Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth Qutb Shahi ruler, built the Charminar in 1591 after moving his capital from Golconda to Hyderabad. The infobox names Mir Momin Astarabadi as architect. The Archaeological Survey of India says it was widely accepted to commemorate the eradication of plague. The style is Indo-Islamic.
The plan is square, 66 feet (20 m) on a side, with a minaret at each corner. The text gives the height as 184 feet (56 m), the infobox 160 feet (48.7 m). It is built of granite, limestone, mortar and pulverized marble. Four grand arches face the surrounding streets, and 149 steps lead to the upper floor, where a mosque has 45 covered prayer spaces.
Lightning felled a minaret in 1670, and it was repaired. Clocks were installed on all four sides in 1889. The Makkah Masjid lies to the southwest.
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