Mosques In India

Charminar

Charminar is a great monument which forms the part of the city Hyderabad located in Andhra Pradesh. It was built in the year 1591 AD and its name Char Minar means “four towers”. It is decorated with the help of ornate minarets and the complete architecture has the support of four big arches. It is so famous in Hyderabad as well as other cities that people come in large numbers to visit it. Charminar lies on the eastern bank of River Musi and on the northern side you have the Laad Bazaar. On the western side you have Makkah Masjid which is made from granite and looks just awesome.

History

Charminar is a well known monument of Hyderabad which was built in 1591 AD by none other than the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty named as Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. Earlier Hyderabad was called as Golkonda but later on it was renamed. Its foundation was laid down so as to pay homage to the people of plague epidemic and prayed everyday to God to put an end to this. He had decided to build a mosque at this place once everything was fine.

It became very popular as Charminar which are formed from two Urdu words Char and Minar which signifies “four towers”. So the two words together combine to give a name to this mosque.

According to the information, the western minaret during the rule of Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi fell into pieces due to lightning and later on it was repaired and it consumed around Rs 60,000. Then in the year 1824 it was again replastered and Rs 100,000 was used in it.

Charminar has a very huge campus and there are about 1500 shops with some popular names like Pather Gatti, Laad Baazar etc which are meant for shopping only. Local shops have a variety of items like bangles, jewelry and other pretty pearls which attract lots of visitors.

In the year 2007, a few Hyderabadi Muslims who were a part of Pakistan constructed a similar monument which was the replica of Charminar in Bahadurabad which is close to Karachi.

Architecture

Charminar is one of the magnificent structures in Hyderabad which is designed with a number of materials that include limestone, marble, granite and mortar. The monument has for hug arches through which you can take a glimpse of the important streets of Hyderabad which create fascination in the minds of the visitors. Inside the Charminar you have a tunnel which connects Golkonda to Charminar and was specially made for the Qutb Shahi to escape from there. This route was used if there was a chance of seizing.

Charminar is designed with a square edifice and its every side is 20 meters or 66 feet long. The four grand arches are made in such a way that it opens to the four different streets. On the four corners you have the minaret which is 56 meters high together with a double balcony. There are bulbous on every crown which is designed in a petal like shape. Inside the Charminar you have a small mosque which is the worship place for the people. Half of it is open roof while the other is used as a court during the rule of Qutb Shahi. To reach the upper or the last floor you will have to cross 149 steps. One will find immense peace when they will visit this place and beauty is just breathtaking. For Friday prayers there is a special space and in total there are 45 spaces.

Charminar is a typical glimpse of the Islamic architecture as it is really splendid and you can feel the pleasant atmosphere around. The place is very attractive and elegant that draws the attention of all the visitors. It is an eminent place and one cannot explain its importance for the city and to the country on the whole. There are four corners of the structure with each having a minaret that is decorated and carved 48.7 m above the ground. In every minaret there are four stories and it has a similar look that Taj Mahal has. The minarets are just the same and its design is also similar. The main mosque of Charminar is located on the top floor and according to Madame Blavatsky reports it is found that each floor was meant for a specific purpose like learning. Later on it was converted into a warehouse by Imperial British administration. Next to Charminar you have Makkah Masjid which is just amazing and worth visiting.

How To Reach

By Air

Air transportation is the best way to reach Hyderabad as it is well connected to all important cities of India. Begumpet airport is the closest one that lies between Begumpet and Parade grounds (Secunderabad) and is only 5kms from Secunderabad Railway Station and 15 km from the main city. Taxis can also be hired for the same.

By Rail

Hyderabad comes under the world's second largest railway station and it carries around ten million people every day. There are many railway stations in Hyderabad that include Secunderabad Station, Begumpet Station and Hyderabad Station so you can catch trains from an of these railway stations which is close to you.

By Road

Road transportation is also available and it is managed by AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) so if you want to hire a taxi or take bus service you can get the same. Local buses are also a great option to travel from one location to another.

Local Information About Charminar

Apart from Charminar there are many more sightseeing options which you will come across in Hyderabad. Do not miss to visit ‘Char Kamaan’ (the Four Arches) which was built three years after Charminar was built. It has an octagonal enclosure which is called as Gulzar Hauz and it was like an entrance into the palaces and it was used by the kings and queens of that time. But later on the Mughals did not find it safe and blocked the entrance in the year 1687. Jama Masjid is also a superb monument to visit which was built in 1598 by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah. Its foundation was laid after seven years when Charminar was built. The renovation work of the masjid was done by Sikander Jah. In all there are lots of beautiful architectures which one should not miss as you find a glimpse of Indo-Persian as well as South Indian architecture which are a part of the golden era.

Though Charminar can be visited at any time but the ideal time to visit it is during evening when it is illuminated with lots of lights and makes it more pretty.

The Charminar is open on all days from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Commercial Area

There are lots of things which are popular about Charminar. The first is Laad Bazar where you will find the exclusive varieties of bangles also known as "Chudiyaan". Women who love bangles can explore a huge collection with beautiful work on it. Charminar is also famous for its shopping and the delicious food that you get here. You can try the traditional dishes like Mirchi ka salan, Biryani, Double Ka Meetha, Haleem and many more. Different shops are famous for its items. During Sankranthi you will find many shops selling lovely kites.

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