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Golconda Fort
Located in the outskirts of Hyderabad, Golconda is a magnificient fortress complex of India.


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Golconda Fort
Located in the outskirts of Hyderabad, Golconda is a magnificient fortress complex of India.

I clapped at the entrance gate of the fort, the sound went up in the air, it reverberated with an effect which made me realize that the fort which has been silent witness to many historical events will not be silent if anyone is out there to test its features with slightest of inkling. The fort is undoubtedly one of the the most magnificent fortress complexes in India.

History
To be frank, I was quite impressed after knowing the history of hyderabad. My guide, Ashish, told me that the city was founded originally by the Kakatiyas in the 13th century, the fort has an interesting story behind it. It was popularly known as "Shepherd's Hill" or "Golla Konda" in earlier time. A shephard boy while herding the cattle on the rocky hill of Mangalavaram, came across an idol. Kakatiya king, who was ruling at that time came to know of the happening and got a mud fort constructed around the holy spot. Over a period of time, when the reigns of power fell into the hands of Qutb Shahi kings, they got this lowly construction expanded into a massive fort of granite. Before the city of Hyderabad was founded the Deccan was ruled from Golconda fort Every nook and corner of this splendid monument echoes the unparalleled history of a bygone era.

By the 17th century, Golconda was famous as a Diamond Market. It gave the world some of the best known diamonds, including Kohinoor.

Architecture
Golconda fort is a majestic monument lying on the western outskirts of Hyderabad city. The fortress is built on a granite hill 120 metres high, surrounded by massive crenelated ramparts, which are nearly 7 Kms in circumference.

The magnificent architecture of the fort is manifest in its acoustic system, the structural grandeur of the palaces and ingenious water supply system. I was bewildered 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. The ventilation designs aid the inflow 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 kilometres 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. In its heyday, the 10 kilometre 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

), a ruined city of south-central India, is situated west of Hyderabad, capital of ancient Hyderabad state (c. 1364–1512). Several towns in United States of America are named after this fort.

It later became one of the five Muslim kingdoms of the Deccan known as the Deccan sultanates, until it was captured by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's forces in 1687. Aurangzeb besieged the fort for nine long months. If it were not for the treachery of a staff who opened a side gate, Golconda would have held out longer.

Three granite walls of megalithic construction surround the Golconda Fort, with the outermost wall having a circumference of about 7 km.

The most important builder of Golconda was Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali, the fourth Qutb king. Ibrahim was following in the spirit of his ancestors, the Qutub Shahi kings, a great family of builders who had ruled the kingdom of Golconda from 1512. Their first capital, the fortress citadel of Golconda, was rebuilt for defense from invading Mughals from the north. They laid out Golconda's splendid monuments, now in ruins, and designed a perfect acoustical system by which a hand clap sounded at the fort's main gates, the grand portico, was heard at the top of the citadel, situated on a 300-foot (91 m)-high granite hill. This is one of the fascinating features of the fort.

They ruled over the Telangana region and some parts of present day Karnataka and Maharashtra.[1]
Contents
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* 1 History
* 2 Diamonds
* 3 The Fort
* 4 Qutub Shahi Tombs
* 5 See also
* 6 Trivia
* 7 Further reading
* 8 External links
* 9 See also
* 10 Notes

[edit] History

In the 16th century, Golconda was the capital and fortress city of the Qutb Shahi kingdom, near Hyderabad. The city was home to one of the most powerful Muslim sultanates in the region and was the center of a flourishing diamond trade. Golconda is located 11 km west of the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh state, India (location [show location on an interactive map] 17°23′00″N, 78°24′15″E).

According to a legend, the fort derives its name from Golla Konda, which is a Telugu word for Shepherd's Hill. It is believed that a shepherd boy came across an idol on the hill. This led to the construction of a mud fort by the then Kakatiya dynasty ruler of the kingdom around the site.

