Badshahi Ashurkhana is an

ashurkhana A Husayniyya () is a building designed specifically for gatherings of Shia Muslims for spiritual practice, religious education and commemoration ceremonies, especially the Mourning of Muharram. The Husayniyya is a multipurpose hall for the comm ...

near

Charminar The Charminar () is a monument located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana. The Charminar's long history includes the existence of a m ...

Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...

, India. It was constructed in memory of martyrdom of

Imam Hussain Husayn ibn Ali (; 11 January 626 – 10 October 680 CE) was a social, political and religious leader in early medieval Arabia. The grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and an Alid (the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muhammad's daughter ...

, and is used during the mourning period of Moharram.

History

It was built by

Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (4 April 156511 January 1612) was the fifth sultan of the Sultanate of Golconda and founder of the city of Hyderabad. He built its architectural centrepiece, the Charminar. He was an able administrator and his reign is c ...

in 1594. The brilliantly coloured tile-mosaic decoration was completed under

Abdullah Qutb Shah Abdullah Qutb Shah (also transliterated in different ways) was the seventh ruler of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India under the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He ruled from 1626 to 1672. Abdullah, son of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, was a polyglot, ...

in 1611. After the Mughal conquest of Hyderabad, in a display of

Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...

sectarianism,

Aurangzeb Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...

used the Ashurkhana as a horse stable for the Mughal cavalry, destroying part of the building in the process. The monument was restored by

Asaf Jah II Mir Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah II (7 March 1734 – 6 August 1803) was the 5th Nizam of Hyderabad State between 1762 and 1803. He was born on 7 March 1734 as fourth son to Asaf Jah I and Umda Begum. His official name is ''Asaf Jah II, Niz ...

in the period 1764–65; a new entry gate was added, along with outer halls and wooden colonnades.

The Monument

Ashurkhana include sites like the Niyaz Khana (offering place), Naqaar Khana (drums place), Sarai Khana's (rest taking place for devotees) Abdar Khana (drinking water place), Langar Khana (food serving place), Makan-e-Mujawer (Mujawer Residence), Daftar-e-Mujawer (Mujawer office), Alawa Chabutra, and Guardroom. The Ashur Khana stands today with enamel tiles that have retained their lustre and vibrant colours even after four centuries.

References

{{reflist Buildings and structures in Hyderabad, India Tourist attractions in Hyderabad, India Shia Islam in India Qutb Shahi architecture Hyderabad State Religious buildings and structures in Hyderabad, India Husayniyyas