Charminar

"Built in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Outb Shah, Charminar 6 an outstanding monument set in the heart of Hyderabad in southern India. It was originally built to commemorate the end of a ferocious plague, but today it has become one of the most important landmarks of the city. Legend has it that the emperor Quli Qutb Shah chose to build Charminar as a result of a promise he made in a prayer. He vowed that if the plague that was then raging through the city were brosight to an end, he would build a mosque at the site on which he was standing. When the plague ended, the emperor fulfilled his oath and built the mosque. It took the name Charminar as a reference to its four distinctive minarets. Charminar is a stunning, square monument that is expansive in both width and height, In fact, it is so large that it dominates the surrounding city. It is 65 feet (20 m) wide on each side, and within each of these sides stand giant arches 36 feet (11 m) wide and 65 feet (20 m) tall. The detail of the carving 6 phenomenal. The granite and lime mortar has been so delicately wrought that the finish is almost lacelike, and the four minarets, which protrude from the comers of the monument, are prime examples of this. They are utterly beautiful and, at a height of 160 feet (48 m), awe inspiringin their vastness. The architectural specifications and the artful blend of styles, from Cazia to Islamic architecture, are simply breathtaking."