Charminar, Hyderabad

Built

1591

Built by

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah

Nearest airport

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (about 23 km)

Nearest railway station

Dabirpura (about 2.7 km)

Best time

October to February

Ideal time needed

2–3 hours with the bazaar

History

The name simply means four minarets. The popular account says the sultan raised it to mark the end of a plague that had struck the region, and it has served as the symbol of Hyderabad for more than four centuries. The minarets are often said to stand for the four early caliphs who followed the Prophet.

Architecture

The structure is square, roughly 20 m on each side, with a large arch on every face opening towards the four cardinal directions. At each corner a minaret, around 49 m tall, rises in several storeys with carved balconies. Granite, limestone and mortar were the main materials, and the stucco work shows a strong Persian influence within the wider Indo-Islamic style.

On the upper level there is a small mosque, and the view from above looks over Mecca Masjid and the crowded lanes of the old city.

What to see around it

The whole area is best explored on foot.

• Mecca Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, right next door
• Laad Bazaar (Chudi Bazaar), famous for lac bangles studded with stones
• Char Kaman, four arched gateways to the north
• Gulzar Houz, the old fountain between the arches
• Bhagyalakshmi Temple at the base of the monument

Tips for your visit

Go early in the morning to avoid heat and crowds, or come back in the evening to see the monument illuminated. Keep valuables close in the bazaar lanes, and bargain politely when buying bangles or pearls. The old city is also where you will find some of Hyderabad's best biryani, haleem (during Ramzan) and Irani chai. The cooler months from October to February are most comfortable.

How to reach

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is about 23 km away. Dabirpura is the nearest railway station at about 2.7 km, and the central bus station (MGBS) is around 2.5 km. Autos and cabs can drop you close, but traffic is heavy, so allow extra time. We can arrange a Hyderabad city tour that combines Charminar with Golconda Fort.

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