Where is the Golconda Fort?
The
Golconda Fort is located at a distance of 11 km from the city of Hyderabad
in the eastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The fort lies on the western
outskirts of the city.
How will you gain access?
Begumpeet Airport operates regular flights connecting the city of Hyderabad
to all the major destinations of the country. Secunderabad is the nearest
railway station, linking to all places like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai
and Bengalore. Tourists can take buses from anywhere in the city to get to
the Golconda Fort. Rickshaws and taxis are the other means of transport.
What are the timings and the entry charges?
There are no entry charges to visit the fort. However a sum of Rs 20 for
adult and Rs 10 for children is charged for the Sound and Light Show
organised at the fort. The show timings are 0700 hours to 0800 hours
(March-October).
What does the past say?
The name Golconda is derived from “ Golla Konda” in Telugu,
meaning Shepherd's Hill. It is said that in the year 1143, on
Mangalavaramhill, a shepherd boy came across an idol. As the news of this
idol reached the then Kakatiya ruler, he got a mud-fort built around this
sacred spot. Two centuries later the Bahamini rulers captured the fort in
the year 1364. In the beginning of the 16th century, three Qutub Shahi kings
kept the fort expanding for over a period of 62 years, turning the structure
into a massive fort of granite measuring around 5 km in circumference.
What goes behind the architecture?
The
Golconda Fort complex houses four distinguishable forts. The outer wall of
the forts measures 10 km in length, having some 87 citadels. Some of the
citadels are still battlemented. The fort complex comprises of about eight
gateways, four drawbridges and a number of apartments and halls including
temples, mosques, magazines, stables etc. The Victory Gate or the Fateh
Darwaza is the gateway to the lowest of these fortresses. The gate bears
heavy iron spikes to prevent the elephants from damaging them in those days.
Clapping of hands below the dome at the entrance can be interestingly heard
at the Bala Hisar pavilion. The pavillion in question is the highest point.
It was to help the residents be aware of a danger at hand. To the right of
the porch is located the mortuary baths where the deceased royal family
members were given their last bath before their burial at the Banjara Gate.
At Baradari, there exists yet another piece of brilliant engineering- a
natural air-conditioning system. Moving down the stairs, you will come
across the Rani Mahal or Zanana Mahal. Built on a stony platform are the “
Taramathi Gana Mandir and” and “Premathi Nritya Mandir”.
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What are the nearby attractions?
» Mecca Masjid
The Mecca Masjid is a popular tourist attraction in the city. It is named
so because it has a few bricks from the holy shrine of Mecca embedded in it.
The mosque is counted among the largest in the world.
» Hussain Sagar Lake
The
Hussain Sagar Lake, a vast manmade lake, is a famous tourist spot. A modern
17.5 high statue of Budhha, installed at the centre of the lake, is the key
attraction of the lake. Boat rides can also be had from the Lumbini Park.
» Birla Mandir
The Birla Mandir is a modern temple built in white marble. The visitors are
greeted by a Rajagopuram built in the South Indian style. The idol of the
presiding deity Venkateshwara is 11 feet tall, with a carved lotus forming
an umbrella over it.
» Qutub Shahi Tombs
The Qutub Shahi Tombs lie at a distance of around one kilometre from the
Golconda Fort. These tombs of the Qutub Shahi rulers can be visited from
0930 hours to 1630 hours.
