Char Minar: Called the Arc de Triomphe of
the East, stands in the centre of the city. Built as the legend
goes, by the fifth King of the dynasty Mohammed Quil Shah in honour
of his Hindu wife Bhagmati who lived in Chiham village located in
the surroundings, its central structure soars to a height of 180
feet.M
Standing majestically in the midst of the crowded old city, is the
Charminar-the huge but elegant arch, a masterpiece of Qutub Shahi
architecture. It is located amidst the colourful shops of Lad Bazaar
(Choodi Bazaar) with its glittering traditional bangles, pearls and
bridal ware in the old city. Unique to Hyderabad, this square
structure has delicate stucco ornamentation, four tall minarets and
a mosque on its top floor.
This imposing monument was built, as the legend goes, by Sultan
Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah in honour of his Hindu Wife, Bhagmati,
between 1591AD and 1612 AD, soon after he shifted his capital from
Golconda to Hyderabad. Built upon four grand arches facing the four
directions with its high slender minarets and spiral staircases, the
structure reflects the glory of the Qutub Shahi dynasty.
Often called "The Arc de triomphe of the East", Charminar gets its
name from its four gracefully carved minarets literally meaning
'Four (char) Pillars (minars)'. The design is said to be based on
Shia "tazias" erected in honor of Hussain, the son in law of Prophet
Mohammad. The massive square structure, built entirely of granite
and lime mortar stands on a square base and opens up to four
directions through grand arches. Each arch is 11 metres wide and
rises 20 metres to the pinnacle from the plinth. The clocks above
each of the four archways were added in 1889. These arches support
two floors of rooms and a gallery of archways. The structure stands
in a junction and the arches overlook four major thorough fares.
