The Story of Ida Pfeiffer and her Travels in Many Lands, 1879
An account of Pfeiffer's visit to the Mosque of Aurengzebe in Benares
“Among the other buildings, the one most worthy of notice is the Mosque of Aurengzebe, famous on account of its two minarets, which are 150 feet in height, and reported to be the slenderest in the world. They resemble a couple of needles, and certainly better deserve the name than that of Cleopatra at Alexandria. Narrow winding staircases in the interior lead to the summit, on which a small platform, with a balustrade about a foot high, is erected. From this vantage-point a noble view of the city, it is said, may be obtained; but few persons, we should think, have heads cool enough to enjoy it. With all Madam Pfeiffer’s adventurousness, she did not essay this perilous experiment.” (101).
Ida Pfeiffer (1797-1858) was an Austrian traveller and author. As a woman traveller, she makes a point in her book of observing the women in the communities she visits. In particular, she is often surprised by the relative freedom of Muslim women, which contrasts sharply with her preconceived notions about the oppressive nature of Islam.