The locality of karwan once served as the market for diamonds and other precious stones. Karwan is perhaps one of the only localities of Hyderabad older than the city itself. Inhabited during the Qutbshahi regime, it holds a significant position in the history of the region.
It is now a heavily congested area with houses of traders, jewellers, professionals and labour class dotting the lanes. In those days, traders used to come to the city for business and work and return to their homes by evening.
There are two-three beautiful mosques and sarais meant for travellers here. Similar to modern day motels, these were called ‘Karwan Sarai’ (traveller’s bungalow). French historian JB Tavernier writes about Karwan in his travelogues. He writes of staying at the sarai of Naimatullah Khan, which was the common boarding house for travellers in those days, where one could rent rooms for Rs 2 per month.
The sarai was built by Abysinnian officer Miyan Mishk who was present during Sultan Md Quli Qutb Shah’s regime. Constructedin a sophisticated manner,it was said to be equipped with Turkish baths and hamams (bathrooms).
Another locality within Karwan is Mustaidpura, home to the Gujarati and Vaishya traders, jewellers, money lenders and petty businessmen. Since many traders, money lenders lived here, it was also known as ‘Sahukari Karwan’.
Karwan enjoyed a lot of importance during the Asaf Jahi period serving as a market for diamonds and other precious stones. Tappa Chabutra was a locality which served as a place for public announcements, where farmans from the Mughals reached Karwan first and were then taken to Farman Baadi, situated behind Murlidhar Bagh (Moazzamjahi market) to be announced. That’s how it came to be known as the Tappa Chabutra. The place also houses smaller mohallas such as Sabzi Mandi, Jafarguda, Ram Singh Pura, Kulsum Pura, Panni Pura, Jhanjiwadi, Jatpura, Kurnarjiguda, Kaagazhiguda (Paper was manufactured here during fourth Nizam’s regime), Jiyaguda, Mustaidpura, Malai Math, Hanuman Gali, Sattanna Gali and Meetha Shah ka Bagh.
The shrine of Hazrat Meeranji Khudanuma is also located here which was awarded the ‘Intach award’ in 2015. It is also known as Kamarqui Gumbad. Other vestiges of the QutbShah period are the Toli masjid, Kesaria Hanuman, Swami Keshav Swamy math, shrines along the Mustaidpura road, Raja Bhagwan Das’s Pavilion, Narayan Baba math and a few mosques. #KhabarLive
