Mera shahar logon se mamoor kar
Rakhiyo jo tu dariya mein machli jaise
(Fill this city of mine with people as
You filled the river with fishes, O Lord)
These prayers in the form of a couplet in Dakhni Urdu are recorded to have been performed by Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda, and the founder of the city of Hyderabad, while laying the foundation of the Charminar. For generations to come, his commissioned masterpiece would become a definitive cultural icon and the centre of attraction of the city, to both locals and visitors alike.
Join us as we explore the lanes around the Charminar, trying to grasp the evolution of a culture that has been an impeccable example of the 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb' of Urdu, and the inseparable Dakhni dialect, along with its people and trade, and the hustle and bustle that defines this vibrant locality, its religious sites, the ever-tempting cuisine and the stories that have been passed on for centuries.
This guided tour is free.
