New Delhi: What does Hyderabad remind you of? Biryani and other foods, and its rich culture along with the historical monuments like Golconda Fort. Also, does it remind you of Charminar? It can be safely assumed that it does, for over the years Charminar has become the symbol of the city of the Nizams. Well, don’t think of it as just another symbol as Charminar has been officially incorporated in Telangana’s emblem. The monument has a long history, including the existence of a mosque on its top floor for over 425 years.
Who built Charminar?
In 1591, Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah built the Charminar in honour of his wife, Bhagmati. However, the actual reason behind building Charminar is still not clear. It is also believed that Charminar was constructed at the centre of the city to commemorate the eradication of the plague at that time. According to other sources, Charminar was built to commemorate the beginning of the second Islamic millennium year. It is said that the four pillars were dedicated to the first four caliphs of Islam.
The construction of Charminar started in 1589 and it ended two years later. It was built for Rs 9 lakh and is said to weigh around 14000 tonnes with a minimum of 30 feet deep foundation. In 1670, lightning struck the minaret causing it to fall. It was then repaired for around Rs 58,000. In 1820, Sikandar Jah renovated some of its parts for Rs 2 lakh. There is a legend about the Charminar which says that it has a secret underground tunnel connecting it with the Golconda Fort. The tunnel was built for the royal family to escape in case of any kind of trouble. However, no tunnel has been found there.
Who designed Charminar?
The Charminar was designed by Mir Momin Astrawadi, an Iranian architect who was living in Hyderabad at that time. The monument is square with four pillars and its design is inspired by the Shia “tazias” which were built in memory of Hussain, Prophet’s son-in-law who was martyred in the battle of Karbala.
On each side, Charminar measures 20 meters and is 11 meters wide on those sides. The monument was built with granite and lime mortar and the four pillars represent the four caliphs and they are 48.7 meters high. The monument has four stories and there is a mosque on the top floor which can be reached via 149 winding steps. In 1889, four clocks were also added on all four sides of the structure.
The construction of Charminar started in 1589 and it ended two years later. It was built for Rs 9 lakh and is said to weigh around 14000 tonnes with a minimum of 30 feet deep foundation. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
