Trip Image Gallery
Trip Inspiration
Located right in the heart of
Hyderabad, the monument built by Quli Qutub Shah is a prominent landmark of
India. Charminar has become the symbol of the city of Nizams. Synonymous to the
culture of Hyderabad, the massive structure with four minarets stand with all
glory in the hustle and bustle of the busy streets around. The exploration of
the amazing Indo-Islamic architecture, bustling market, the hustling crowd, the
glitter of the bangles amidst the aroma of Patti Samosa, Irani chai and Kebabs, is
an experience to cherish!
Best Time To Visit
September to February
Places visited
Charminar, Charminar Road, Char Kaman, Ghansi Bazaar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
It was my last day in Hyderabad and I wanted to explore the famous tourist places before boarding the night flight back to Pune. I grabbed the auto and went to the nearest metro station- Durgama Cheruvu. Every station has a complete map which eases the travel. I got down to Ameerpet which is a junction to change routes. This place is a little confusing so make sure you board the right metro. Upon reaching to Gandhi Bhawan station, I grabbed an auto and headed towards the Arc de Triomphe of the east, the structure built to mark the eradication of the epidemic cholera that had ravaged the city in the 16th century – the beautiful Charminar.
The structure grabs your attention from a distant sight. The colourful, dazzling markets welcome you on the path to the mosque of the Four Minarets. Every shop and a street seller have different varieties of jewellery, mats, colourful clothes, pearls, bangles, toys. I gave a try to the heavenly smelling perfume oil at one of the shops consisting of about 100+ different flavours. A huge arch welcomes you at the entrance of the Charminar. The streets are always busy and husting with locals, tourists and street sellers.
Walking a few steps ahead, I witnessed the huge, beautifully crafted Charminar standing with all its glory. The intricately carved structure is built in Indo-Islamic architectural style with elaborate stucco work in marble, mortar, granite and limestone. The landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and also among the most recognized structures in India. It is also known as Emblem of Telangana. This place is busy during festivals like Eid-ul-adha, Ramzan ad Eid al-Fitr. The Urdu words Char and Minar translates to Four Pillars in English.
The history is quite interesting.
According to a popular belief, it was built to acknowledge the elimination of
the plague which had severely affected the entire city. On the same ground,
Sultan prayed for the end of the plague and as it ended, he built Charminar as
a tribute to almighty. Also, a story says that this square-shaped structure
with intricate carvings and pillars was built in honour of the wife of Sultan,
Bhagmati when he saw her as her future wife. One of the stories explains that
it is built on the epicentre of Hyderabad. There is another legend according to
which, there is a secret underground tunnel that connects Charminar to Golconda
fort where the royal family can escape in case of any emergency. Anyways, the
more we go deep, the more stories it has!
Currently, it is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. I took a ticket which costs around INR 20 and entered the narrow pathway leading to the four minarets on the top. While reaching the top floor, the artwork and fluidity in the placement of the balconies hold the visitor in awe. There are several displays of the information at each corner which provides a detailed explanation about various parts and the surrounding structures of Charminar. Each corner has a balcony overlooking the Laad bazaar streets and the Mecca Masjid.
.jpg)
The top floor houses a mosque from about 400 years located at the western end. Attached to it is the open space which is used to accommodate a greater number of people for prayers and occasion. In the middle of the courtyard is a small fountain which provides water for the ablution before offering prayers. The thing which I liked the most is the signature motifs of the Qutub Shahi buildings on Charminar. The Minarets at each corner is crowned by a bulbous dome with petal-shaped designs at the base. In the year 1889, Giant clocks were added on four sides.
.jpg)
After spending about an hour, I came out to explore the famous Laad Bazar. Space consists of more than 10,000 shops selling innumerable items. A bazaar with shops dedicated to glass and lacquer bangles. Laad means Lacquer which is used to make the bangles and then artificial diamonds are studded on it to give it a final form. The bazaar also houses essential items for the wedding ceremonies like bride wares, saris, handwoven silk materials, brocade, velvet and gold embroidered fabrics, Khara dupattas and perfumes. It is also known as Choodi bazaar which backs to the era of Nizams and Qutub Shahi.
Plenty of Irani chai stalls offer a breather from all
walking around. In the night, it’s a treat for eyes to see the area shining in the
beautiful colours. The entire bazaar is spread in about one-kilometre area on the
four sides. Many tourists take the colourful, vibrant lac bangles back to
their native places. Although Charminar has an early closing entry, the bazaar
remains open in the night till 10:30 PM.
I always used to see Charminar in photos, movies and posters. I was fortunate to witness the beauty and the splendours of Charminar on my second visit to the city of Nizams. If you are on a Hyderabad tour, not visiting this amazing masterpiece will be nothing less than sacrilege, when you love the artistic corners and Indian architecture!
.jpg)
Transportation
1. Nearest airport - RGIA Airport (20 KM)
2. Nearest bus stand - Hydesrabd bus stand (5 KM)
3. Nearest Railway station - Nampally station (4 KM)
4. Char Kaman in Ghansi bazaar can be reached by rickshaws and taxis
Pro-tips
1. Charminar can be visited from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
2. October to March is the ideal season as the weather is pleasant.
3. The entry fee is INR 5 for Indian tourists and INR 100 for foreign tourists.
4. If you have extra time, witness the shimmering Laad bazaar in the evening with the sparkling bangles.