Firoz Minar

Firoz Minar (also known as Firuz Minar) (English: Tower of Firoz/Firuz) is a five-storeyed tower situated at Gaur, West Bengal, India. It was built by Sultan Saifuddin Firuz Shah of the Habshi dynasty between 1485 and 1489. It was built in the Tughlaqi style of architecture. Although the first three storeys are dodecagonal, the final two are circular in shape.

Firoz Minar
TypeTower
EtymologyNamed after Saifuddin Firuz Shah
LocationGaur, West Bengal, India
Nearest cityMalda
Coordinates24.8737°N 88.1305°E / 24.8737; 88.1305
Height26 metres (85 ft)
Built1489
Governing bodyArchaeological Survey of India

Location
An inscription from the doorway of Firoz Minar on display in the British Museum. It records the reign of Sultan Saifuddin Firuz Shah, the ruler who built the minaret.

Firoz Minor is located one kilometre away from the Dakhil Darwaza at the city of Gaur. Gaur is at a distance of 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the city of Malda and is situated at the Malda district in the Indian state of West Bengal.[1]

History

The minar was built by Sultan Saifuddin Firuz Shah of the Habshi dynasty. The construction started in 1485 and ended in 1489.[1] Colloquially, the tower is referred as Pir Asa Mandir and Chiragh Dani.[2] The tower also commemorates Firuz Shah's victories in the battlefield.[3] According to tradition, Firuz Shah threw the chief architect from the topmost storey as he was not satisfied with the minar's height and wanted it to be taller.[4]

Architecture

The minar resembles the Qutb Minar of Delhi.[1] Firoz Minar is five storeyed structure. The first three stories are dodecagonal while the next two are circular in shape.[5] The tower is 26 metres (85 ft) high and its circumference is 19 metres (62 ft).[1] A spiral 73 step staircase leads to its top.[2] Although there was a dome at the topmost storey, it was replaced by a flat roof due to restoration work.[3]

The minar is built in Tughlaqi architecture and there are terracotta works on its walls.[1] The tower sits on top of a masonry plinth.[6]

References
  1. "Places to visit". Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  2. Safvi, Rana (2 March 2019). "Once upon a fort: Gaur's Firoz Minar is still an imposing sight". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  3. "Firoz Minar". ASI Kolkata. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  4. ইতিহাসের দেশে ২ / দাখিল দরওয়াজা, ফিরোজ মিনার, বাইশগজী দেওয়াল (in Bengali). Khabar Online. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  5. Z. A. Desai (1970). Indo-Islamic architecture. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. ISBN 9788123024066.
  6. John Cumming (2005). Revealing India's Past: A Record Of Archaeological Conservation And Exploration In India And Beyond. Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd. p. 70.
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