Sunday, January 17, 2016

Charminar, India

Charminar

  • Destination: Hyderabad
Charminar is a famous landmark in Hyderabad. This monument has Historical and Social significance and is a beautiful and impressive square monument. The style of the Charminar is in Islamic architecture. Charminar is signature of Hyderabad as the china wall for china or the Eiffel Tower for Paris
Charminar means four (Persian/Hindi char = four) minarets (Minar (Arabic manara) = spire/tower) combinedly called as “Four Towers”. The Charminar lies on the east bank of Musi River, Laad Bazaar on its northeast and in the west end lays the granite-made richly ornamented Makkah Masjid.

History of Charminar

Charminar was built by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty in 1591 AD, when he had shifted his capital from Golkonda to what is now known as Hyderabad. There are varying talks for constructing this monument; one reason says that sultan built it in honour of his wife, Bhagyamathi (or Baghmati). Another and most popular reason is that there was promise to Allah made by sultan for praying to end of a plague that ravaged the new city.

Structure of Charminar

Charminar is having a square structure with four towers at each corner with each side measuring 20 meters in length. Each corner of the square has a towering domed minaret. The minarets are 48.7 meters in height. Each of the four minarets is four stored. There is also a well-known mosque near Charminar known as Makkah Masjid. Charminar has139 winding steps lead to the top-most floor of the Charminar. The monument offers extraordinary view of the city. It is made of granite, limestone, mortar and pulverised marble.

Surroundings of Charminar

Thousands of families leads life based on the surroundigs of Charminar, there are about 15000 shops here. Famous markets like Laad Baazar and Pather Gatti are there near the Charminar, many tourists and local people come here for jewellery, exquisite bangles and pearls, etc. which are very cheap in Hyderabad. When Sankranthi (Hindu’s festival) comes, the area will be completely crowded with people who sell and purchase the kites.
Hyderabadi Muslims leading life in Pakistan constructed a small-scaled quasi replica of the Charminar at the main crossing of the Bahadurabad neighbourhood in Karachi, in the year 2007.

Timings of Charminar

Timings: Timings: 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.

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