āsmāñ itnī bulandī pe jo itrātā hai
bhuul jaatā hai zamīñ se hī nazar aatā hai
– Waseem Barelvi
Narrative
Constructed by Alauddin Khilji in1311 C.E., the Alai Darwaza is the only remaining gateway out of the four that provided entrance to Alauddin Khilji’s extension to the quwwat-ul-islam mosque. From the architectural point of view, the dome of Alai Darwaza is the first surviving true dome in India and is the first structure to be constructed within the parameters of Islamic architecture. It is a domed gateway that provides entrance to the quwwat-ul-islam mosque and is located on the southeast corner of the qutub complex. .
Architecture
From the architectural point of view, the dome of Alai Darwaza is the first surviving true dome in India and is the first structure to be constructed within the parameters of Islamic architecture. The Alai Darwaza is square in plan with a total height of 10.7 metres. It
is a domed gateway that provides entrance to the quwwat-ul-islam mosque and is located on the southeast corner of the qutub complex. The arched entrances located on the east, west and south are highly decorative with ‘spearhead’ design. The northern side of the darwaza provides an entrance to the mosque which carries a trefoil design. The gateway is made of red sandstone and white marble and is intricately carved and inscribed, both on the exterior and the interior. Jali-screens are used to adorn the building. It is the only remaining gateway out of the four that provided entrance to Alauddin Khilji’s extension to the quwwat-ul-islam mosque.
Heritage Walk
The Alai darwaza was conceived to be the main gateway to the ambitious extension of the
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque undertaken by Alauddin Khilji in the early fourteenth century. It has
four gateways, forming a square, are covered by a wide, bulging dome with a central knob,
resting on horse-shoe shaped arches.
Finished in red sandstone and marble, the entire gateway except the dome is richly carved with
geometrical patterns and inscriptions in naskh characters. The arches are decorated with a lotus
bud fringe on the underside, features that seem to be an influence of West-Asian traditions. Its
elegant proportions and excellent decorations make Alai Darwaza one of the finest examples of
the early Sultanate style of architecture in India
Timings:Sunrise-Sunset
References
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alai_Darwaza
b. References: Welch, Anthony; Keshani, Hussein and Bain, Alexandra. “Epigraphs, Scripture, and Architecture in the Early Delhi Sultanate” (2002)
c. https://www.rekhta.org/