Charminar meaning ‘Four Towers’ or ‘Mosque of the four minarets’ is synonymous to Hyderabad. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built this signature
monument in 1591. Legend has it that the building honors a promise Quli Qutb Shah made to Allah. He supposedly had prayed for the end of a
plague and vowed that he would build a masjid on that very place. The actual masjid occupies the top floor of the four-story structure. Each side
measures 20 m, and each of the corners has a tall, pointed minaret. These four gracefully carved minarets soar to a height of 48.7 m above the
ground. Built with granite and lime mortar, Charminar is a fine example of the Cazia style of architecture.

Locally available granite, sand, and lime were used in the construction of Qutb Shahi monuments including Charminar. Lime used for the
plaster seems to have been specifically ground and treated to create a durable stucco (Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder,
and water. It is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a coating for walls and ceilings and for decoration).