History of the Qutub Minar

• To begin with, the Qutub Minar was initially authorised by Qutb-Ud-din Aibak, the originator of the Delhi Sultanate. Qutb-Ud-din Aibak was unable to construct the monument beyond 1st level, even then the minaret was known after him.

•  In the year 1220 Shams-Ud-din Iltutmish also added 3 more levels to the formation who was the successor of Qutb-Ud-din.

•  Then in the year 1369, the topmost level also faced a lot of damage because of some defect in the lighting of the structure.

•  Later Firoz Shah Tughlaq rebuilt the entire levels with a bit of modification - he added 2 more floors to the formation which was the 5th and the final level.

•  The construction of the entrance of the monument was done through Sher Shah Suri.

•  After a period of 300 years, in the year 1803, the monument again faced some damages in the structure due to the earthquake.

•  For the same, a major from the British Indian Army named Robert Smith decided to restructure the monument in the year 1828. An addition of a pillared cupola to be able to sit on the 5th floor contributed as the 6th floor of the monument.

•  The 6th and the final level was demolished by Henry Hardinge (Governor-General of the country) and was then placed adjacent to the minar.

•  A tragic event in 1981 that took the lives of 47 people led to the restriction of entry in the monument.