SMITH'S FOLLY - New Delhi
4.4/5
★
based on 8 reviews
Contact SMITH'S FOLLY
| Address : | Seth Sarai, Mehrauli, New Delhi, Delhi 110030, India |
| Postal code : | 110030 |
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Dibyaranjan Panigrahi on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Smith's Folly on top of Qutub Minar.
Word play sometimes can be so amusing. All of us know what Folly means but not many people may be knowing that in architectural terms "Folly" means a whimsical or extravagant structure built to serve as a talking point or a point of interest.
Smith's Folly
Smith's Folly exactly matches both the meanings. The Qutub Minar, made to commemorate the victory of Islam in India was commenced by Qutub-ud-din Aibak in early 13th century and completed by Iltutmush by adding three more stories. When a lightening struck the Minar after more than one hundred years of its completion, Firuz Tughlaq repaired the tower and added two more stories made of marble to the original. In 1803 the earthquake damaged the Minar and Major Smith, the builder of Kashmere Gate and Saint James Church was tasked to repair the structure.
The Qutub Minar and Smith's Folly.
The structure was repaired and an Indo-Islamic cupola with Bengali features was added at the top of the structure. It was said that the glorious tower of Islamic dominance was capped with a Hindu cupola. There was massive criticism of the addition and the Governor General got the cupola removed and it was placed at one corner of the complex. Since then Smith's Folly is literally stationed at a distance and must be looking towards the top of the Minar where it used to be earlier.
The Qutub Minar as seen through Smith's Folly.
When you visit the Qutub next time, do find time to look at the Smith's Folly and remember him. Remember that at least for 10 years this cupola was at the top of the Qutub Minar.
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Soma Ghosh on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Beautiful architecture situated out of sight inside the qutub complex. Not mentioned about this anywhere.
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Joshy anand on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ LIKE SANDERSON DIAL, PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF THIS STRUCTURE ALSO....
IN 1829 BRITISH MILITARY ENGINEER MAJOR ROBERT SMITH BUILT A BENGALI STYLED CUPOLA STRUCTURE AND INSTALLED TOP OF QUTUB MINAR AS A CROWN.ACTUALLY A CROWN STRUCTURE AT THE TOP OF THE ANCIENT BUILDING DESTROYED IN A MAJOR EARTH QUAKE IN EARLY NINETIETH CENTURY. BEING AN EYE SORE , IN 1848 VICEROY HARDINGE REMOVED THE CUPOLA AND PLACED NEAR THE IMAM ZAMIN'S TOMB LAWN.
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Prakhar on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Qutub Minar crown built by Major Smith in 1828 with approx 20k rupees, removed and put down by Lord Hardinge just after 20 yrs. Has been called Smiths Folly from there..
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Dhruv Bhargava on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Nice place in Qutub complex New Delhi. The nearby pillared cupola known as Smith's Fully .Must see you with your family and friends.
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macedonboy on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This structure was originally a cupola to replace the one that was atop the Qutub Minar, but damage by lightning and earthquake. It was later decided that the design of the cupola did match the design of the tower, so it was taken off and moved to its current location in the gardens.
So in the end, it’s doubly folly.
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Sʜᴇʙɪɴ Sʜᴀᴊᴀʜᴀɴ on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Smith's folly
It is said that lightning never strikes a place twice, but tall structure like the Qutub Minar have always been exceptions. There are several records of the tower being struck by lightning and other natural calamities have taken its toll on the highest stone tower in the world. But the string of disaster has left the minar unscathed except for a slight tilt, some two feet of the perpendicular.
The first recorded lightning strike on the Qutub Minar happened in 1368, when a lightning strike severely damaged the top storey of the Qutub Minar. Sultan Firoz Shah Tughluq replaced the fallen storey with with two floors and crowned it with a cupola. The restoration also introduced white marble into the otherwise red and buff sandstone.
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Shyamal Mishra on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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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