This symmetrical and charming edifice is the landmark of the town of Hyderabad, as the Statue of Liberty is to New York or the Arc of triumph to Paris.
It is built of the local granite. The design is said to be based on Shia "tazias" erected in honour of Husain, the son in law of Prophet Muhammad.
The Charminar was the axis of the planned city of Hyderabad. While the Charminar was being completed, broad roads were laid out in a grid iron pattern. Four symmetric gateways called Kamans also were built. There were also a couple of palaces according to medieval travellers but the mughal Aurangzeb got them burnt down on the fall of the Qutb Shahis. Recently some arched and vaulted foundations were discovered in the area during excavation.
The Charminar is the focus of a characteristic culture which sprang up in Golkonda and Hyderabad. Based on the vigorous native Telugu, Kannada and Marathi cultures, Persian culture from Iran, a bit from Arabia and some north indian immigration have all combined to make "hyderabadi" a recognizable people's culture. In fact locals insist the Urdu language came into existence here, and not elsewhere attested by the fact the earliest urdu was called Dakhni language ( of the Deccan, Dakshinapatha).
The streets around the Charminar are still lively today, a bit crowded maybe, and the little shops are thronged by residents and tourists alike.
A characteristic type of wrist bracelet or bangle is made here and is very popular. Although the Charminar and Hyderabad are far away from the sea, it is the center of pearl jewellery trade in India. Why? that's another story.
