Charminar Historical Facts and Pictures

Charminar (or four towers), the crown jewel of all the historic landmarks located in the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and one of the best-recognized structures of India, consists of a monument and a mosque. Located on the eastern banks of Musi River, Charminar is flanked by the Laad Bazaar in the northeast and Makkah Masjid in the west. Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, of the Qutub Shahi dynasty built the Charminar in 1591. There are multiple legends regarding the original reason for building the monument. According to the most popular legend, the sultan built the construction in honor of a promise made to Allah along with a prayer to stop a plague ravaging the new city of Hyderabad. The four minarets are believed to have been built to honor the first 4 caliphs of Islam. Another legend says he built the Charminar, along with the city of Hyderabad, to honor the memories of his wife Bhagyamathi. A third legend mentions a secret underground tunnel that runs to the palace of Golconda to provide a safe escape route for the royal family in case of an emergency. However, no such tunnel has been found so far.

Charminar

Charminar Pictures

Charminar

Charminar Top View

Charminar Top View Pictures

Charminar Top View

Top View of Charminar

Charminar at Night

Charminar at Night

Charminar During Night

Charminar Inside

Charminar Inside Pictures

Charminar Inside View

Charminar Inside

Inside of Charminar

The monument is currently protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. The square construction has one minaret on each corner. The minarets stand 48.7 meters high with each side of the building measuring 20 meters.