Char Kaman Restoration (Art, Culture & Heritage of India)
Char Kaman Restoration (Art, Culture & Heritage of India)
Why In News:
The Telangana government has granted administrative sanction to invite tenders and appoint a conservation consultant for the restoration of the Char Kaman, the four ceremonial arches that stand around Gulzar Houz in Hyderabad's Old City.
What is Char Kaman?
Char Kaman literally means 'four arches.'
The four gateways, Machli Kaman (north), Charminar Kaman (south), Kaman-e-Sher-e-Batil (west) and Kali Kaman (east), were built roughly a year after the Charminar, equidistant from a central fountain called Gulzar Houz, during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
Each arch originally served as a gateway to important royal precincts of the newly founded city of Hyderabad.
The Charminar Connection
The Charminar itself was constructed in 1591 at the intersection of a historic trade route connecting Hyderabad to international markets via the port city of Machilipatnam.
It is widely believed to commemorate the eradication of a plague epidemic, though some accounts also link it to the start of the second Islamic millennium.
Built in Indo-Islamic style with Persian architectural influences, the Charminar functioned as a mosque and madrasa and remains a Centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Key Facts for Prelims
Hyderabad was founded in 1591 after the Qutb Shahi capital shifted from Golconda.
Charminar is a Centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the nodal agency for archaeological research and conservation of India’s tangible heritage.
It was founded in 1861 by Sir Alexander Cunningham and is headquartered in New Delhi.
Post-independence, it became a statutory body under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act).
Functions:
Ensures maintenance and protection of monuments and sites of national importance
Regulates archaeological excavations and research under the AMASR Act
Oversees implementation of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972