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Mehrauli and Qutub Minar
Minaret & Ruins
Mehrauli is Delhi's oldest continuously inhabited corner and the easiest place to see several of the city's layers in one morning: the Qutub Minar complex, a goddess temple that tradition holds older than the Sultanate, the last Mughal palace and a free woodland park with more than a hundred monuments. Timings and tickets for the minar are on the [Qutub Minar page](/en/delhi/qutub-minar/); this page is about joining it all up.
👥 Who it suits
ruins in the jungle Qutub Minar slow brunch
Staying here
Nowhere and no reason to stay: it's a half-day trip.
🌙 In the evening
The archaeological park closes at sunset.
Getting there
Ⓜ Qutub Minar, then a rickshaw
What to see
Where to eat
👣 A morning walk through Mehrauli
Start at Qutab Minar station on the Yellow Line, then walk or take an auto-rickshaw to the monument. One order that follows the opening hours:
- 1. The Qutub Minar complex
Open from sunrise: the 72.5-metre tower, the Iron Pillar and the ruins of northern India's earliest mosque at its base. The tower is seen from the ground only. Details: Qutub Minar.
- 2. Yogmaya Temple
About 240 metres from the Iron Pillar. By tradition it is the only temple in Delhi older than the Sultanate still in worship, though the present building dates from 1827. Entry is free; see Yogmaya Temple.
- 3. Zafar Mahal in the village lanes
The last Mughal palace stands in the village lanes, about 300 feet west of the Ajmeri Gate of the dargah (Sufi shrine) of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki; inside is the empty grave Bahadur Shah Zafar chose before his exile. Opening depends on the ASI caretaker, so mornings are safer. More: Zafar Mahal.
- 4. Mehrauli Archaeological Park
About 200 acres of woodland beside the Qutub complex with more than a hundred monuments, among them the Jamali Kamali mosque, the Rajon ki Baoli stepwell and Balban's tomb. Free, sunrise to sunset; paths are rocky, so bring water and proper shoes. See Mehrauli Archaeological Park.
- 5. Dusk facing the minar
QLA, a heritage villa on Seven Style Mile, faces the floodlit Qutub Minar; ask for the rooftop when you book. More bars in Delhi nightlife.
Mehrauli and its neighbours
- Hauz Khas Village: a younger set of ruins, a lake and bars; the evening half of a south Delhi day.
- Saket: malls, cinemas and a calm base one stop north.
The Delhi itinerary builds a full day around the minar and Mehrauli.
When to come
October and February to March are the months for long walks in the park. In May and June be at the gates at sunrise and out of the open ground before midday. From November to January daytime highs average about 28 °C in November and 20–23 °C in December and January (Safdarjung data), good for walking, but check the air quality first. Everything here works by daylight: the park closes at sunset, and the Qutub complex stays open until 8 pm.
❓ FAQ
What is the entry timing of Qutub Minar?
The ASI lists the complex as open from sunrise to 8 pm.
Can I go inside the Qutub Minar?
No. The staircase has been closed to the public since a stampede in 1981; you walk around the complex and see the tower from the ground.
Who built the Qutub Minar?
Qutbu'd-Din Aibak began it around 1199, and Iltutmish completed three more storeys between 1211 and 1236. Iltutmish's tomb stands at the back of the complex.
Is Mehrauli Archaeological Park free?
Yes. It has no ticket and is open from sunrise to sunset; only the Qutub complex next door charges.
Facts checked: 8 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.
Other areas of Delhi
In the app: the city's areas on the map, the places inside and a route.
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