The Charminar is a major landmark of the city of Nawabs, Hyderabad. It is known for its unique and brilliant architecture. This architectural grandeur is situated in the heart of the city and was built by Quli Qutub Shah, in 1591.Also called "The Arc de triumph of the East", Charminar derived its name from the four elaborately carved minarets. Each of these four outstanding minarets or minars have a soaring height of 48.7m, above the ground. The Charminar is surrounded by the bustling shops of Lad Bazaar, that provides a glance into the old city. This 400 hundred years old monument holds an important place on the must visit list of any tourist coming to Hyderabad.
¤ History of Charminar
Take a trip to Hyderabad to visit Charminar,an important historical monument of Hyderabad. The monumenat was built by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, in 1591. It is said that, this monument was built to commemorate the exit of the deadly epidemic, plaque, from Hyderabad.
Today, the Charminar has 45 prayer spaces and a mosque. The beautiful mosque is located at the western end of the open roof of the monument. The remaining part of the roof served as a court during the Qutub Shahi times.
¤ The Structure
The structure of Charminar is flat and square. Each side of the corners of the square is 20 meters in length. These sides will take you to a plaza through giant arches. Every arch of the monument is 11 meters wide and rises 20 meters high. All the minarets of the Cahrminar has four storeys and are intricately carved. The length of the majestic minarets, from the ground to the top is 48.7 meters.
The Charminar offers some exotic views of the city and the Golconda Fort. These views remind of the glorious past of Hyderabad. Thus, this magnificent monument is a synonym for Hyderabad' history.
¤ The Style of Architecture, Indo-Sarcenic
The architecture of the Charminar is an amalgamation of Cazia' and Islamic style of architecture. It was built with granite and lime-mortar. The Islamic architecture is represented by the tangled arches and domes of the monument. Apart from this, the Charminar has some enchanting floral motifs, which add to its beauty.The Charminar, is an alive example of the Indo-Saracenic tradition, which is a blend of the Hindu and the Muslim traditions. This tradition has enhanced the vibrant Deccan culture. The mesmerizing monument looks more impressive in the night when it is illuminated.
¤ Reach Charminar
By Air : Charminar is situated in Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. It is well connected by air, the Rajiv Gandhi Terminal is the international airport whereas the N. T. Rama Rao Terminal is the domestic airport.
By Rail : Hyderabad has got its own railhead, which connects it to all the major cities within the state as well as in the country.
By Road : There are city buses available for tourists that can be taken from any point of the city. Rickshaw's and Taxi's are the other modes of transport to get to Charminar.
