Charminar and Laad Bazaar: Planning a Hyderabad Old City Visit

Charminar is a four-sided archway and a defining landmark of Hyderabad’s Old City. Telangana Tourism dates its construction to 1591, when Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built it.

The monument’s minarets rise 48.7 meters above ground level. Its Indo-Islamic design brings together Persian influences, Islamic-style arches and domes, and floral stucco ornamentation. A local legend associates its construction with the end of a devastating plague in the city.

Inside the central courtyard are 45 prayer spaces and a small vazu with a fountain. The nearby Bhagyalakshmi Temple is at the base of Charminar, while Laad Bazaar is close by for traditional crafts and shopping.

Published opening times and ticket details differ, so check current arrangements before planning your visit.

Opening hours

• Monday to Wednesday, Friday and Sunday: 10:30–21:00
• Thursday and Saturday: 10:00–22:00

Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.

The Archaeological Survey of India’s published rules say the second storey and above are open from 9 AM to 5:30 PM or sunset, whichever comes first. The remaining area is open from sunrise to 10 PM. Telangana Tourism Connect gives different hours: 09:30–17:30, with last entry at 17:00.

Entry is ₹25 per adult, ₹300 for foreign visitors, and free for children. A typical visit takes 1 hour, and guides cost ₹400.

Because the published schedules do not match, use the official site for current access information rather than relying on a single set of hours.

Laad Bazaar is a nearby market known for traditional crafts and shopping. It makes a natural next stop after the monument, keeping the outing focused on the Old City rather than requiring a separate destination.

Telangana Tourism’s city-tour description groups Charminar, Mecca Masjid and shopping at Laad Bazaar as walk-in stops. Entry tickets and food are extra on that tour. Check current arrangements if you plan to join one.

Hyderabad Traffic Police gives routes to Charminar from Afzalgunj via Napool, Madina and Gulzar House, and from Bahadurpura via Puranapool, Goodwill Cafe Moosabowli, Motigalli and Lad Bazar. The authority does not give a visitor-specific parking plan for Charminar. Lakdi-ka-pul is a useful point of reference for broader local transport planning.

From Amrutha Castle Hotel, Lakdi-ka-pul station is about 12 minutes on foot or 3 minutes by car. The hotel offers rooms at Amrutha Castle.

Use a current route planner for the onward trip to the Old City.

Traffic Police rules say visitor vehicles must not park on carriageways, footpaths, junctions, service roads or other places where they obstruct traffic.

Mecca Masjid, Charminar and Laad Bazaar can be combined as walk-in stops in the city-tour description. The Bhagyalakshmi Temple is at Charminar’s base, adding another nearby landmark to the same area.

Keep the monument and market as the core of the outing, then add the mosque if it fits your plans. A one-day central Hyderabad itinerary from Lakdi-ka-pul covers a wider city-day context.

Check the current hours and entry arrangements before leaving, especially because published schedules differ. If you want to go upstairs, pay attention to the separate opening rule for the second storey and above.

Leave time for both the monument and the market: the tourism listing gives a typical Charminar visit duration of 1 hour, while Laad Bazaar is a separate shopping stop. For a city-tour option, note that entry tickets and food are extra.

Where are Charminar and Laad Bazaar?

Both are in Hyderabad’s Old City in Telangana, India. Laad Bazaar is a nearby market to Charminar.

When was Charminar built?

Telangana Tourism says Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built Charminar in 1591.

Can you visit Mecca Masjid on the same outing?

The city-tour description includes Mecca Masjid, Charminar and Laad Bazaar as walk-in stops.