CHARMINAR:
History:
Most monumental structures built in the past had a strong reason behind their construction.
Here is the Charminar story. During the late 16th Century, Hyderabad was suffering due to a
plague epidemic that was taking thousands of lives. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah of the Qutb
Shahi dynasty who was the ruler of Hyderabad at that time prayed that if the plague ended,
he would build a monument to mark the end of the horrors. This led to the birth of the
monument in the heart of the old city in 1591.
Over the years, the monument has become an iconic structure of Hyderabad and synonymous
with the rich culture and heritage of the city. The impressive Charminar architecture and the
vibrant atmosphere of the market surrounding it attract thousands of tourists from around the
world.
Architecture:
The Qutb Shahi style of architecture is a unique combination of Persian and Indian
architectural styles. Charminar is the best example of the Qutb Shahi architecture. It is built
using granite and lime mortar, materials that were widely used in monuments at that time. It
has four 56-meter-tall minarets and a square base of 20 meters on each side. Additionally, it
has four ornamental arches facing east, west, north, and south. Each arch is 11 meters wide
and 20 meters in height. Every arch has a gate that opens into a courtyard.
East Gate: This was known as Kali Kaman or the Black Gate and was used by
the Royal Family.
West Gate: This was known as the Makkah Gate as it opened in the direction
of the holy city of Mecca
North Gate: This led to the mosque that was built on the top floor of
the Charminar
South Gate: This led to Char Kaman or a junction of four roads
The artisans used were skilled and their craftsmanship can be seen in the carvings and
stucco work on the minarets. You can also find geometric patterns, calligraphy, and floral
motifs on them.
Apart from its structural beauty, the Charminar is also an engineering marvel. The minarets
work as ventilation shafts that help the circulation of air inside the structure. It also has
functional drainage and water supply systems.
Structure:
The Charminar masjid is a square structure with each side 20 meters (approximately 66
feet) long, with four grand arches each facing a fundamental point that open into four streets.
At each corner stands an exquisitely shaped minaret, 56 meters (approximately 184 feet) high,
with a double balcony. Each minaret is crowned by a bulbous dome with dainty petal-like
designs at the base. Unlike the minarets of the Taj 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 its
balustrades and balconies.
The structure is made of granite, limestone, mortar and pulverized marble and it
weighs approximately 14000 tones. Initially, the monument with its four arches was so
proportionately planned that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the
bustling Hyderabad city, as these Charminar arches were facing the most active royal
ancestral streets.
There is also a legend of an underground tunnel connecting the Golconda fort to
Charminar, possibly intended as an escape route for the Qutb Shahi rulers in case of a siege,
though the location of the tunnel is unknown.
A mosque is located at the western end of the open roof; the remaining part of the roof
served as a court during the Qutb Shahi times. The actual mosque occupies the top floor
of the four- storey structure. A vault that appears from inside like a dome supports two
galleries within the Charminar, one over another, and above those a terrace that serves as a
roof, 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 for ablution before offering prayer in the Charminar
mosque.
Issue:
Badly maintained roads and the surroundings looked like slums. Then the issue of finding a
proper parking.
Starting from Afzalgunj to Charminar, there are no options left for tourists and locals to park
their vehicles, except a private parking inside the Charminar Unani hospital.
In 2011, the government had planned for an integrated multi-level parking complex, which was
proposed to be built by the GHMC at Khilwat near Charminar, with an estimated budget of Rs
35.04 crore.
A foundation stone had also been laid by former chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on June
5, 2011. But nothing has happened since then.
As part of the project, a five-story parking complex, designed for 400 four-wheelers and 200-
two wheelers as well as several shops, was to come up at Khilwat.
The project, which was under public-private-partnership mode, was given to Futurage
Infrastructure Pvt Lim-ited, which had assigned the IL&FS Engineering and Construction
Company to execute.
But due to a high estimated cost of around Rs 72 crore given by the company, the project was
shunted from department to department, ultimately leading to its cancellation.
Meanwhile, the thousands of tourists and locals are suffering. "We have come from Belgaum of
Karnataka in our own vehicle to see the Charminar and Macca Masjid, but the only problem
which we faced here was parking," said Sadiq, a visitor.
Traders, vendors and roadside hawkers feel the same. "If there is parking facility for tourists
and locals who come here for shopping, it would benefit us more," said Mohammed, a local
trader.
