ALAIDARWAZA

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Also known by variant names such as : Alai gate Alai gateway Gateway of Ala al Din Khalji vType of Building:military,public monuments vBuilding Usage:gate,symbolic structure vIs a part of Qutab group of Monuments,a UNESCO World Heritage Monument,which along with other monuments,tombs and mosques make up the Qutab Minar Complex all of which are located in Mehrauli Archeological Park vMain gateway to the Quwwatul-Islam Mosque vFirst building that completely uses
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BRIEF HISTORY

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A number of gates were built around Delhi over the centuries.One of the oldest gates in Delhi is the Alai Darwaza. This is a gate in the Qutub Complex that is very historic and features a number of interesting carvings on it. It is also very large in size and has an
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It is on the southern part of the complex near its entrance. It was constructed in 1311. Alla-UdDin Khilji made this large gate as the first of four gates that he wanted to build. However, this ended up being the only gate that he did make. He died five years
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vThe construction of the Alai Darwaza features mostly red sandstone, thus making it similar in its construction to other buildings around the area from that time. This is not the only material used in the There is also of a great construction the amount of white marble found gate. around the gate. This white marble is used as the inlay to the gate.

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There are many architecture carvings found around the white marble inlay for the Alai Darwaza of Mehrauli Delhi. There are several different verses from the Quran featured around the inlay. These include a few quotes from the Hadith books. These are critical books to the Islamic faith. The inscriptions around the gate are very elaborate and appealing.

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The inlays and designs are symmetrical to each other. They appear to be nearly the same on both the left and right sides of the gate. The only real differences between the two sides can be found through how they have been

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A few windows are used around the sides of the gate. These feature latticework that features stars with six points and a few circular shapes around the area. The design of the latticework is very consistent in its pattern.

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vThe arch around the gate is in a semi-circle. It has a point at the central part of the gate. The symmetry in this gate is nearly perfect just like with the rest of the gate. vA dome is also included. This dome is supported by an octagonal base and a series of squinches to help get the dome to blend in with the rest of the build around the gate. A plaster material is also used on the outside part of the dome to keep it protected and to give it a uniform

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The Alai Darwaza is the first true dome constructed in India. Earlier the attempts to make domes were not successful particularly the tomb of Iltutmish.

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The dome was constructed on highly scientific principles. A series of squinches of pointed shape, one recessed within the other, in the upper section of each angle of the hall, changes the square into an octagon and next the octagon into the circle of the dome with an interweaving sixteen-sided shaft formed by a bracket at each end of the octagon. Through fastidious application of geometrical principles, the load of the dome has been gracefully conveyed to the ground, from the circle to the sixteen-sided shaft, from the latter to the octagon and then to the four walls of the square chamber. The pointed shape of the squinches matches well the

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ABOUT THE DESIGN..

In contrast to the existing Qutb Mosque, which was built with the spolia of the existing temples on the site, the Alai Darwaza was a new structure. Square in plan vExterior length : 17.22m vWall thickness:3.3m vInterior length:10,6m vHeight from floor to domed ceiling:14.3m
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.Its wide, shallow dome rests on an octagonal base, and the transition from the octagonal base to a circular dome is achieved with squinches (muqarnas). On the exterior, the dome is plastered.

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squinch

The gate stands on a plinth clad with red sandstone with carved friezes. On the south (main) elevation of the gate, steps beginning at the plinth lead into the gate itself. Its exterior is clad with intricately carved red sandstone and white marble bands carved with

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In the center springs the gate itself, a true arch as opposed to the older, local trabeated construction visible in other parts of the Qutb complex, ornamented with slender pillars.
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The gate is bilaterally symmetrical on its south elevation

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Flanking the gateway on either side are two small arched windows with delicate latticework (jalis) just above the plinth level.
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Above these lower-level windows are shallow rectangular niches (again, two on either side of the gate) created with concentric bands of red sandstone and white marble carvings.

On the eastern and western sides, the arrangement of central archway flanked by a jaliwork window on the lower level and rectangular niches on the upper level is repeated. However, on the western elevation, this sandstone and marble niche revetment has fallen off. Where the volume of the gate joins the complex wall, the blind window on the northwestern corner

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The gate of the north elevation, facing into the complex, is a semicircular arch. The south, east, and west elevations each feature horseshoe arches with spearheaded decorations in the intrados and a decorative parapet above.

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The most beautiful part is the gatehouse which has arches with carved jali screens set into it. The exquisite geometric and floral designs in red sandstone and white marble are striking.

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ALAI MINAR.
The unfulfilled dream of Ala-uddin as the victory tower, Alai Minar stands 27 meters high built of red sandstone, uncompleted, originally planned to be built along similar lines of Qutab Minar. Alai Darwaza is the main gateway to the entire complex housing the tomb of Imam Zamin, the tomb of Altamish and the mosque.Alai Minar the unfinished base of Alauddin Khilji's tower, in the

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Some detailings.

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Some detailings..

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some detailings

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Vault-Alai darwaza

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Tomb of Imam Zamin

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Roof of Alai darwaza

interior

Qutab minar,Alai darwaza & Tomb of Imam zamin

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THANK YOU.

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