Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580-1612 CE) (Urdu: محمد قلی قطب شاہ‎) was the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golkonda and founded the city of Hyderabad, in South-central India. and built its architectural centerpiece, the Charminar. He was an able administrator and his reign is considered one of the high points of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Some say he named the city in honour of Ali ibn Abu Talib, regarded as the first Imam by Shia Muslims and who alternatively was known by the name Haider, meaning "lion". There is a myth that his beloved Bhagamati was converted into muslimfold and was eventually named as Hyder Mahal and the name of the city was changed to Hyderabad after her name thereafter. Hyder is usually a male name, and there is no evidence of Bhagmati's existence. Tombs of all the nobles of Qutub Shahi dyantsy exists, but there is on record of Bhagmati's tomb. Hyder-(meaning)--Brave Haider-(meaning)--Lion He ascended to the throne in 1580 at the age of 15 and ruled for thirty-one years. Some historians say that he was 17 years of age at the time of his crowning also.
The planning of Hyderabad was greatly influenced by that of Esfahan, which Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah opined was unparalleled in the world and a replica of heaven itself.

History

Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah was the third son of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali. . The city was built on the southern bank of the Musi river. Some say that Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah called architects from Iran to lay out the city, which was built on a grid plan. History mentions that he himself had studied many architectural plans and with consistent consultation of his Prime Minister Mir Muhammed Momin, he carried out roads and buildings with his help. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah founded the city of Hyderabad in 1591.
After 1605 CE, Some say that.. Hyderabad was named as the City of Hyder (Brave) after the title of the Fourth Caliph Ali(as). Many people though, commonly believe that the city of "Hyderabad" was named after the people as their residence as "City of the Brave" from the Persian words "Hyder/Haider", Persian and Urdu meaning lion or brave and "Abad/Abaad", Persian and Urdu meaning abode or populated. The name Hyderabad was put by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah after the name of his beloved wife Bhagmati after she converted to Islam with changed name as "Hyder Mahal"in 1605 AD. History of the Quli Qutub Shah period is available in various books compiled by various authors book especially by Sri S.A.Bilgrami in his book "Land Marks of the Deccan" etc...

Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah initiated the construction of 'Charminar' (Four Minarets). While laying the foundation stone of Charminar, Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah and his wife prayed for welfare of the people in their contemplated new city. The structure of Charminar comprises four tall and massive minarets connected to each other by four high arches and this resembles the archetypal triumphal arch. This beautiful colossus in granite, lime, mortar and, some say, pulverised marble, was at one time the heart of the city. Initially the wonderful monument with its four arches was so proportionately planned that the beautiful Charminar monument could be impressively seen from the top of Golconda fort. One could even catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city as these Charminar arches were facing the most active royal ancestral streets.Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah had constructed many roads, several palaces. gardens mosques, sarais, shops. fountains etc. not only to beautify the city but for its well planned alround growth for his dream city Hyderabad.Though not scholarly educated, he has written poems in both Persian and Urdu.

Charminar

                                  Charminar

Charminar  built in 1591 AD, is a landmark monument located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. The English name is a transliteration and combination of the Urdu words Chār and Minar, translating to "Four Towers"; the eponymous towers are ornate minarets attached and supported by four grand arches.The landmark has become a global icon of Hyderabad, listed among the most recognized structures of India.The Charminar is on the east bank of Musi river.To the northeast lies the Laad Bazaar and in the west end lies the granite-made richly ornamented Makkah Masjid.

History

Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty built Charminar in 1591 AD,shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golkonda to what is now known as Hyderabad.He built this famous structure to commemorate the elimination of a plague epidemic from this city. He is said to have prayed for the end of a plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a masjid (Islamic mosque) at the very place where he was praying. In 1591 while laying the foundation of Charminar, Quli Qutb Shah prayed: "Oh Allah, bestow unto this city peace and prosperity. Let millions of men of all castes, creeds and religions make it their abode, like fish in the water.Tourism in Hyderabad places.

The mosque became popularly known as Charminar because of the two Urdu words char, meaning four, and minar, meaning tower, combined to form Charminar.

It is said that, during the Mughal Governorship between Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi rule, the south western minaret "fell to pieces" after being struck by lightning and "was forthwith repaired" at a cost of Rs 60,000. In 1824, the monument was replastered at a cost of Rs 100,000.

In its heyday, the Charminar market had some 14,000 shops. Today the famous markets known as Laad Baazar and Patoher Gatti, near the Charminar, are a favour, of tourists and locals alike for jewellery, especially known for exquisite bangles and pearls respectively.

The structure is made of granite, limestone, mortar and pulverised marble. Initially the monument with its four arches was so proportionately planned that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city as these Charminar arches were facing the most active royal ancestral streets. There is also a legend of an underground tunnel connecting the Golkonda to Charminar, possibly intended as an escape route for the Qutb Shahi rulers in case of a siege, though the location of the tunnel is unknown.

The Charminar is a square edifice with each side 20 meters (approximately 66 feet) long, with four grand arches each facing a cardinal point that open into four streets. At each corner stands an exquisitely shaped minaret, 56 meters (approximately 184 feet) high with a double balcony. Each minaret is crowned by a bulbous dome with dainty petal like designs at the base.

A beautiful mosque is located at the western end of the open roof and the remaining part of the roof served as a court during the Qutb Shahi times.

