Iron Pillar of Delhi
Iron Pillar of Delhi
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The area
Neighbourhood: Mehrauli/Qutub Minar
Home to the most beautiful step wells in the country, Jamali Kamali Mosque and a 200 acre park with facets of heritage peeping at you from every nook and cranny, Mehrauli is one of those treasure houses where the stories of the past can go on for years. Visitors need a whole day at the Mehrauli Archaeological Park to truly enjoy the opulent 1000-year old legacy of this neighbourhood. A great spot for picnics, this giant heritage park with Qutub Minar in the backdrop, has become a popular cricket playground among the local youngsters. Mehrauli has a number of artistic gems that have been converted into stunning art galleries & rooftop restaurants popular for a grand view of the Qutub Minar and large part of South Delhi.
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413 within 5 kms
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44 within 10 kms
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4.0
74 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
33
Average
15
Poor
0
Terrible
0
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,803 contributions
Dec 2019
The Iron Pillar of Delhi is a pole structure and memorial containing a eulogy to a king thought to be Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire. The text of the eulogy is written in sanskrit and I had to rely on the audio guide to understand it. Not really all that interesting, but fine to take a look as part of visiting the Qutub Minar complex.
Written 27 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Satyendra Garg
National Capital Territory of Delhi, India6,946 contributions
Oct 2017 • Solo
This is indeed an achievement India can truly be proud of. When the world did not know what is rust free iron, we had experts who made this outstanding pillar which has survived more than 1,600 years of exposure to the elements and is a masterpiece the World is trying to understand as the example of excellence India had achieved so early.
This monument stands in the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque at the World Heritage Qutub Complex. There is a history as to how this pillar which was in Udalgiri in present Madhya Pradesh was brought to Delhi by Muslim rulers. The Pillar is attributed to Chandragupta Vikramaditya of the Gupta dynasty.
As I have been in Delhi for more than 30 years I feel privileged of having touched the pillar and being among those few lucky ones who could embrace it from behind. Today it is protected and is out of bounds, for reasons of preservation and protection.
This is definitely a jewel in the Qutub Complex.
Photographing this precious achievement was a pleasure.
This monument stands in the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque at the World Heritage Qutub Complex. There is a history as to how this pillar which was in Udalgiri in present Madhya Pradesh was brought to Delhi by Muslim rulers. The Pillar is attributed to Chandragupta Vikramaditya of the Gupta dynasty.
As I have been in Delhi for more than 30 years I feel privileged of having touched the pillar and being among those few lucky ones who could embrace it from behind. Today it is protected and is out of bounds, for reasons of preservation and protection.
This is definitely a jewel in the Qutub Complex.
Photographing this precious achievement was a pleasure.
Written 1 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patricia345
Pune, India129 contributions
Aug 2018
Within the Qutub Minar Complex is the Iron Pillar of Delhi.
This Pillar is made of Iron and despite more than 600 years there is no trace of rust visible.
A lot of hype is associated with this Pillar. It was said that if your arms could meet after hugging this pillar any wish would come true. Thanks to the amount of people who tried this, the pillar now has a railing to prevent anyone from touching it.
This Pillar is made of Iron and despite more than 600 years there is no trace of rust visible.
A lot of hype is associated with this Pillar. It was said that if your arms could meet after hugging this pillar any wish would come true. Thanks to the amount of people who tried this, the pillar now has a railing to prevent anyone from touching it.
Written 7 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harpreet_Chd
Gurugram (Gurgaon), India733 contributions
June 2018 • Family
At first sight, standing in the middle of some wonderfully intricate architectural monuments, a simple looking bare metallic pillar is a study in contrast. The wonder, I guess, would lie only if you know about it in advance. The fact that it even predates the Qutub by many centuries, the fact that it’s made of iron and after more than 1600-1700 years, has shown no visible sign of rust coupled with the myth that it brings luck to people who can wrap their hands around it backwards, and a story that it could withstand the effect of a cannon ball fired at it....that’s when you start admiring it.
I simply liked the oddity of comparing it next to the Qutub and with all the other architectural structures around it. In a way, it appears like a ‘Last Man Standing’ amongst the magnificent ruins...Read about it before you see it, and you will see a few things to admire.
I simply liked the oddity of comparing it next to the Qutub and with all the other architectural structures around it. In a way, it appears like a ‘Last Man Standing’ amongst the magnificent ruins...Read about it before you see it, and you will see a few things to admire.
Written 10 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PushExplore
Singapore, Singapore4,951 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
The Iron Pillar in the Qutab Complex is quite an attraction. You will find people trying to hold their hands by wrapping them around the column. Its been around for centuries and quite iconic.
Written 24 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ranjanapathak
Orlando, FL1,401 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
The Iron Pillar weighs 6 tonnes. It stands 7.21 metres tall. It is corrosion free and has non rusting surface. There is some inscriptions on it suggesting it is 1600 years old.
Tourists and visitors stand on their backs towards this pillar and wrap their arms around it trying to make their fingers touch each other to get their wishes to come true as per superstition. It is has become one of the main reasons to attract many visitors to this complex.
Tourists and visitors stand on their backs towards this pillar and wrap their arms around it trying to make their fingers touch each other to get their wishes to come true as per superstition. It is has become one of the main reasons to attract many visitors to this complex.
Written 3 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NotMolly
Canberra, Australia1,123 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
February was a good time in Delhi - in low 20sC so not too hot and exhausting. (Delhi can be exhausting in other ways so worth being mindful of climate). Before we left home we pre-arranged a private local guide to show us around over 3 x 1/2 days and take us to the main sites of Delhi and this one is highly recommended - fascinating! Our guide was very knowledgeable - we found her on a general search + she came with good reviews...not TA now it’s changed & mostly promotes large companies:(. However, it’s worth doing a little reading about Qutub Minar beforehand; for example, the UNESCO website. There’s also plenty of interesting reading around the site (see our photos attached). We loved our 2 hours or so there - the Iron Pillar is just one part (an important part) of this incredible historic complex. After seeing another site in the morning we returned to our hotel for a late lunch...a good day!
Written 17 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda Y
Frisco, TX5,697 contributions
Feb 2019 • Solo
The famous Iron or Ashoka Pillar is currently standing in the Qutub Minar complex in the courtyard of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque. Composed of 98 per cent wrought iron, the pillar dates to about 400 AD and incredulously has proven to be rust-resistant for 1,600 years! An inscription on the pillar states that it was erected in honor of the Hindu God Vishu and in the memory of Gupta King Chandra. Estimated weight is over 13,000 pounds (6,000 kg). How were the ancient Indian iron smiths able to craft such a pillar with the tools of that time? And how was it moved here? Fascinating history! Qutub Minar is a must-see for any New Delhi tourist.
Written 4 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skyfox49
Albury, Australia721 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
The iron pillar may look insignificant compared to its spectacular neighbor, the 73m high Qutab Minar minaret. Nevertheless the iron pillar is famous for its rust resistant properties, despite being manufactured by skilled iron smiths 1600 years ago. The corrosion resistance has been acquired from a layer of crystalline iron hydrogen phosphate hydrate forming on the high phosphate content iron. Fascinating for engineers and metallurgists but perhaps lost on the general public.
Written 18 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John W
Jackson, WI210 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
Its amazing that this was erected centuries ago but has no rust on it. One used to be able to "hug" the pillar for good luck, but it has since been fenced off. Still another neat thing in the complex.
Written 30 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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