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Golconda fort is a majestic monument, which
lies on the western outskirts of
Hyderabad city. It
speaks of a great cultural heritage of 400 years and is regarded as a
place worth visiting. Built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in 1525, it stands
as the epitome of Nawabi culture and grandeur.
A Well Planned Architecture
The
magnificent architecture of the Golconda fort is manifest in its acoustic
system, the structural grandeur of the palaces and ingenious water supply
system. The fort was famous for its diamond trade and the 'Kohinoor'
diamond is said to have come from here. One is perplexed to see the
meticulous details of the architecture and the fading gardens, which were
once upon a time replete with sprawling lawns and playing fountains.
Golconda is built on a granite hill 120m high, and is surrounded by
crenulated ramparts constructed of large masonry blocks weighing several
tonnes. The design of the ventilation reveals the brilliant planning of
the architects; they are designed to let in a flow of fresh cool breeze,
which is a respite from the heat of summer.
The massive gates are studded with large pointed iron spikes to prevent
elephants from battering them down. The outer wall surrounding the entire
township of Golconda, is about 11-km long, and is strongly fortified. In
its heyday, the 10-km long road from Golconda to outer Hyderabad was a
fabulous market selling jewellery, diamonds, pearls and other gems, which
were famous all over the world.
History Of Golconda
Before the city of Hyderabad was founded the Deccan was ruled from
Golconda fort. Founded originally by the Kakatiya's in the 13th century
the existing structure was expanded by the Qutub Shahi kings into a
massive fort with granite walls and ramparts extending some 5-km in
circumference. The first three Qutub Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a
span of 62 years.
Shepherd's Hill" or "Golla Konda", as it was popularly
known in Telugu, has an interesting story behind it. One fine day, on the
rocky hill called 'Mangalavaram', a shepherd boy came across an idol. This
was conveyed to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling at that time. The king
got a mud fort constructed around the holy spot. Over a period of time
this lowly construction was expanded by the Qutub Shahi kings into a
massive fort of granite, which has been a silent witness to many historic
events.
Attractions Within The Fort
One of the most remarkable features of Golconda is its system of
acoustics- a hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance
reverberates and can be heard clearly at the 'Bala Hissar', the highest
point almost a kilometre away, palaces, factories, water supply system and
the famous 'Rahban' cannon, that was used during the last seize of
Golconda by Aurangazeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell.
There is also supposed to be secret underground tunnel leading from the
'Durbar Hall' to one of the palaces at the foot of the hill. The tombs of
the Qutub Shahi kings, built with Islamic architecture lie about 1-km
north of the outer wall of Golconda. These graceful structures are
surrounded by landscaped gardens, and a number of them have beautifully
carved stonework. Not be missed is the Sound and Light show conducted by
Andhra Pradesh Tourism.
Outside the Golconda Fort are two separate pavilions built on a rocky
eminence - the 'Taramathi Gana Mandir' and the 'Premathi Nritya Mandir'
from where the legendary sisters 'Taramathi' and 'Premamathi' resided.
They gave their performance on a circular dais atop a two-storied
structure, the 'Kala Mandir', which was visible from the king's durbar
(king's court) on top of the Golconda Fort.
A new attraction at the fort is a sound and
light show that brings the legend of Golconda to life. With a spectacular
interplay of audio and visual effects, the story of Golconda unfolds over
centuries of splendour. The show livens up the glorious past and it is an
experience worth watching. The show is presented in English, Hindi and
Telugu.
Show Timings: Winter (November - February) 6:30pm, Summer (March -
October) 7:00pm
Duration: 55 minutes
In English: Wednesday, Sunday
In Hindi: Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
In Telugu: Thursday
Closed on: Mondays
Advance Booking: Available at Yatra Nivas, Secunderabad. Coach
leaves Yatranivas at 5:00pm and returns from Golconda Fort at 8:15pm.
Air: Hyderabad can be reached by
air, from all the major cities of the country.
Rail: Hyderabad
is well connected by rail to all parts of the country.
Road: There is a regular bus service to Hyderabad from many cities
in southern, central and southeastern parts of the country.
City Transport: Golconda Fort is around 11-km from Hyderabad. Auto
rickshaws and Taxis are available apart from luxury/semi-luxury buses, for
local transportation.
There are numerous hotels available in
Hyderabad.
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