Built by Sultan Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, the Islamic architectural splendor Charminar is the most famous landmark of Hyderabad. Located in the heart of the city, this magnificent square edifice of granite is built upon four grand arches facing north, south, east and west with 56 meters high slender minarets and spiral staircases. These arches support two floors of rooms and a gallery of archways. It is these four (char) minarets (minar) that give the building, its name 'Charminar'. Each minar stand on a lotus-leaf base that is a recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings. The whole edifice contains numerous small decorative arches arranged both vertically and horizontally. This monument has 45 prayer spaces and a small mosque on the western side on the open roof. The whole structure is illuminated every evening.