It was constructed in memory of martyrdom of Imam Hussain, and is used during the mourning period of Moharram.

[5] The brilliantly coloured tile-mosaic decoration was completed under Abdullah Qutb Shah in 1611.

[6] After the Mughal conquest of Hyderabad, in a display of Sunni sectarianism, Aurangzeb used the Ashurkhana as a horse stable for the Mughal cavalry, destroying part of the building in the process.

The monument was restored by Asaf Jah II in the period 1764–65; a new entry gate was added, along with outer halls and wooden colonnades.

[8] The Ashur Khana stands today with enamel tiles that have retained their lustre and vibrant colours even after four centuries.