Been there done that and come ..well can you say the same for the
Charminar?

Charminar is a major landmark in the city of Hyderabad- this statement is
cliched but quite true. The great monument is a synonym for Hyderabad and
the pivot around which the glory and history of the city has developed. Well
it won't be wrong to say that this 400 year old city of Hyderabad will seem
incomplete without the Charminar the same way as Moscow without the Kremlin
or New York without the Statue of Liberty.
Charminar HistoryInteresting Charminar history adds beauty to this exquisite monument. The charming Minar was built by
Mohammed Quli Qutaub Shah in 1591. The Minar is a wondrous colossus in
granite, lime, mortar and pulverised marble. At the very first look and from
a distance Charminar would seem to be sturdy and solid but as moving near it
would emerge as an elegant and romantic edifice ready to mesmerise every
spectator with its architectural brilliance and eminence. Charminar has
become a true brand name of beauty.
The Structure
After knowing the Charminar history, marvel the exquisite architecture of this monument. The Charminar is squarish in structure with four towers in the four
corners. Each of the sides of the tower is 20 metres in length. From the
ground to the apex, the minarets cover a length of about 48.7 metres.he
Charminar is said to be a prototype of Tazia, a representation of the tomb
of Imam Husain. It is also said that during the Mughal Governorship between
the Qutb Shahi and the Asaf Jahi rule, lightning destroyed the South Western
minaret which 'fell to pieces', but it was forthwith repaired at a cost of
Rs. 60,000! The whole structure was plastered in 1824 at a cost of Rs.
100,000. Isn't it amusing?
The De Facto
Location - Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Built In - 1591
Best Time To Visit - June to March
Timings - Open Weekdays:0900-1700; Saturdays: 0900-1700
Entrance Tariff - Rs. 5 for Indians, US $ 2 for foreigners.
Access
Air:
Hyderabad is well connected to national and international destinations with
both national and international air carriers. Needless to say you can reach
anywhere from Hyderabad in no time.
Rail:
Being the headquarter of South Central Railway, Hyderabad is well connected
from all major cities of India. There are railway stations at Hyderabad and
Kachiguda also, trains leaving from these two station can be boarded at
Secunderabad railway station.
Road:
Hyderbad, being Capital city is well connected by Road from all major
cities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharastra and Orissa.
Did You Know?
- The Charminar, is an alive example of the Indo-Saracenic tradition,
which is a blend of the Hindu and the Muslim traditions.
- The Charminar is also called as The Arc de triumph of the East.
- Atop the great monument are 45 prayer spaces for the devout where
they can offer worship in an atmosphere unspoilt by the bustle of the
city.