Char Minar

The Charminar is as much the signature of Hyderabad as the Taj Mahal is of Agra or the Eiffel Tower is of Paris. Often called "The Arc de triumph of the East", Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, built Charminar in 1591 at the centre of the original city layout. Legends has it that it was built as charm to ward off a deadly epidemic raging at that time. Four graceful minarets soar to a height of 48.7 m above the ground.

Charminar has 45 prayer spaces and a mosque in it. The Charminar is a square edifice with four grand arches each facing a cardinal point that opened once upon a time into four royal streets. At each corner stands an exquisitely shaped minaret, more than 55 mt. in height with a double balcony. A bulbous dome crowns each minaret with dainty petal like designs at the base. A beautiful mosque is located at the western end of the open roof and the remaining part of the roof served as a court during the Qutub Shahi times. Built with granite and lime-mortar, the Charminar is a fine example of the Cazia style of architecture. The intertwined arches and domes are typical of the Islamic architecture. The graceful floral motif atop the Charminar is enchanting.

Significance
The Charminar which is located in the old city is a holy place for the Muslims and not only this is the holy place for Muslims but this became the symbol of Hyderabad. All around the Charminar is the bustling bazaar of pearl and jewelry shops, perfume and ittar dealers. On one of the roads leading to the Charminar is the famous "Lad Bazaar" (Lord Bazaar) with rows of shops selling lacquer, glass bangles, trinkets, etc., and is a virtual heaven for the Womenfolk of Hyderabad. This is a must visit place for the tourists and for Muslims, that's why this is popularly known as Mecca of south.

The Charminar which is being treated as the holy place for Muslims is well known as Mecca of south. Here around Charminar you can find the perfect Muslim culture which has been here since 400 plus years. We can say, we hardly find Muslims with such a dedication towards their culture and traditions other than Hyderabadi Muslim. They are very kind hearted and sensitive too. If you go to Charminar you can find 99 percent of Muslims there alike we see around Mecca. We have Jamay Masjid near by Charminar and we can find the Muslim culture more there.

Architecture
The plan is a square, each side 20 meters long, while the four arches are 11 meters wide and rise 20 meters from plinth. The four-storied minarets rise 20 meters from the roof of the massive monument and measure 24 meters from the plinth. The western section of the roof contains a mosque, ranking among the finest the gifted Qutb Shahi artisans ever built. The prayer spaces with a large open space in front to accommodate more for Friday prayers. To the east of this space is a lovely verandah with a large open arch in the center, flanked by smaller ones on both sides. The important theories advanced in the debate about the significance of Charminar is that the upper stare was a school, a pumping reservoir for water or simply a gateway. Historian Haroon Khan Sherwani felt that the architect planned the upper stare as school, while the French traveler Tavernier argued that " all galleries of Charminar seem to make the water rise so that it could be carried to the higher rooms pf the palaces" as water in those days came from the Jalpally reservoir. The third view was that Charminar served as a gateway overlooking a regal piazza on which the gates of the palaces opened. Whatever be the truth, Charminar today is synonymous with Hyderabad's old charm and beauty and connotes Qutb Shahi grandeur to tourists with its spiral stairways.