Spire of sandstone

India, and especially its capital region of Delhi, is known for its sandstone structures from forts to palaces to temples—but the Qutb Minar stands above them all. Rising 238 feet, the tower was built at the turn of the 13th century by the Ghurid dynasty, a Central Asian power that had just seized control of northern India and brought Islamic customs with them. The Qutb Minar served as both a symbol of their victory (a short-lived one, as their rule was upended by the year 1215) and as a minaret: a tall structure from which a muezzin performs the call to prayer. Today the tower itself is closed for entry, but its grounds are a popular tourist attraction open to visitors of all faiths.