western section of the roof contains a mosque with 45 prayer spaces with a large open space in front to accommodate more for Friday prayers.
Golconda Fort
Famous for its cleverly engineered architecture, the Golconda Fort was originally built in mud by the Kakatiya dynasty in the 13th century. The existing structure was later converted into an excellent piece of architecture using acoustics
where sound can pass through the thick walls from the entrance to the top without the use of any gadget (if one claps one’s hands standing at the entrance, its resound can be heard at the top of the fort). This marvellous feat was accomplished by the Qutb Shahi kings, who transformed the mud fort into a massive fort of granite with walls and ramparts extending about 7 Kms in circumference.
The fortress city within the walls was known for the diamond trade and the world-famous Koh-i-noor diamond, now adorning the crown of the British queen, is said to have come from here.
Today, the monument is surrounded by a very busy market place and falls in what is known as the old city.
Do not miss the popular light and sound show in the evenings.
Winter (November - February) timings are from 6:30 pm onwards, and summer (March - October) timings are from 7:00 pm
- Duration: 55 minutes
- In English: Wednesday, Sunday
It is closed on Mondays.
Mecca Masjid
The Mecca Mosque is one of the largest in India and can accommodate ten thousand people at a time. This is also the biggest mosque in Hyderabad and lies 100 yards south-west of Charminar.
As is obvious, the name is derived from the Grand Mosque at Mecca, on which it is patterned. The hall is 67 metres by 54 metres and 23 metres high. The roof is supported by 15 arches, five on each of the three sides.
The entrance arches are made of single slabs of granite, a feature not to be overlooked.
Qutb Shahi Tombs
The Qutb Shahi tombs were erected in the memory of the departed kings of Golconda. These are, truly, magnificent monuments that have stood the test of time and the vagaries of nature. They stand at about a kilometre north of Golconda fort's Banjara Darwaza.
Falaknuma Palace
Built by Nawab Vikarul-Umra Bahadur, a baron of Paigah and the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, in 1883-84, and later bought by the Nizam, the Falaknuma Palace (meaning "Mirror in the Sky") was designed by an Italian architect and houses some rare treasures collected by the Nizam.
5 km south of the Charminar, this imperial building is the most famous palace in Hyderabad. Located on a hillock above 2000 ft high from the ground level, the palace looks truly awesome.
However, all that stands today is not what was built originally. The entire decor of the palace was changed under the orders of Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, who succeeded the seventh Nizam.
The palace commands a grand view of the city of Hyderabad. Since the palace was the private property of the Nizam family till very recently, visitors weren't allowed. Occasionally, however, the venue is opened for public view.
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