Firoz Minar, Malda
About Firoz Minar
History
The minar was built by Sultan Saifuddin Firuz Shah of the Habshi dynasty. The construction started in 1485 and ended in 1489. Colloquially, the tower is referred as Pir Asa Mandir and Chiragh Dani. The tower also commemorates Firuz Shah's victories in the battlefield. 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.
Architecture
The minar resembles the Qutb Minar of Delhi. Firoz Minar is five storeyed structure. The first three stories are dodecagonal while the next two are circular in shape. The tower is 26 metres (85 ft) high and its circumference is 19 metres (62 ft). A spiral 73 step staircase leads to its top. Although there was a dome at the topmost storey, it has got replaced by a flat roof due to restoration work.The minar is built in Tughlaqi architecture and there are terracotta works on its walls. The tower sits on top of a masonry plinth.