| Charminar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Shia Islam[citation needed] |
| District | Hyderabad district |
| Year consecrated | 1591 (434 years ago) (1591) |
| Location | |
| Location | Old City ofHyderabad,Telangana,India |
| Municipality | GHMC |
| State | Telangana |
  Shown within Hyderabad Show map of Hyderabad Charminar (India) Show map of India | |
| Administration | Government of Telangana |
| Coordinates | 17°21′42″N78°28′29″E / 17.36163°N 78.47467°E /17.36163; 78.47467 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Mir Momin Astarabadi[1][2] |
| Style | Indo-Islamic architecture |
| Founder | Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah |
| Specifications | |
| Height (max) | 56 metres (184 ft) |
| Minaret | 4 |
| Minaret height | 48.7 metres (160 ft) |
| Materials | granite,limestone,mortar andpulverized marble |
TheCharminar (lit. 'fourminarets') is a monument located inHyderabad,Telangana,India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in theemblem of Telangana.[3] The Charminar's long history includes the existence of a mosque on its top floor for more than 434 years. While both historically and religiously significant, it is also known for its popular and busy local markets surrounding the structure, and has become one of the most frequented tourist attractions in Hyderabad. Charminar is also a site of numerous festival celebrations, such asEid-ul-adha andEid al-Fitr,[4] as it is adjacent to the city's main mosque, theMakkah Masjid.
The Charminar is situated on the east bank ofMusi River.[5] To the west lies theLaad Bazaar, and to the southwest the richly ornamented Makkah Masjid.[6] It is listed as an archaeological and architectural treasure on the official list of monuments prepared by theArchaeological Survey of India.[7] The English name is a translation and combination of theUrdu wordschār andminar, translating to "Four Pillars"; the towers are ornate minarets attached and supported by four grand arches.[6]
The fifth ruler of theQutb Shahi dynasty,Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, built the Charminar in 1591 after shifting his capital fromGolconda to the newly formed city ofHyderabad.
TheArchaeological Survey of India (ASI), the current caretaker of the monument, mentions in its records, "There are various theories regarding the purpose for which Charminar was constructed. However, it is widely accepted that Charminar was built at the centre of the city, to commemorate the eradication of plague", a deadly disease which was widespread at that time.[8][9] According toJean de Thévenot, a French traveller of the 17th century whose narration was complemented with the availablePersian texts, the Charminar was constructed in the year 1591 CE, to commemorate the beginning of the second Islamic millennium year (1000AH). The event was celebrated far and wide in theIslamic world, thus Qutb Shah founded the city of Hyderabad to celebrate the event and commemorate it with the construction of this building.[10][11]: 17–19
The construction began in 1589 and was completed in two years at a cost of Rs. 9 lakhs, which was around 2 lakh huns/gold coins in those times. Upon completion, it was thetallest structure in Hyderabad. It is said to weigh around 14000 tonnes with a minimum of 30 feet deep foundation. In 1670, a minaret had fallen after being struck by lightning. It was then repaired at a cost of around Rs. 58000. In 1820, some part of it was renovated bySikandar Jah at a cost of Rs. 2 lakh.
The Charminar was constructed at the intersection of the historical trade route that connects the city to international markets through the port city of Machilipatnam.[12]: 195 TheOld City of Hyderabad was designed with Charminar as its centrepiece.[13] The city was spread around the Charminar in four different quadrants and chambers, segregated according to the established settlements. Towards the north of Charminar is theChar Kaman, or four gateways, constructed in the cardinal direction.[10][12][14][15]: 170 Additional eminent architects fromPersia were also invited to develop the city plan. The structure itself was intended to serve as a mosque andmadrasa. It is ofIndo-Islamic architecture style, incorporatingPersian architectural elements. A sample of Charminar is said to have been created at Dabirpura/Nagaboli graveyard before the actual construction.
Qutb Shah was also among the early poets ofDakhani Urdu. While laying the foundation of Charminar, he performed the prayers in Dakhini couplets, which are recorded as follows:[16]: 4 [17]
Dakhini Urdu |
|
Charminar was later captured and became an icon ofMughal Empire, theAsaf Jah I was the custodian of the famous structure.
80,000Sepoy units loyal to the Mughal Empire lived within the "garrison of the Charminar" and often viewed it as a sister of theTaj Mahal[citation needed].
The Charminar masjid is a square structure with each side being 20 metres (66 ft) long. Each of the four sides has one of four grand arches, each facing a fundamental point that opens directly onto the street in front of it. At each corner stands an exquisitely shaped 56 metres (184 ft) high minaret, with a double balcony. Each minaret is crowned by a bulbous dome with dainty, petal-like designs at the base. Unlike the minarets ofTaj Mahal, Charminar's four fluted minarets are built into the main structure. There are 149 winding steps to reach the upper floor. The structure is also known for its profusion of stucco decorations and the arrangement of balustrades and balconies.[18]
The structure is made of granite, limestone, mortar, and pulverised marble, weighing approximately 14,000 tones apiece.[19] Initially the monument was so proportionately planned that when the fort first opened, one could see all four corners of the bustling city of Hyderabad through each of its four grand arches, as each arch faced one of the most active royal ancestral streets.
