Take A Dive Into Hyderabad’s Rich Cultural & Architectural History By Visiting The Iconic Charminar

A trip to Hyderabad is incomplete without paying a visit to the iconic Charminar, the undying symbol of the city!

When Hyderabad is mentioned, two things immediately spring to mind - biryani, and the Charminar! Both of these are iconic institutions in their own right and have been representing Hyderabad on the world stage with great distinction for many years. Such is their status in the city that a trip to Hyderabad is incomplete without indulging in the former and visiting the latter.

However, we’re going to focus only on the legendary building here - built on the orders of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shai in the year 1591 by Iranian architect Mir Momin Astrawadi, this stunning edifice on the banks of the Musi River is an unmissable part of Hyderabad’s cityscape. The ornate minarets supported by four grand arches once marked the centre of the city of Hyderabad and today have the Laad Bazaar to its west and the Makkah Masjid to the southwest. 

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Pic Credits: Pixabay

There are many theories regarding why the Charminar was constructed in the first place. While it is said to have been built after Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah shifted his capital from Golkonda to the newly formed city of Hyderabad, some say that it was constructed at the centre of the city to commemorate the eradication of cholera, which had been rampant at the time. Others theorise that the construction coincides with the beginning of the second Islamic millennium year (1000 AH). 

Constructed at the intersection of the historical trade route that connected the city to international markets through the port city of Machilipatnam, the Charminar was the centrepiece of Hyderabad, with the city spread around it in four different quadrants and chambers, segregated according to the established settlements. 

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Pic Credits: Wikimedia Commons

The main building is built with granite and lime mortar and is square in shape, each side being about 20 metres high, 11 metres wide, and overlooking four prominent thoroughfares. Towards the north, there are four gateways known as Char Kaman which have been constructed in the cardinal directions. They are named the Kali Kaman, Machli Kaman, Seher-e-Batil ki Kaman and Charminar Kaman. At the centre of these arches is a fountain called the Gulzar Houz. Its four minarets, from which it gets its name, are believed to represent the first four khalifas, or prophets, of Islam, with each minaret being about 15 metres (50 feet) in height. Legend has it that the building was so precisely planned that one could see all four corners of the city through each of its four grand arches!

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Pic Credits: TOI

In the vicinity of the Charminar is another famous monument in the form of the Makkah Masjid. The name comes from the fact that bricks made from soil brought from Mecca, the holiest site of Islam, were used in the construction of the central arch of the mosque. Another local landmark nearby is Laad Bazaar, a bustling marketplace known for its jewelry, especially bangles. A temple named Bhagyalakshmi Temple is also located at the base of Charminar. 

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Pic Credits: Wikimedia Commons

In addition to its immense historical and religious significance, Charminar also serves as a popular landmark for tourists and locals alike thanks to the bustling markets nearby. It is also a popular site for festival celebrations, particularly Eid-ul-adha and Eid al-Fitr. If you’re ever in town during that time, the celebrations are a sight to behold, while the shopping and eating options are extremely inviting too. 

So, whenever you’re in town, make sure that a visit to the Charminar is at the top of your itinerary, so that you get a true sense of Hyderabad’s history and culture!


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