Qutub Minar was raised by Qutub-ud-Din in 1199 AD, either as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque. It is one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised and is Delhi's most recognised landmark. However, only the first storey was accomplished by Qutb-ud-din and the rest were built by his successor and son-in-law, IItumish (1211-36 AD). The two circular stories in white marble were built by Firozshah Tughlaq in 1368, who used marble to face the redstone. Qutub Minar is a red sandstone tower beautified with intricate and striking carvings and is inscribed with verses from the holy Quran. Its projecting balconies with inscriptional decorative bands on different storeys heighten its decorative effect.
An earthquake in the early 19th century destroyed its crowning cupola. An English engineer, Major Robert Smith, replaced it in 1829, but his addition looked so grossly out of place that it was removed in 1848 by Governor-General Lord Hardings. It now stands on the lawns and has acquired the sobriquet Smith's Folly.
Till a while ago, the base of the Minar had a number of glass plates banded by concrete, installed by the Archaeological Survey of India to monitor earthquakes.
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