Fifteen kilometres south of Delhi is one of the most important Islamic monuments in India, the Qutb Minar Complex. A mosque is all that remains of the legendary city of Lal Kot, a city from where Islamic rule spread throughout northern India. The city dates back to 1193 A.D., the year when Muslim invaders first settled on the Indian subcontinent.

The development of Lal Kot and the construction of Qutb Minar toward the end of the 12th century accelerated the spread of Islam. The founder of Delhi’s first city was Qutb-Du-Din-Aibak who was made governor of the city by the Afghan conqueror, Mohammed Of Ghur.

Above the ruins of the Hindu temples that had been incorporated into the architecture, Qurwat-Ul-Islam evolved, a mosque known as The Might Of Islam. The remnants of no less than twenty seven destroyed Hindu and Jain sacred buildings were used in the construction of the first mosque on Indian soil.

Until quite recently the tall victory tower that was probably inspired by a similar structure in Afghanistan, was open to the public. However, due to a tragic accident within the tower the authorities have since closed it to the public. Nevertheless, Qutb Minar provides a fascinating and atmospheric insight into the early years of Muslim sovereignty in India.