The city and fortress are built on a granite hill that is 120 meters (400ft) high and is surrounded by massive crenelated ramparts. The beginnings of the fort date to the 1143, when the Hindu Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area. The Kakatiya dynasty were followed by the state of Warangal, which was later conquered by the Islamic Bahmani Sultanat. The fort became the capital of a major province in the Sultanate and after its collapse the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings. The fort finally fell into ruins after a siege and its fall to Mughal emperor Aurangazeb.

After the collapse of the Bahmani Sultanat, Golconda rose to prominence as the seat of the Qutb Shahi dynasty around 1507. Over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5 km in circumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose 10 km outer wall enclosed the city. The state became a focal point for Shia Islam in India, for instance in the seventeenth century Bahraini clerics, Sheikh Ja`far bin Kamal al-Din and Sheikh Salih Al-Karzakani both emigrated to Golconda[2].

The Qutb Shahi sultanate lasted until its conquest by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1687. The fortress held out against Aurangzeb for nine months, falling to the Mughals through treachery.

Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhaktha Ramadaasu, a devout Hindu who constructed Bhadrachalm temple without informing the sultan at that time [Tana Shah], was kept in a jail located inside the fort.


[edit] Diamonds
The Darya-e-Nur Diamond
The Darya-e-Nur Diamond
The Hope Diamond, from the Golconda mines
The Hope Diamond,
from the Golconda mines

Golconda was once renowned for the diamonds found on the southeast and cut in the city. India[1], at that time, had the only known diamond mines in the world.

The Mines of Golconda themselves yielded diamonds of trifling quantity. Europeans knew that diamonds were found only in these fabled mines. Golconda was, in fact, the market city of the diamond trade, and gems sold there came from a number of mines. The fortress city within the walls was famous for diamond trade.

Magnificent diamonds were taken from the mines in the region surrounding Golconda, including Darya-e Nur, meaning sea of light, at 185 carats, the largest and finest diamond of the crown jewels of Iran.

Its name has taken a generic meaning and has come to be associated with great wealth.

Many famed diamonds are believed to have been excavated in the mines of Golconda which include:

* Darya-e Nur
* Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond
* The Koh-i-noor
* The Hope Diamond
* The Regent Diamond

By the 1880s, Golconda was being used generically by English speakers to refer to any particularly rich mine, and later to any source of great wealth.

During the Renaissance and the early modern eras, the name "Golconda" acquired a legendary aura and became synonymous for vast wealth. The mines brought riches to the ruling Qutb Shahis of Hyderabad State, who ruled after the independence from the Mughals in 1724, until 1948, when Hyderabad was annexed, to become an Indian state.

[edit] The Fort
Golconda fort overlooking Hyderabad
Golconda fort overlooking Hyderabad
A Golconda Gate
A Golconda Gate

Golconda consists of four distinct forts with a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semi circular bastions; some still mounted with cannons, eight gateways, four drawbridges and number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables etc, inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter by the "Fateh Darwaza" (Victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb’s triumphant army marched in through this gate) studded with giant iron spikes (to prevent elephants from battering them down) near the south-eastern corner. At Fateh Darwaza can be experienced the fantastic acoustic effects, characteristic of the engineering marvels at Golconda. A hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the 'Bala Hisar' pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometre away, this worked as a warning note to the royals in case of an attack.

Bala Hissar Gate is the main entrance to the fort located on the eastern side. It has a pointed arch bordered by rows of scroll work. The spandrels have yalis and decorated roundels. The area above the door has peacocks with ornate tails flanking an ornamental arched niche. The granite block lintel below has sculpted yalis flanking a disc. The design of peacocks and lions is a blend of Hindu - Muslim architecture.
Bala Hissar Darwaza
Bala Hissar Darwaza

Toli Masjid, situated at Karvan, about 2 km from the Golconda fort, was built in 1671 by Mir Musa Khan Mahaldar, royal architect of Abdullah Qutb Shah. The facade consists of five arches, each with lotus medallions in the spandrels. The central arch is slightly wider and more ornate. The mosque inside is divided into two halls, a transverse outer hall and an inner hall entered through triple arches.