Charminar has the signature style of Islamic architecture.This great tribute to aesthetics looks sturdy and solid from a distance and, as one moves closer, it emerges as an elegant and romantic edifice proclaiming its architectural eminence in all its detail and dignity. Charminar looks equally spectacular at night when it is illuminated. Apart from being the core of the city’s cultural milieu, it has become a brand name.

Charminar is a beautiful and impressive square monument. Each of the corners has a tall, pointed minaret. These four gracefully carved minarets soar to 48.7 m above the ground, commanding the landscape for miles around. Each minaret has four stories, marked by a delicately carved ring. Unlike the Taj Mahal, Charminar's four fluted minarets are built into the main structure. The top floor, the highest point one can reach, provides a panoramic view of the city.

A vault that appears from inside like a dome, supports two galleries within the Charminar, one over another, and above those a terrace that serves as a roof, bordered with a stone balcony. The main gallery has 45 covered prayer spaces with a large open space in front to accommodate more people for Friday prayers.

Timings:  9.00 am - 5.30 pm (Open all days)
Entry Fee:  Rs. 5 for Indian Nationals, Rs. 100 for Foreign Nationals
Video:  Rs. 25
Contact: +91 40 24522990 (AP Tourism)

Qutb Shahi Tombs

Qutb Shahi Tombs

The structure of the tomb of Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, the fifth king, represents the first attempt at the building of a tomb on a massive scale. This magnificent tomb which is one of the largest and certainly the finest in the group is 42.5 mts high. The dome is about 18.2 mts high. To make the onument imposing, the architect has judicially planned it on a double terrace, rising to a height of 6 meters from the ground level. The lower one is 60.8 mts. square supported by a facade of 28 open arches on each side and the upper terrace is 38.3 meters square. This tomb, a large domical structure, was designed as a picturesque gallery with false openings with two central pillars supporting horizontal lintels on the four exterior sides of the hall in order to make the base symmetrical to its otherwise heavy dome. The roof is supported by octagonal pillars topped by lotus capitals, in order to relieve monotony, rich ornamental parapets with minarets at the corners are added. The real grave where the king was buried is seen in the crypt in the midst of the lower plinth at the level of the land surface. Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah died on 11th January, 1612 A.D.

Qutb Shahi Tombs is the burial ground of the seven kings of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, situated at Ibrahim Bagh near Golconda, Hyderabad, India. These kings ruled Golconda for nearly 170 years.The Qutb Shahi rulers were great builders and patrons of learning. They not only patronized the Persian culture but also the regional culture of the Deccan, symbolized by the Farsi and Urdu languages.Just a km away from the Golconda Fort,

Timings: 9.30 am - 6.30 pm
Entry Fee: Rs. 10 to 20 for Indian Nationals, Rs. 100 for Foreign Nationals
Contact: +91 40 23513410

Chowmahalla Palace

Chowmahalla Palace

Chowmahalla Palace or Chowmahallat (4 Palaces), was a palace belonging to the Nizams of Hyderabad state. It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was the official residence of the Nizam.In Persian, Chahar means four and in Arabic Mahalat (plural of Mahal) means places, hence the name Chowmahallat / four places, or four palaces.All ceremonial functions including the accession of the Nizams.

This is heart of Chowmahalla Palace. It is held in high esteem by the people of Hyderabad, as it was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The grand pillared Durbar Hall has a pure marble platform on which the Takht-e-Nishan or the royal seat was laid. Here the Nizams held their durbar and other religious and symbolic ceremonies. The 19 spectacular Chandeliers of Belgian crystal recently reinstalled to recreate the lost splendor of this regal hall. 

Northern Courtyard

The northern courtyard has been painstakingly restored and is now open to the public.
The highlights of this area are the Bara Imam - a long corridor of rooms on the east side that once housed the administrative wing. And the Shishe-Alat or quite literally, the shishe or mirror image which was once used as guest rooms for officials accompanying visiting dignitaries.  

The Clock Tower
Clock tower is another impressive construction. It houses what is affectionately called the Khilwat Clock which has been ticking away ever since the Palace was built. 

The Council Hall                                         


Council Hall  which housed a rare collection of manuscripts and priceless books is where the Nizam often met important officials. Today it is the venue for temporary exhibitions from the treasures of the Chowmahalla Palace Collection that offer you a glimpse of a bygone era.

Named after the sixth Nizam’s mother, Roshan Bangla is another exquisite part of this courtyard. Chowmahalla, where the Nizams held their durbar and other religious and symbolic ceremonies also hosted popular banquets in honor of their Royal Highness's the Prince and Princess of Wales in February 1906.

Collection
The 100 year old Rolls Royce Silver Ghost​ now estimated at about $4 million lies in splendid beauty at the exquisite Chowmahalla Palace, the residence of the Nizam of Hyderabad, India. In celebration of the Rolls Royce hitting a century the Chowmahalla Palace authorities are planning an event to be held next month. In 1911, Nizam VI had ordered this very same car from the Rolls Royce

factory in Great Britain.

However a couple of years ago this royal yellow car was in a pathetic state. Dr Ameenuddin Khan, Administrator, Nizam’s private estates stepped in and convinced the royal family to do justice to the legendary vehicle by getting it duly restored.

• Open :- All Days Except Friday
•  Entry fee:- Rs 25 for Indians and Rs 150 for   foreigners.
•  Closed:- Friday and National holidays
• Timings:- 5 am to 5 pm               

• Address: Khilwath Road, Moti Gali, Charminar,
• Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500002, India
• Phone:+91 40 2452 2032
• Thursday hours 10:00 am–5:00 pm