From New Delhi’s airport side, Qutub Minar makes a landmark-rich outing into Mehrauli: it is a sandstone tower at the centre of a historic complex of mosques, gateways and other remains. Delhi Tourism identifies Qutab Minar Metro station as serving the monument, and checking current ticket and opening details before setting out will help you plan the visit.
- Location: Mehrauli, New Delhi
- Complex highlights: Qutub Minar, Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and Ala’i Darwaza
- Metro: Delhi Tourism identifies Qutab Minar station as serving Qutab Minar and the Garden of Five Senses
- Opening and ticket details: Open daily
What does the Qutub Minar complex include?
The Qutub Minar complex brings together the tower, a mosque, gateways and other historic remains. Qutb Minar itself is a red-and-buff sandstone tower, 72.5 metres high. Its diameter narrows from 14.32 metres at the base to about 2.75 metres at the top.
Qutbu’d-Din Aibak laid the minar’s foundation in AD 1199 and built its first storey. His successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish, added three more storeys. The tower was later repaired by Firuz Shah Tughlaq and Sikandar Lodi; Major R. Smith repaired and restored it in 1829.
Northeast of the minar stands the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, built by Qutbu’d-Din Aibak in AD 1198. Ala’i Darwaza, the mosque’s southern gateway, dates to AD 1311 and was constructed by Alau’d-Din Khalji.
The complex also contains the unfinished Ala’i Minar. Alau’d-Din Khalji began it with the intention of making it twice the size of Qutb Minar; the surviving first storey is 25 metres high. Other remains include a madrasa, graves, tombs, a mosque and architectural members.
What are the tickets and opening hours?
Government of Delhi pages give conflicting opening hours and ticket prices for Qutub Minar, so confirm the current details before planning your entry. Published hours range from 7:00 am–5:00 pm daily to sunrise–8:00 pm.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 9:00–17:00
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Published admission prices also differ. One set of figures is ₹50 cash or ₹35 online for Indian citizens and visitors from the named SAARC and BIMSTEC countries, and ₹600 cash or ₹550 online for a category labelled “Others: Indian,” whose meaning is unclear.
Another set is ₹30 for Indian citizens and ₹500 for foreign nationals. Children up to 15 years enter free according to the sunrise–8:00 pm listing.
ASI advises entering ticketed monuments with a valid ticket. Buy tickets only at ASI counters or kiosks, through its online portal, or through an available QR code, and be prepared to comply with security checks. For current hours, prices and entry requirements, check the official site before you go.
ASI also advises hiring only government-authorized guides and photographers, after checking their identity cards. If available, approved audio guides or information booklets are alternatives. Follow posted rules for filming and videography, and avoid photography in restricted areas containing sensitive artwork or artifacts.
How do you get to Qutub Minar from the airport area?
From Airport Hotel Mayank Residency, Qutb Minar is about 41 minutes by car. Qutab Minar station is identified by Delhi Tourism as serving Qutab Minar and the Garden of Five Senses; Airport Hotel Mayank Residency is a three-star hotel in the airport area.
You could pair the complex with Mehrauli Archaeological Park, another historic site in the area. ASI asks visitors to use designated parking and pathways and to respect cordoned-off areas.
If you’re travelling by metro, the companion guide to how to use the New Delhi metro from the airport area covers the broader journey. Check the current route and service details with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation before you travel.
How should you plan a route around the monuments?
Start with the minar, then take in the mosque and its southern gateway before looking at the unfinished Ala’i Minar and the other remains. This order follows the main architectural landmarks named in the complex’s description without assuming a particular internal path.
Ala’i Darwaza gives you another view of the site’s history: its inscription dates the gateway to AD 1311 and links its construction to Alau’d-Din Khalji. The unfinished Ala’i Minar provides a striking contrast in scale and ambition, though only its first storey survives.
Before moving between monuments, follow the designated pathways and any cordons. Food and beverages other than water are prohibited at ASI-protected monuments, according to its visitor guidance.
Can you combine Qutub Minar with Mehrauli Archaeological Park?
Mehrauli Archaeological Park is another historic site in the area, and the companion guide to how to visit Mehrauli Archaeological Park can help you plan that part of your day. The park and the Qutub Minar complex are separate visits, so check their respective entry and access details before deciding how to combine them.
At Qutub Minar, allow time to look beyond the tower itself: the mosque, Ala’i Darwaza, unfinished Ala’i Minar and other remains each add a different layer to the complex.
FAQs
Where is Qutub Minar?
Qutub Minar is in Mehrauli, New Delhi. The historic tower stands within a complex that includes a mosque, gateways and other remains.
Which metro station serves Qutub Minar?
Delhi Tourism identifies Qutab Minar station as serving Qutab Minar and the Garden of Five Senses. Check current service and route details before travelling.
Are Qutub Minar’s opening hours and ticket prices clear?
Open daily. No. Government of Delhi pages give different hours and prices, so verify the current details before your visit.
Can visitors bring food into the complex?
ASI visitor guidance says food and beverages other than water are prohibited at the monument.