[edit] Qutub Shahi Tombs

The tombs of the Qutb Shahi sultans lie about one kilometer north of Golconda's outer wall. These structures are made of beautifully carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped gardens. They are open to public and receive many visitors.

[edit] See also

* Taramati Baradari
* List of sultans of Golconda
* Afanasiy Nikitin - the first European to visit Golconda
* Asaf Jahi
* Andhra Pradesh
* Middle kingdoms of India
* History of India

[edit] Trivia

* The place is also known as Mankal (The Mahankali temple located inside the fort, and the festival of Bonalu of twin cities begin here).

* The mining town of Golconda, Arizona, now a ghost town, was named for the Golconda-like mines. See also Golconda, Illinois.

[edit] Further reading

1827 John Lee Comstock - Elements of Mineralogy[2]






[edit] External links

* Photos of Golconda Fort on HyderabadPlanet.com
* Golconda among 7 Wonders Of Hyderabad
* Golconda at the Islamic Monuments of India Photographic Database
* Monuments of India
* india-picture.net Several photos of Golconda


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Forts in India

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* Telugu Literature and Culture of Qutub Shahi Dynasty

[edit] See also

* History of Hyderabad
* Qutb Shahi dynasty

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Plunkett, R.; T. Cannon, P. Davis, P. Greenway and P. Harding (2001). Lonely Planet South India. Lonely Planet, 419. ISBN 1-86450-161-8. Retrieved on 2006-03-05.
2. ^ Juan Cole, Sacred Space and Holy War, IB Tauris, 2007 p44

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golkonda"
Categories: Buildings and structures in India | Forts in Andhra Pradesh | Visitor attractions in Hyderabad, India | History of Andhra Pradesh | Archaeological sites in India | History of medieval India | Sultanates | Buildings and structures in Hyderabad, India

Group of Monuments at Hampi


Golconda Fort

India is a country with a deep manifested past. Her rich cultural heritage has kept everyone in a maze. All the states in India have some or the other cultural history. If you ever chance to visit Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, you can’t possibly miss out the 400-year-old majestic and imposing Golconda Fort situated on the western outskirts in the city. The fort was built by the Kakatiya dynasty in the 13th century.

Considered one of India’s most outstanding citadels, the Golconda fort epitomises the sumptuous ‘Nawabi’ culture of the time. "Shepherd's Hill" or "Golla Konda", as it was popularly known in Telugu, has an interesting story behind it. One day, a shepherd boy came across an idol on the rocky hill, which was called Mangalavaram. The news was conveyed to the ruling Kakatiya king. The king got a mud fort constructed around the holy spot and his descendents continued to follow this trend.

Later, the Golconda fort came into the possession of the Bahmani dynasty. Still later, the Qutub Shahi dynasty took over and made Golconda its capital. Golconda fort owes much of its present grandeur to Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah. The subsequent generations saw Golconda being fortified further with several additions and the formation of a beautiful city within. By the 17th century, Golconda was famous as a diamond market. It gave the world some of the best-known diamonds, including the ‘Kohinoor’.
The meticulous details of the architecture and the fading gardens, which were once upon a time replete with sprawling lawns and playing fountains has the power to transport you back in time. The magnificent architecture of the Golconda fort is as imposing as ever, and this is evident from the colossal gate at the entrance studded with long iron spikes, to deter invading armies from battering it down. The gate leads to the portico known as the Balahisar gate, magnificent as the gate itself.

One can’t help, but be amazed at the modern acoustic system, which was so designed that a handclap sounded at the Balahisar gate of the fort could be heard right up in the citadel! The brilliant planning of the architects is evident from the ventilation, which is so designed to let in bouts of fresh cool breeze, a respite from the scorching humid summer of Andhra Pradesh!

