Historical Monuments · Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Charminar
The Charminar, built in 1591, is the iconic four-minaret monument at the heart of Hyderabad's old city.
Overview
In the heart of old Hyderabad, four graceful minarets rise above a square monument of granite and lime mortar – the Charminar. Around it the city swirls: bangle shops glittering in Laad Bazaar, pearl merchants, the scent of biryani and haleem, and the call to prayer from the Mecca Masjid next door.
Each side of the Charminar opens in a great arch facing a principal street, and a small mosque occupies the upper floor. The view from the upper level, when open to visitors, looks out over the rooftops and busy lanes of the old city.
History
The Charminar was built in 1591 by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, when he founded Hyderabad as his new capital. Popular tradition links it to the end of a plague in the city. It became the centrepiece of the planned city laid out around it.
Significance
The Charminar is the emblem of Hyderabad and appears widely as a symbol of the city and of Telangana. Its blend of Indo-Islamic and Persian architecture reflects the cosmopolitan Deccan sultanates.
How to reach
The monument stands in the old city, about 30 minutes from central Hyderabad by road. The Hyderabad Metro and city buses connect nearby, and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is about an hour's drive. The area is best explored on foot.