The Qutb Shahi monuments of Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs and Char Minar are the oldest and most significant monuments of the sister cities of Golconda and Hyderabad. The legendary centre of diamond trade, Golconda was a medieval fortified city complete with residential, military and courtly functions. The Qutb Shahi tomb complex was a grand royal necropolis in the distinctive Qutb Shahi architectural style. Unique in its architectural typology, the Char Minar remains an acknowledged masterpiece of Islamic architecture. With its unique form, architectural typology and location, it is among the most recognizable icons of Indian architecture. The monuments of the Qutb Shahi period provide vivid testimony of the creative synthesis of Persianate and Indic cultural traditions with a unique Deccani identity. Qutb Shahi architecture began with Bahmani moorings and evolved a sophisticated architectural aesthetic within the the Deccani paradigm, symbolizing the zenith of Islamic architecture in South India.