How to visit Qutub Minar Delhi India

The Qutub Minar complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the southern area of New Delhi, India and is one of Delhi’s top historical tourist attractions. Although the Qutub Minar minaret is the featured attraction, there’s actually a large complex of ruins in this historical park. Let’s explore how to visit Qutub Minar in Delhi, India!

Qutub Minar Delhi – Location

The best way to reach the Qutub Minar complex while visiting Delhi is to use Uber or hire an auto rickshaw driver. It can also be reached by Metro, by disembarking at the Qutub Minar station and then jumping in an auto rickshaw, although I’ve never visited the complex this way. I’ve visited Qutub Minar many times, either with my driver (I lived in Delhi for a while, and yes, I had my own driver! It’s very common for expats), or via Uber.

Qutub Minar - New Delhi India — Ruins in the Qutub Minar complex in New Delhi India, a world heritage site | Qutub Minar Delhi

Qutub Minar – Details

Cost: 600 rupees for foreigners (about $6-7 USD). You will enter via the foreigner ticket line – the foreigner ticket line is always, always much shorter than the Indian line!

Hours: Qutub Minar is open from 7am – 5pm in the summer and 8am – 5pm in the winter. The complex is open 7 days/week.

Time commitment: Expect to spend a few hours here exploring.

Toilets: Both western-style toilets and squat toilets are available, but remember to bring your own toilet paper, just in case!

Qutub Minar – History

Built in the 1300s, Qutub Minar is the world’s largest brick tower in the world. The minaret was requested to be built by Qutab-Ud-Din-Aibak, who was India’s first Islamic ruler, as a sign of victory of Muslim rule. Unfortunately, he passed away before Qutub Minar finished construction. His brother and successor took over the project, and completed the final stories. If you look closely at Qutub Minar, you can see where the construction operation changed hands, as only red sandstone was used at the beginning of construction, while marble and sandstone were used on the final three stories.

Qutub Minar - New Delhi India forced perspective photo — A forced perspective photo of her hand touching the Qutub Minar column in New Delhi India

Qutub Minar is approximately 237 feet tall, is built of red sandstone and marble, and has carvings in Arabic and Nagari revealing the history of the minaret. The structure has five stories, each with a balcony jutting out. No, no one is allowed to climb Qutub Minar – this hasn’t been allowed since 1981, when a lightening bolt struck the tower and resulted in a stampede of those in and around the tower, killing 50 people.

In addition to the Qutub Minar minaret, you’ll find other tombs, mosques and ruins. Two other notable attractions here are:

Alai Minar: Alai Minar was supposed to be a much larger structure than Qutub Minar but was never finished. Only the bottom part of the minaret was built. Judging by the width, you’ll definitely see how much larger than Qutub Minar this would’ve been, had it finished.

Iron Pillar: Built by an emperor of the Gupta Empire, a powerful ancient empire in Northern India, the iron pillar stands about 24 feet high and is notable for its resistant to rust and corrosion over time, as it was built in the 7th Century and has never rusted! It’s made of 98% wrought iron, weighs over 3 tons, and serves as a testament to the remarkable construction skill of the ancient empire. There is fencing around the pillar for protection, but if you look closely, you’ll be able to see inscriptions.

Famous Iron Pillar near Qutub Minar in New Delhi, India, located In the courtyard of the Quwwatu’l-Islam mosque

Qutub Minar – Scams?

Your standard India “scams” apply at Qutub Minar in India. After purchasing your entry ticket and going through security, you, as a foreigner, will be immediately targeted by touts, asking if you want a tour. I always say no, ignore and keep walking.

Qutub Minar pillar framed by an arch at at the historic site in New Delhi India

Also watch out for the security guards – they will target foreigners, telling you where to get the best photos – in particular how to frame the Qutub Minar inside of the arch – and then expect tips. Some will even offer tours – even if you refuse, they may latch onto you, and keep talking to you about the history of Qutub Minar. Even if you decline, they may still ask for tips. You have to be firm and tell them no – I know that I always felt bad at first – like I was being rude, but after you have this happen to you so many times, you grow a thick skin. It’s even tougher when they have the security guard uniform on but don’t be afraid to stand your ground.

And as always with India, you will get asked to take selfies with Indian tourists. This is up to you whether you want to partake or not. It’s not a scam, but trust me, it gets very annoying, very quickly when you’re there to enjoy the moment yourself. Because if you oblige to one, often times a crowd starts to form around you, and before you know it, you’re using all your time taking selfies instead of enjoying the attraction. Now you know what famous celebrities go through!

New Delhi, India - Tourists at the Qutub Minar complex and ruins — New Delhi, India – Tourists at the Qutub Minar complex and ruins

Abstract view of Qutub Minar historical complex and ruins through a star detail in a lattice window

Qutub Minar – Final Thoughts

The Qutub Minar complex is one of my favorite tourist attractions in Delhi and I’d consider it a must-see if you are in Delhi, not only for its historical significance but for its countless photography opportunities. On the negative side, touts are all around this site, attracted to foreigner tourists like flies to honey, wanting to give you a tour for a few thousand rupees.

Have you ever visited Qutub Minar?