Also worth having a look at is the royal Nagina Gardens, the bodyguards’ barracks, and the three water tanks, all of 12 metres deep, which once formed part of an intricate water system in the fort. The crowning glory of the fort is the durbar hall, which stands atop a hill overlooking the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It is approached by a thousand-step stairway, and if you can summon up the energy to accomplish the climb, you will be rewarded with a great view of the cities below- including (on a clear day) the famous Charminar itself.

Outside the Golconda fort are two separate pavilions built on a rocky eminence called the Taramathi Gana Mandir and the Premathi Nritya Mandir, where the legendary sisters Taramathi and Premamathi lived. They gave their performance on a circular dais atop a two-storied structure called the Kala Mandir, which was visible from the king's durbar. Efforts are on to revive the glory of the Kala Mandir, now in a dilapidated condition, by organizing the Deccan art festival annually. The beautiful domed Qutub Shahi tombs with Islamic architecture are situated close to the 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 saga of Golconda unfolds over centuries of splendour. The show is presented in English and Telugu on alternate days of the week. The Golconda fort still stands tall as a proud sentinel amidst the current day Golconda artillery of the Indian army, which has sprung up today.




Click India » Hyderabad » Travel » Monuments » Langar House » Golconda Fort
Golconda Fort
Golconda Fort
Location : 11km. from Hyderabad City
Famous For : Acoustics, Palaces, Ingenious Water Supply System, and Diamond Trade
Built By : Quli Qutub Shah
Attractions within Golconda Fort : Taramathi Gana Mandir, Premathi Nritya Mandir, Sound And Light Show.
Best Time to Visit : September & March
Fare : Adult - Rs120/-, Child - Rs100/-.
Opened : 7.00 A.M. to 8.00 P.M. (Daily)

About Golconda Fort :
Golconda Fort is one of the most wonderful monuments, located 11 km. from Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh. The name of Golconda originates from the telgu words "Golla" and "Konda" which means 'shepard's hill'. One of the most important features of this fort is that the sounds of hands clapped at the entry gate can be heard quite clearly at the top of the hill.

History of Golconda Fort :
The 13th century Golconda Fort was built by the Kakatiya kings. The existing structure was later built by Qutub Shahi Kings into a massive fort with granite walls having eight gates and 87 bastions spread upto 7 kms, in circumference over a span of 62 years. Golconda Fort, popularly known in Telgu as "Golla Konda", which means "Shepherd's Hill", has an exotic story behind it. In 1143, on the rocky hill known as 'Mangalavaram', a shepherd boy came across an image and conveyed to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling at that time. The 10km long road from Golconda to outer Hyderabad was a fantastic market selling jewellery, diamonds, pearls and other gems, popular in all over the world.

Attractions Within The Fort :
Acoustics
One of the most interesting look of Golconda Fort is its system of acoustics. The sounds of hands clapped at the entry gate can be heard clearly at 'Bala Hissar', the highest point, 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.

Taramathi Gana and Premathi Nritya Mandir
You can see two separate pavilions in outside of Golconda Fort, built on a rocky prominence the Taramathi Gana Mandir and the Premathi Nritya Mandir, both the legendary sisters Taramathi and Premamathi resided. Both 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.

Sound and Light Show at Golconda Fort
You can enjoy Golconda Fort with the sound and light, the show that brings the legend of Golconda to life. People gather to see and hear this show in the evening. The show has voice-over of Bollywood living legend Amitabh Bacchan. The show starts with a spectacular interplay of audio and visual effects. The show can be watched in English, Hindi and Telugu.

Show Timing
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
Show Ticket - Rs. 45/-

Advance Booking - Available at Yatra Nivas, Secunderabad. Coach leaves Yatranivas at 5:00pm and returns from Golconda Fort at 8:15pm