Charminar
A proud sentinel in the heart of the
Old City, this magnificent monument built by Quli Qutub
Shah, is the unique symbol of Hyderabad. Charminar
derives its name from four intricately carved minarets,
The four graceful minarets literally meaning 'Four Minars',
soar to a height of 48.7m each, above the ground. It
is located amidst the colourful shops of Lad Bazaar
with its glittering traditional bangles in the old city.
Enormous in its size, this imposing monument of India
exudes a charm that is more than 400 years old
 The
Qutub Shahi Region
The
history of Hyderabad begins with the establishment of
the Qutub Shahi dynasty. Owing to the inadequacy of
water and frequent epidemics of plague and cholera Quli
Qutub Shah established the new city with the Charminar
at its centre with four great roads fanning out in four
cardinal directions. The plan is a square, each side
20m long, while the four arches are 11m wide and rise
20m from the plinth. The four-storeyed minarets rise
20m from the roof of the massive monument and measure
24m from the plinth. The western section of the roof
contains a mosque, ranking among the finest the gifted
Qutub Shahi artisans ever built. There are 45 prayer
spaces with a large open space in front to accommodate
more for Friday prayers. To the east of this space is
a lovely verandah with a large open arch in the centre,
flanked by smaller ones on both sides
A Representation Of Indo-Sarcenic Tradition - Charminar
in India
The Charminar was
built with granite and lime-mortar. It is a blend of
'Cazia' and Islamic style of architecture. The intertwined
arches and domes are examples of typical Islamic style
of the architecture. The graceful floral motif atop
the Charminar is enchanting. The Charminar depicts the
Indo-Saracenic tradition - a symbiosis of the Hindu
and the Muslim traditions, which has woven the magic
of a rich Deccan culture. The Charminar looks spectacular
particularly in the nights when it is illuminated. It
offers an excellent panoramic view of the city and Golconda
Fort, which makes the mind go back into time and recapitulates
the past glory of Hyderabad during the Qutub Shahi times.
Charminar has become an inseparable part of the history
of Hyderabad.
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