GHMC finally moves to give facelift to Charkaman

Hyderabad: The over 400-year-old majestic arches near the historic Charminar will finally get a much-needed facelift. The GHMC has sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the renovation of the Charkaman built by the Qutub Shahis in 1592.

Categorised as Grade-III heritage structures, the four lofty arches are in perfect symmetrical scale and were designed to allow caparisoned elephants pass through with ease.

The Charkaman and Charminar formed part of a conscious urban design scheme of the Qutub Shahis. Each kaman has a different name and at least two of them have folktales to narrate.

The arch on the north, known as the Machili Kaman, is named so as a fish made of bamboo and paper was hung from it every new year of the Hijri calendar (Muharram) as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity.

The eastern arch is the Kali Kaman from where royal musicians played the shahnai and dholak five times a day, and whenever the city had VIP visitors and also on special occasions.

The western arch has the grandest name; it is called Kaman-E-Sehar-Baatin (the arch of the magic breaker). This Kaman leads to the Mitti ka Sher and beyond where mahals for the nobility once existed.

However, the present state of the kamans is something to worry about. All four kamans are surrounded by shops and they, especially Kaman-e-Sehar-e-Baatin, has plaster peeling off.

Constant traffic flow, pollution and official neglect that has allowed shrubs to grow on these arches, have taken their toll on these majestic structures, once testimony to the city’s hoary past.

“The GHMC has set aside over Rs 1.77 crore to renovate and conserve these kamans due to their historical and architectural importance. The work will be allocated through tenders,” said a senior officer from the GHMC’s heritage department.