The iconic Charminar, an imposing edifice built to mark the founding of Hyderabad by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, has withstood the vagaries of time. But since the late ’60s, below the southeastern minaret, a religious structure has been taking shape under a canopy. Perhaps to keep the peace, the police and ASI have mostly been noncommittal about the temple.
Answering an RTI query in 2012, the ASI stated, “As per the AMASR (Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains) Act, 1958, Rules 1959, AMASR Act, 2010 (Amendment & Validation), the construction of the temple adjacent to the southeastern minar of the Charminar is considered by the ASI as an unauthorised construction.”
The Bhagyalakshmi temple, as it is now called, has evolved over decades. No disputes have been raised,…
