Charminar

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. 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
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.