Qutub Minar: City’s tallest, biggest crowd-puller

The historic Qutb Minar has emerged as the most visited monument in Delhi in the financial year April 2023 to March 2024, with a total of 24,50,332 tourists — 22,54,030 Indians and 1,96,302 foreigners — flocking the monument.  

The footfall, according to data obtained from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Delhi office, ensured that the Sultanate period monument pipped Red Fort to second place. 

Red Fort, which was the most visited monument in 2022-23, received 22,16,214 tourists including 21,45,253 Indians and 70,961 foreigners in 2023-24.

Also Read: Red Fort to be fully lit up this Independence Day

Completed in the early 13th century after Qutb-ud Din Aibak laid its foundation in 1199 AD, the red sandstone tower stands at a height of 72.5 metres. 

Red Fort has served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the construction of Red Fort on May 12, 1639, when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi.

Every year on August 15, the Indian Prime Minister hoists the tricolour from the ramparts of Red Fort in Delhi – a tradition begun by India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947, when the country gained independence.

In the preceding financial year from April 2022 to March 2023, Red Fort had claimed the top spot with a significant footfall of 19,34,955 visitors, consisting of 18,90,421 Indian tourists and 44,534 foreigners. 

During the same time, Qutb Minar received a total of 13,78,068 visits, with 12,77,738 Indian visitors and 1,00,330 foreigners.

A senior official from ASI’s Delhi office told Patriot that it is encouraging to see Qutb Minar attracting a substantial number of visitors.

“The increased footfall can be attributed to the addition of new facilities at the monument and its regular maintenance,” he stated.

“We have introduced laser light show in the evening, enhanced the illumination of the monument, and provided facilities like toilet, canteen, wooden ramp for wheelchair-bound visitors, seating arrangement and drinking water facilities,” he added.

“These improvements have significantly improved the visitor experience.”

Other monuments in Delhi including Purana Qila, Safdarjung Tomb and Humayun’s Tomb also witnessed significant footfall of visitors from April 2023 to March 2024.

“The Purana Qila was visited by a total of 1,96,896 visitors, including 1,95,754 Indians and 1,142 foreigners. Safdarjung Tomb witnessed 1,35,808 tourists, including 1,26,769 Indian visitors and 9,039 foreigners. Humayun’s Tomb received a total of 7,69,021 visitors, including 6,72,892 Indians and 96,129 foreigners,” the official data reveals. 

From April 2022 to March 2023, Purana Qila saw a total of 3,78,727 visits, including 3,76,700 by Indians and 2,027 by foreigners. 

Safdarjung Tomb was visited by a total of 1,06,641 people which includes 1,01,986 Indian visitors and 4,655 foreigners. Humayun’s Tomb received visits from 6,14,990 people, including 5,58,683 Indians and 5,6,307 foreigners.

Patriot also accessed visitor data from all five prominent monuments from 2019.   

In the financial year April 2019-March 2020, visits from 62,14,868 people, including 56,45,742 Indians and 5,69,126 foreigners were recorded.

The financial year April 2020-March 2021 witnessed a pandemic and brought a significant downfall in a number of visits due to restrictions on movement.

“A total of 2,33,606 people visited these five monuments, including 2,32,931 Indians and 675 foreigners,” the data said.

Data further said that a total of 21,94,004 tourists visited the monuments in the April 2021- March 2022 period, including 21,80,061 Indians and 13,943 foreigners. 

Moreover, for the year April 2022-March 2023, these monuments received a total of 44,13,381 visitors, including 42,05,528 Indians and 2,07,853 foreigners.