India

Charminar (Hyderabad)

Having started a blog, now I come up with great excuses to go some place, that has something worth to write on. Hyderabad wasn’t there on my bucketlist but then… That becomes an excuse to travel to Hyderabad 🙂 So, Charminar it is as the first destination for me in the city !

I went with a close friend on a Saturday, so was expecting quite a good amount of rush already. Just as we enter the lane that leads us here, it is noticed that heavy vehicles cannot enter. There are a lot of street hawkers on all the roads that lead to this place.

Quick History of Charminar

Per say the structure was built around 1590s. The name is divided into 2 words CHAR and MINAR, meaning FOUR and TOWERS respectively. There are 4 towers that are built and joint to the main structure and hence the name. There is nothing specific or great to write about other than it being a Mosque and this monument is currently being managed by the Archeological Survey of India.

Quick fact: India has more mosques (3,00,000+) than any other country in the world !

There is an entrance fee of INR 5/- but you cannot take video camera inside. Ground floor seems a place to only see the structure from the inside for about 2 minutes and you get a feeling that you are already done. But there is a winding staircase that takes you to the top floor, and you can then see the structure from the inside. There is a gallery in all directions and you can see take a 360 degree view of the entire place. It is said that there is secret way underground from Charminar, right upto Golconda Fort, which is around 18 kms. Pretty long distance I would imagine. If there really is any secret way, it would be amazing & scary at the same time 🙂

(Huge, winding steps that take us to the top floor of Charminar)

Shopping Opportunities Near Charminar

(Mecca Masjid and Laad Bazaar, as seen from top floor of Charminar)

On one side you shall see the ATTAR (Perfume) Market, there is also LAAD BAZAAR, which is all about women stuff, bangles, jewellery, artificial jewellery, ladies purses and perfumes etc. This, as expected, is a very happening place. There is also a Mecca Masjid, to the southwest of Charminar, made up of granite. If you are here, also find time to have Irani Tea & their biscuits, in the nearby tea shops. It costs just INR 20/- odd but great to taste. If you are in Hyderabad, this place is recommended for one visit.

(Cover Picture Source: www.cityhyd.info)

Hotel Accommodation



Save on your Hotel with Booking.com, Planet Earth’s #1 Accommodation Site. No booking fees ever !

Last Visited in August 2015

Did you like this post ? If so, then please “like” my Facebook Page and make sure you are following me on Twitter too 🙂

Share On:

