Charminar Entry Fee
Entry Fee: Rs.5/- per Person for Indians
Entry Fee: Rs.100/- per Person for Foreign Nationals
Charminar Phone
040 6674 5986
040 2452 2990
Charminar Address: Telephone Exchange, Pathergatti Rd, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500002, India
Charminar Timings
| Day | Timing |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Wedesday | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Thursday | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Friday | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Sunday | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm |
Undeniably the most prominent landmark of Hyderabad, Charminar has rightly been called as ‘Arc de Triomphe of the East’. It is also called as the ‘Mosque of the four minarets’. Not visiting this magnificent architecture while on a Hyderabad tour is nothing less than a sacrilege, especially if you are a travel enthusiast. Not only of Hyderabad, Charminar has become an iconic monument for entire India. An Urdu word, Charminar, means four turrets (char- four, minar-turret).
As suggested by its name, Charminar does have four exquisitely carved pillars, one of each side. This impressive structure stands calmly amid the hustle bustle of Laad Bazaar of the Old city. Maintained by the Archeological Survey of India, Charminar is a representation of the historical background of the city, its glamour, glory and cultural richness. Since its construction in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah of Shah Dynasty, Charminar has been captivating every visitor, with its architectural beauty as well as religious and historical significance.
History of Charminar
Charminar was built by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in the year 1951. It is said that this square shaped structure with four pillars and intricate carvings was built in honour of his wife, Bhagmati. However, the actual reason behind building Charminar is still not clear.
As per a popular belief, Charminar was built to acknowledge the elimination of the plague which had affected the entire city immensely during that era. It is believed that Sultan had prayed for the end of this plague with which his people were suffering. Hence, as the plague ended, he built the charminar as a tribute to Allah. The four pillars are also said to be dedicated to the first four caliphs of Islam.
It is also said that it was built in the memory of Prophet Muhammed’s son in law who lost his life at the battle of Karbala as its design is in the shape of Shiya Tazias. Some also believe that location of Charminar is the place where Sultan had seen his then future wife Bahgmati for the first time.
As per a French traveller, Jean de Thévenot who travelled in the 17th century, the reason of its construction is entirely different. According to his narration which is in sync with the Persian texts as well, Charminar was built to commemorate the start of second Islamic millennium.
The inscription on the foundation stone is translated as ‘Fill this my city with people as, Thou hast filled the river with fishes, O Lord.’ This also indicates that the monument was built to mark of the city’s foundation as well. As per the historian Historian Mohammed Safiullah, Charminar was built as an epicenter of Hyderabad.
The construction began in 1589 and was completed in two years with a cost of Rs. 9 lakhs, which was around 2 lakhs huns/gold coins in those times. It is said to weigh around 14000 tones with a minimum of 30 feet deep foundation. In 1670, a minaret had fallen down after being struck by lightning. It was then repaired at a cost of around Rs.58000 then. In 1820, some part of it was renovated by Sikandar Jah at a cost of Rs. 2 lakhs.
There is another legend associated with the Charminar according to which, there is a secret underground tunnel that connects Charminar to the Golconda Fort. It was built for the royal family, to escape in case of any kind of emergencies. However, till date no tunnel could be found.