Three steps unearthed at Charminar

By J.S.Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 3. Three steps to the Charminar that lay buried were finally unearthed by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), which has undertaken restoration work on the monument, on Monday.

Workers are seen hammering away at the base of the mounument with crowbars and chisels. "The stone is very hard to break. We do not know how many more steps are inside", remarked a worker.

Originally, the Charminar was believed to have seven steps. But over the years three disappeared each time the civic body laid the road. None, including the ASI, noticed the missing steps. It is only after the announcement of the Charminar pedestrianisation programme and the Government's efforts to restore the glory of the stately structure that the authorities remembered the steps buried under layers of bitumen.

For the last two days the floor directly under the roof of the Charminar is also being dug up for installation of the fountain which was originally there. With the sand removed, a stone base on which probably the fountain rested, is revealed. The ASI plans to bring back the fountain, which is now in the Golconda fort and install it at the Charminar before September 27, World Tourism Day.

The cleaning up of the 54-metre high structure is also progressing at a brisk pace. Automobile emission and dust have robbed the monument of its typical, golden yellow sheen. The ASI is now giving a chemical wash to wipe out the black soot and stains. The agency has erected fresh scaffolding for this purpose. However, this time round, it has taken care not to drill any holes in the monument.

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Section  : Southern States
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