THE QUTUB MINAR OF WEST DELHI, BUT MAKE IT SMALL

One of the famous tourist spots in Delhi is the Qutub Minar which was commissioned under Qutbuddin Aibak, the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. But did you know that there exists a replica in West Delhi that was commissioned during the Mughal Empire? Let’s find out more about this monument.

Chota Qutub Minar. Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Built in 1650, under the patronage of Shah Jahan, Mini Qutb Minar is located in Hastsal village in Uttam Nagar, West Delhi. There is a very interesting backstory of the Hastsal location. The area was a chilling place for the elephants. Submerged in water, it became a bathing and resting place for the elephants. The name itself suggests the idea. Hastsal is made from hathi (elephant) and sthal (place) combined.

We are all aware of the hunting expeditions of Shah Jahan. In the early 17th century, Shah Jahan had a cool hunting lodge near the Hastsal region and he decided to build a replica of the Qutb Minar in the same region. In 1650, the work began for the construction of Mini Qutb Minar.

What we see today is smaller than the one initially constructed. It was five storeys tall with a reducing diameter with an internal stairway that led to the Chatri at the top. Built using the Lakhori Bricks, it has an octagonal ring outside. The wilderness and this Minar in the middle were a picturesque location that held the hearts of many. There was a resting space for the emperor where he stayed after his hunting expeditions along with an arrangement for entertainment.

Since the Minar lies only a couple of meters away from the hunting area, it was believed that there used to be a tunnel that connected the two regions for safer travel for the emperor and his acquaintances.

However, it is believed that during the 18th century, the upper two storeys along with the Chatri pavilion collapsed. Even today, the Mini Qutb Minar lies in ruins, a playing ground for many children, yet no historical significance even around.

While Qutbuddin Aibak’s Qutub Minar stands as the face of Delhi’s culture and heritage, its replica is long forgotten and stand amongst the windy dust and ruins of its own ravaging time. The Government of India has recognised the dire situation of this Mini Qutub Minar. It has been listed as a ‘Grade A’ protected heritage site.

Let us not selectively understand the monumental history of our country. There are some gems, hidden behind the society we live in today. Yet, they hold equal importance in the process of history and the borrowed culture we live on.