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Photo: Roboture, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Founded in perhaps the 11th century as a city named "Lal Kot" under Hindu rule, in the current Mehrauli area. In around 1180, Hindu ruler Prithviraj Chauhan expanded this city and renamed it Qila Rai Pithora. Some of the ruins of the fort ramparts from this period are still visible around Qutb Minar and Mehrauli.
Qila Rai Pithora or Lal Kot is a fortified complex in present-day Delhi, which includes the Qutb Minar complex. It was constructed in the reign of Tomar Rajput ruler Anangpal Tomar between c. 1052 - c.1060 CE. It is termed as the "First city of Delhi". Remains of the fort walls are scattered across South Delhi, visible in present Saket, Mehrauli around Qutb complex, Sanjay Van, Kishangarh and Vasant Kunj areas.
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It is a 4.3 m statue of Jain prophet Mahavira who professed ahimsa (nonviolence).
It is the tomb of Ghiyasuddin Balban, a ruler of the Slave dynasty. It is believed that the first arch, which later became an important part of Indian architecture was built in this mausoleum only. The same goes for the dome, which has been destroyed. Besides, his tomb lies the tomb of his son Khan Shahid.
The tomb of Azim Khan, a general of the Mughal Army. Commissioned in 17th century, the tomb was built in the typical square-shaped structure with a crowned dome coated with plaster and decorated with carvings.
It consists of a mosque and a tomb of Jamali and Kamali. Jamali was the alias given to Shaikh Jamali Kamboh, a renowned Sufi saint who lived during Lodi and Mughal dynasties. Kamali was an unknown person who was Jamali's disciple and his lover, according to the oral stories and traditions.
Dilkusha, Quli Khan's Tomb
It was originally the tomb of Quli Khan who was the brother of Adham Khan and in turn foster brother of Akbar. Later Sir Thomas Metcalfe (who was a negotiator between Mughal Empire and the British East India Company) bought the structure remodelled it, and became one of the two Metcalfe Houses also known as Dilkusha. It is in ruins as it was highly vandalized during the Revolt of 1857.
Smith's Folly, which once stood on top of the Qutb Minar, has been removed and put on the southeastern corner of the Qutb complex.