The River Musi and its southern bank, especially around the Afzal Ganj Bridge covered on the map. The river Musi, a tributary of the Krishna River, originating from the Ananthagiri Hills near Vikarabad is famous as much as Hyderabad famous. The original city of Hyderabad was founded on the southern bank of river Musi by Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 A.D, and over the centuries, the city has grown into both banks of the river. The old city lies on its southern bank, which was the seat of power till the 7th the Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. Also, the people of Hyderabad will never forget it due to the recurrent floods in it, and the worst one occurred in 1908 which led to the reorganization of the city itself. Subsequently, the Nizam shifted his residence, since then the city center saw a shift into the northern banks in particular. So, the role of Musi is inevitable for the city of Hyderabad both positively as well as negatively, not only in the past but also at the present too, in the forms of canals and dams constructed over it for the distribution of water.
Afzal Ganj Bridge is one of the four bridges crossing the river Musi to the northern side and other three were Oliphant, Old Bridge (Purana Pul), and Musallam Jang Bridge. At the end of the bridge, towards the southern bank, a portion of city wall where the Afzal Gate and some distance towards the west of Afzal Gate, the Delhi Gate, to get into the fortified city wall are visible. Both Afzal Gate and Delhi Gate were among the 13 gates (Darwaza) of the city wall of Hyderabad. According to the historians, the city of Hyderabad was a walled city. The city wall was erected during the last days of Subadarship Mubariz Khan Imadul Mulk. Initially, the construction started from Chadarghat gate to Dabirpura gate with stone and mortar without turret-parapets. The rest of the wall surmounted by the turret-parapets was done by Asaf Jah I. Later it was extensively repaired by Bahadur Dil Khan Shuja-ud-daula, governor of Hyderabad during the reign of Asaf Jah II. The city wall had 13 gates (Darwaza) and 13 Khirkis (posterns). These 13 gates were Chadarghat Darwaza, Delhi gate, Afzal Ganj Gate, Champa, Old Bridge (Narva) gate, Dudh Bauli gate, Aliabad gate, Lal Gate, Gaulipura, Ghazibanda or Fateh, Mir Jumla, Yakutpura, and Dabirpura gates. And, 13 doors (Khirki) were Borah Khirki, Mir Jumla Khirki, Matha Khirki, Rangeli or Rangali Shah Khirki, Bodla Khirki or Bodle Shah Khirki, Darushshifa Khirki, Kalala Khirki, Dhobi Khirki, Hasan Ali Khirki, Champa gate Khirki, Char Mahal Khirki, Dudh Bauli Khirki, Khirki of Kahar.
Beyond the Afzal Ganj Bridge, occupies the markett is visible. From the both Afzal Gate and Delhi Darwaza, roads leading towards the Char Minar is visible. Between Delhi Darwaza Road and Char Minar Road, close to the City Wall, occupies Sayad Ali Market. And, from the Delhi Darwaza Road, another road leading to the Victoria Zanana Hospital and lies Moti Masjid exactly to the north of the latter, whereas situates Badshahi Ashur Khana at the south, are visible. The Badshahi Ashur Khana, known as the Royal Ashur Khana, was built by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1596 A.D. Ashur Khana literally means a house of the 10th day Muharram or Shiite house of mourning. A mourning place for Shias during Muharram festival constructed in the memory of Imam Hussain. There are many Ashur Khanas identifiable in the city of Hyderabad, and construction of those are traceable back to the Golconda Sultanate, indeed, indicate the Shiite affiliation of Qutb Shahis.
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