- Charminar to Chawmahalla Palace Heritage Walk
Legend says Qutub Shahi dynasty’s Mohammed Quli Qutub Shahi, used to perform his daily prayers at this spot. He prayed for the eradication of the deadly plague in the city. Once the menace ended, he built the monument in gratitude and in commemoration of the event. Later, in 1889, the four famous clocks in each direction were added to the main building.
To the west of Charminar is a kilometer long Laad Bazaar, famous for its bangles. Most shops and carts sell bangles here. Laad means lacquer, the material used to make bangles.
The clock tower is 5 storied and was built in 1892 by Asman Jah, the erstwhile Prime Minister of Hyderabad. A garden surrounds the structure enhanced by decorative stuccos. Built in Turkish style, it has 4 clocks facing each direction.
This is the largest mosque in Hyderabad as well as one of the largest mosques in India. It was built between 1614 to 1693. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb completed its construction.
Built between 1880-1890, it was the residence of Nawab Khursheed Jah Paigah, the maternal grandson of third Nizam of Hyderabad.
Chowmahalla Palace, the pride of Hyderabad is modeled after the Shah’s palace in Teheran (Iran). The word Chowmahalla literally translates as ‘four palace’ viz. Afzal Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal and Aftab Mahal. Its construction was started in 1750 by Nizam Salabhat Jung and completed in 1869 by Nizam Afzar-ud-Dawla Bahadur.
A heritage walk which starts from Charminar and ends at Chowmahalla Palace, the two icons of Hyderabad, transports the curious soul to a lost era dripping with culture, history, and architectural marvels.