A mosque is located at the western end of the open roof. The remaining section of the roof served as a royal court during the Qutb Shahi times. The actual mosque occupies the top floor of the four-storey structure. A vault which appears from inside like a dome supports two galleries within the Charminar, one over another. Above those is a terrace that serves as a roof that is bordered with a stone balcony. The main gallery has 45 covered prayer spaces with a large open space in front to accommodate more people for Friday prayers.
The clock on the four cardinal directions was added in 1889. There is a vazu (water cistern) in the middle with a small fountain forablution before offering prayer in the Charminar mosque.[20]
The area surrounding Charminar is also known by the same name. It is within the ambit of theCharminar constituency.
The monument overlooks another grand mosque called theMakkah Masjid. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the 5th ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, commissioned bricks to be made from the soil brought fromMecca, the holiest site ofIslam, and used them in the construction of the central arch of the mosque, hence its name.
A market namedLaad Bazaar is around Charminar. It is known for its jewelry, especially bangles. The nearbyPathargatti boulevard is also an important business street known for its pearls. In its heyday, the Charminar market had some 14,000 shops. The Bazaars surrounding Charminar were described in the poem "In the Bazaars of Hyderabad" bySarojini Naidu.
Arches in four directions of Charminar are known asChar Kaman. These were built along with the Charminar in the 16th century. These are theKali Kaman,Machli Kaman,Seher-e-Batil ki Kaman andCharminar Kaman. At the centre of these arches is a fountain called theGulzar Houz. The Char Kaman are in dire need of restoration, and protection from encroachments.[21][22]
In 2007,Hyderabadi Muslims living in Pakistan constructed a small-scaled quasi replica of the Charminar at the main crossing of theBahadurabad neighbourhood inKarachi.[23]
Lindt chocolatier Adelbert Boucher created a scaled model of the Charminar out of 50 kilograms of chocolate. The model, which required three days' labour, was on display at TheWestin, Hyderabad, India on 25 and 26 September 2010.[24]
TheCharminar Express is an express train named after the Charminar, which runs betweenHyderabad andChennai.
The Charminar also appears on coins and banknotes of the defunctHyderabadi Rupee, the currency of the erstwhileHyderabad State.
As an icon of the city ofHyderabad as well as theTelangana State, the structure also appears on theEmblem of Telangana, along with theKakatiya Kala Thoranam.[25][26]
The Charminar Pedestrianisation Project is an initiative aimed at transforming the area around the iconic Charminar monument in Hyderabad, India into a pedestrian-friendly zone. The project was proposed by the government of Telangana in 2016 and is part of a larger effort to improve the city's urban infrastructure. The Charminar is a historic monument that attracts millions of visitors each year, but the surrounding area is congested with traffic and is not conducive to walking. The Pedestrianisation Project seeks to address this issue by creating a car-free zone around the monument and improving the overall pedestrian experience.
The project involves the construction of wider sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and improved lighting, as well as the installation of street furniture and landscaping to create a more attractive and welcoming environment for visitors. The plan also includes the development of a dedicated parking area for visitors to the Charminar, which will be located outside the pedestrian zone.
The project has been met with some controversy, as it involves the relocation of several street vendors and businesses that currently operate in the area. However, proponents of the project argue that the benefits of creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment around the Charminar will outweigh any short-term disruptions.
Overall, the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project represents an important effort to improve the urban infrastructure of Hyderabad and create a more attractive and accessible environment for visitors to one of the city's most iconic landmarks.[27] Later during January 2017, the newGovernment of Telangana introduced a 14-member French Delegation to take over the project to assess the feasibility in developing the monument as an eco-friendly tourism and heritage destination.[28][29] The team has inspected surrounding areas such as the Gulzar house, Makkah Masjid, Lad Bazar, and Sardar Mahal.[30][31][28][29]
Charminar, along with theQutb Shahi Monuments ofHyderabad: theGolconda Fort, and theQutb Shahi Tombs, were included in the "tentative list" ofUNESCOWorld Heritage Site. The monument was submitted by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO on September 10, 2010.[32][33]
A temple by the name ofBhagyalakshmi Temple sprouted up at the base of Charminar in the 1960s. TheArchaeological Survey of India—which manages the Charminar—has declared the temple structure as an unauthorised construction.[34] TheHyderabad High Court has stopped any further expansion of the temple.[35] While the origin of the temple is currently disputed, the current structure that houses the idol was erected in the 1960s. In 2012,The Hindu newspaper published an old photograph showing that the temple structure never existed.[36][37] The Hindu also released a note asserting the authenticity of the photographs, and clearly stated that there was no temple structure in photos taken in 1957 and 1962. Additionally, it showed photos that provide evidence that the temple is a recent addition: a temple structure can be seen in photos taken in 1990 and 1994. Also, a temple is seen in a photograph taken in 1986, which is kept in the Aga Khan Visual Archive,MIT Libraries' collections, United States, but not in the earlier ones.[36]
Hyderabad topics | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| History | |||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||
| Public buildings | |||||||||||
| Tourist attractions |
| ||||||||||
| Education | |||||||||||
| Higher education |
| ||||||||||
| Healthcare | |||||||||||
| Industry | |||||||||||
| Transport |
| ||||||||||
| Culture | |||||||||||
| Water bodies in and around Hyderabad | |||||||||||
| National parks around Hyderabad | |||||||||||
| Monuments and memorials | |||||||||||
| Sport |
| ||||||||||
| Other topics | |||||||||||
