Hyderabad, India: Charminar
The monument was built in 1591 by Muḥammad Qulī Quṭb Shah, the fifth king of the Quṭb Shāhī dynasty, reportedly as the first building in Hyderabad, his new capital. Over the years, it has become a signature monument to and an iconic symbol of the city’s heritage. According to one legend, the Hyderabad region was reeling from a devastating plague at the time that Muḥammad Qulī Quṭb Shah was shifting his capital from nearby Golconda to the new city. He commemorated the end of the plague by building a mosque, which became known as Charminar because of its four towering and distinctive minarets, one on each of the building’s four corners. It formed the centrepiece around which Hyderabad was planned.
Now regarded as one of the supreme architectural achievements of the Quṭb Shāhī period, the Charminar is a grand architectural composition in Indo-Saracenic style. It is built of granite and lime mortar with stucco ornamentation. The square structure measures 66 feet (20 metres) to a side. Each side faces one of the cardinal directions and has a pointed arch that is 36 feet (11 metres) wide at the base and reaches 66 feet high at its apex. A multisided column rises on each corner of the structure and, atop a lotus-leaf base, continues upward until it culminates in a minaret with a dome-shaped roof 160 feet (49 metres) above the ground. Each minaret is accessed via a spiral staircase on its interior wall and consists of four levels, each of which features a delicately colonnaded covered walkway around the exterior wall. Above the arches of the main structure are two stories. The first was once used as a madrasah (Islamic college) in the Quṭb Shāhī era, and the second houses a small mosque. In addition to the mosque, the Charminar has 45 other prayer areas. The Charminar’s roof and minarets afford panoramic views of Hyderabad, notably the historic Golconda Fort to the west and the bustling Lad Bazaar—adjacent to the Charminar—which is famed for its traditional lacquer bangles studded with coloured glass and stones.
10 Interesting Facts About Charminar, Hyderabad
1. Constructing the Charminar for honoring woman
It is also said that the Charminar was built by the King QuliQutub Shah in lieu of the memories of her late wife Bhagamathi. So, this shows that it is a symbol of love and affection.
2. Iranian creativeness
Have you ever overheard about the Iranian town Isfahan’s monuments? Don’t worry, we will tell u now.The creator of Hyderabad i.e.King QuliQutub Shah was so enthralled by the Isfahan city’s monuments that he decided to build the same in the Hyderabad city.
3. Diverse types of religious conviction co-exist tranquility
The Charminar is also a sign of numerous beliefs living at a solitary place. The joining together of the airs of both i.e. the Mecca Masjid Mosque and Bhagyalakshmi temple fetch into an image of the social as well as religious synchronization of the Hyderabad city.
4. Making cat’s head inside the Charminar
You will find a cat’s head inside the Charminar which is designed in the top of one of the little bends on the eastern side. Can you imagine that why the cat head is made there?It was constructed to signify that cat destroys the rats in the city which have nearly devastated Hyderabad one time.
5. Major Multi-storeyed building
There are so many constructors and builders in India who claimed that they have built the first multi-storeyed construction in the city. But this is not the true.Charminar was the very first multi-story building which was built in Hyderabad along with all the ancient features.
6. Denote the finish of plague
Hyderabad is constructed with a wonderful thought. The legendary king QuliQutub Shah had decided to construct this monument as a remembrance when the harmful plague was got finished ion the city.
7. Implication of the Charminar
Charminaralso devises a lot of spiritual importance. It is understood that Charminar was constructed to honor an undertaking which the king QuliQutb Shah have made to the Allah.
8. Heart of the city
The Charminar is deliberated to be builtin the heart of the city Hyderabad. The city was intended over a gridiron design nearby the Charminar along with 2major roads crisscrossing and running east-west and north-south.
9. Surreptitious passageways and secret stories
As per the older stories, in the Charminar, there are lots of secret passageway between the monument and the Golkonda castle. There are also few rumors about the treasures which are being buried there. However, till now, no one has found those mysterious ways and the treasure.
10. Historical age
The Charminar’s historical age is 450 years which makes it quite oldest monument in India. As per the age, the structure of this monument is still well maintained and strong.
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Location | Hyderabad, Telengana, India 17°21′41″N 78°28′28″E |
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Established | 1591 |
Branch/tradition | Muslim |
Architectural information | |
Style | Islamic architecture |
Minaret(s) | 4 |
Minaret height | 48.7 metres (160 ft) |
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