In 1823, the minar was again damaged after an earthquake and its cupola was thrown down. In 1823, the British repaired it, and added a Bengali style cupola. In 1848, it was later removed by the then British Governor General as it looked out of place. Today, this cupola sits in the outer lawns, and is popularly known as Smith’s Folly.

Smith's Folly (the old cupola removed by British and installed in the ground)

Close up view of the minar's first floor. Circular and square walls alternate, with inscriptions

Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque

Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque also known as Qutb Mosque was the first mosque built in Delhi. It is believed that the mosque was built by the parts taken from previously destroyed twenty-seven Hindu and Jain temples that existed during the Tomar and Chauhan reigns of Delhi. Certain parts of the temple still remains.

Iron Pillar

The iron pillar is a 3rd of 4th century old victory pillar, which is most notable for the rust-resistant metallurgic composition. The pillar is originally thought to have been erected by the Guptas in 400s inferred based on the inscriptions in Sanskrit on it. The original location of the pillar is still not clear, but believed to be Udayagiri in Madhya Pradesh where Guptas ruled. How the pillar got relocated to Delhi is also not clear.

Tomb of Iltutmish

The tomb of the second sultan of Mamluk Dynasty Shams ud-Din Iltutmish is also part of Qutb Minar Complex.

Alai Minar

Alauddin Khalji, the second Khilji ruler, started building Alai Minar. He conceived this new tower to be twice as high as Qutb Minar. The construction of the new minar was abandoned after the death of Alauddin in 1316. The remnants of the first storey of Alai Minar stands there.

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Chittor Fort, Chittorgarh

It was in 2005 I visited Rajasthan, as part of an extended North Indian trip. We travelled mostly by train and visited Delhi, Agra and Mumbai along with places in Rajastan.  In Rajastan, along with the most common tourist circuits of Jaipur and Udaypur, I added a relatively obscure location during that trip - the Chittorgah Fort.

The trip was more than 10 years back, but I vaguely remember reaching Chittorgarh in the early hours by train, and the hotel facilities were limited. I arranged a Toyota Qualis for our visit to the fort, and our onward journey to Udaipur later.

Here are some pictures from the now famous Chittor Fort.

Road leading up to the hill, we keep seeing these large gates

Climbing up

View of the fort as we climb up

View of plains below and part of the road going up

View of the plains below

View of the town - Chittor

Rana Kumbha's Palace

Another view of the palace

Inside the fort

More inside views of the fort

Most of the fort is in dilapidated condition

Fort Ramparts

Meera's Temple (This is where Saint Meera bhai prayed to Lord Krishna) 

The trip was more than 10 years back, all I had was a point and shoot camera, and an inexperienced hand. Please forgive the picture quality.

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Pondichery

Pondicherry is the capital of Union Territory of Puducherry. We had a small get together with a group of college mates and their families during our vacation in India. We flew into Chennai from Kochi, and then took the scenic route from Chennai - East Coast Road (ECR) via Mahabalipuram.
Read my post about Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) here


Gateway to Pondicherry

The Government Secretariat of UT of Puducherry

We stayed at the Seaside Guest House which is located right on the Promanade beach of Pondicherry. The guest house is owned by the Arbindo Ashram. The price for the rooms are decent, but the rooms will need to be reserved well in advance if you need to get it. One flip side of this place is that the food options are very less. The breakfast was very basic. But the location was just right - right on the beach. Make sure you get a upper floor room, with beach view.

The promanade beach will be closed for traffic in the evenings, at which time, tourists and local public will come out in numbers for evening walk. The beach in front got completely eroded, and there are full of rocks to prevent further erosion. It is sad to see that the beach access is fully lost..

We visited a local temple at night, the place was crowded with lot of devotees - it seems folks come out in numbers at night because its too hot in the day time! 

The temple elephant gives the blessings to the devotees - of course after mahout is compensated

Mahatmaji statue at the Promenade Beach

Next day, we visited the Raj Nivas - the official residence of the Lt. Governer of Puducherry. 

When we visited, there was one another family in our tour group. The father was of Tamil origin, and mother was French. They came to Pondy to visit with their two daughters. Both the families were given a tour of Raj Nivas - a beautiful colonial building - preserved very well. After the building tour, we met Lt. Governer Kiran Bedi in her office. After a brief introduction and discussion with us, she posed for a picture. We were not allowed to carry camera or phones - The Raj Niwas officials later sent the picture with Lt. Governer on WhatsApp. I couldn't take pictures from inside the building unfortunately. 

The French consulate building in White Town

Aayi Mandapam - was built during the times of the then French Emperor - Napolean Bonaparte III. This monument commemorates establishment of water supply to the people of Pondy

French War Memorial - This monument is dedicated to the memories of those residents of Pondicherry who died in the First World War.

Notre Dame De Agnes/Our Lady of Angels Church - This church has an interesting architecture - it was built in 1855 during the reign of Napolean III. The church is built with Greco-Roman architecture 

Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Sacred Heart Basilica -

Dupleix Status - Joseph Fracois Dupleix was the Governor General of French India.

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