Question

What is the present condition of Alai Darwaza

Answer 1

Southern gateway of the Quwwatu'l-Islam mosque, as extended by Ala-ud-Din Khalji, is known as the Ala-i-Darwaza and several inscriptions executed to form an ornamental surface, three mention the date of its erection as 710A.H. (1311). Alai Darwaza of Delhi is the first building employing completely the Islamic principles of accurate construction and geometric ornamentation and also shows Saljuqian characteristics,which influenced the Khalji architecture. The characteristics of Alai Darwaza , Delhi include wide and bulging dome with a central knob, pointed horse-shoe-shaped arches and squinches and lotus-bud fringes of the arches. The celebrated gateway, is built of red sandstone, andis 17.2m squares with arched openings on allsides, and is surmounted bya wide but shallow dome on an octagonal baseachieved through squinches withconcentric series of arches.