Golconda Fort in Hyderabad: A Magnificent Monument of History and Architecture

Golconda Fort Hyderabad: Centre of Diamond Trade in India

Originally built as a mud fort by the Kakatiya dynasty in the 13th century, Golconda Fort in Hyderabad stands as a testament to the cultural heritage of the region, with its blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. Golconda Fort is not just a fort, but a complex of palaces, mosques, temples, tombs, gardens, and museums.

It served as the capital of the Qutub Shahi kingdom from 1518 to 1687, until it was captured by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Golconda Fort was also a center for the diamond trade, as it was located near the Golconda Diamond Mines, which were among the most productive in the world.

History Of Golconda Fort Hyderabad

The history of Golconda Fort Hyderabad is a saga of glory and decline, spanning over six centuries.

Origin: Built as a mud fort by the Kakatiya dynasty in the 13th century, named "Golla Konda" meaning "shepherd’s hill".

Under Bahmani Sultanate: Came under Bahmani sultanate in 1364, expanded and strengthened with stone walls, gates, bastions, and towers.

Qutub Shahi Dynasty: Sultan Quli Qutub Shah established the Qutub Shahi dynasty in 1518, making Golconda his capital. The dynasty developed Golconda as a center of art, culture, literature, and architecture, as well as a hub for the diamond trade.

Mughal Conquest: Conquered by Aurangzeb in 1687 after an eight-month siege. Aurangzeb plundered Golconda's wealth and imprisoned its last ruler, leading to the decline of the fort.

Under Nizams: Asaf Jah I founded the Asaf Jahi or Nizam dynasty in 1724, shifting the capital to Hyderabad city. Golconda was neglected and forgotten until recognized as a heritage monument in 1951.

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Architecture Of Golconda Fort Hyderabad

Size and Structure: The fort covers an area of about 11 square kilometers and is surrounded by a 10-kilometer-long wall that is 17 feet thick.

Gates: The wall features eight gates, each with a distinctive name and design.

Acoustic Feature: The Fateh Darwaza also has a remarkable acoustic feature where a clap at the entrance can be heard at the highest point of the fort, about a kilometer away. This was used as a signal system to alert guards of intruders or attacks.

Zones: The fort is divided into four distinct zones

- Outer Area: Where common people lived and worked, featuring markets, warehouses, stables, and barracks.

- Middle Area: Where nobles and officials resided, with mosques, temples, gardens, and pavilions.

- Inner Area: Where the royal family lived, including palaces, halls, courtyards, and fountains.

- Upper Area: Where military and defense establishments were located, with watchtowers, cannons, armories, and secret tunnels.

Main Attractions Inside Golconda Fort

Bala Hissar Darwaza: This is the main entrance to the fort from the eastern side. It is a grand archway with intricate carvings and inscriptions.

Rani Mahal: This is the palace of the queens and princesses. It has elegant rooms with colourful tiles and paintings.

Durbar Hall: This is the hall where the king held his court and received his guests. It has a majestic throne made of marble and studded with precious stones.

Baradari: This is a pavilion with 12 arches and pillars. It was used as a summer retreat and a place for entertainment and relaxation.

Nagina Bagh: This is a garden with a pool shaped like a diamond. It was used for royal parties and celebrations.

Taramati Baradari: This is a 12-sided pavilion outside the fort, near the Qutub Shahi tombs. It was named after Taramati, a famous courtesan and singer who performed here for the king.

Jama Masjid: This is one of the oldest mosques in Hyderabad, built by Sultan Quli Qutub Shah in 1518. It has a large dome and four minarets.

Ramdas Bandikhana: This is a prison cell where Ramdas, a Hindu saint and devotee of Lord Rama, was imprisoned by Abul Hasan Tana Shah for misusing the royal funds to build a temple. Ramdas carved images of Rama, Sita, and Hanuman on the walls of his cell.

Kala Pahad: This is a hill on which Aurangzeb placed his cannons during the siege of Golconda. It was named Kala Pahad or Black Hill because of the smoke and dust that covered it during the bombardment.

Sound and light show: Witness a spectacular show that narrates the history and legends of Golconda Fort with special effects and music. The show is held every evening except Monday from 7 pm to 8 pm in English and from 8:15 pm to 9:15 pm in Telugu or Hindi (alternating days).

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Places to Visit Near Golconda Fort

Qutb Shahi Tombs: Located near Golconda Fort, the Qutb Shahi Tombs are a group of magnificent mausoleums built in memory of the rulers of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The tombs are known for their stunning architecture, with intricate carvings and domes.

Toli Masjid: Toli Masjid, also known as Damri Masjid, is a historic mosque located near Golconda Fort. Built during the Qutb Shahi period, the mosque is known for its unique architecture, with a blend of Persian and Indian styles.

Golconda Fort Viewpoint: For panoramic views of Golconda Fort and the surrounding area, visitors can head to the Golconda Fort Viewpoint.

Qutb Shahi Heritage Park: The Qutb Shahi Heritage Park is a sprawling complex that houses several tombs, mosques, and other structures related to the Qutb Shahi dynasty.

Hyderabad Golf Club: Located near Golconda Fort, the Hyderabad Golf Club is a popular destination for golf enthusiasts. The club features an 18-hole golf course set amidst lush greenery, offering a scenic and relaxing environment for golfers.

Timings & Ticket Prices For Golconda Fort

Time needed to explore Golconda Fort typically takes around 2 to 3 hours to explore Golconda Fort thoroughly, including visiting the various structures, viewpoints, and learning about its history.

Timings:

Golconda Fort is open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM every day.

Ticket Prices:

For Indians: Adults: Rs. 25

Children (below 12 years): Rs. 15

For Foreigners: Adults: Rs. 300

Children (below 12 years): Rs. 200

Ticket Prices for Fort and Light and Sound Show ( starting around 6:30):

For Indians - Light and Sound Show: Rs. 140

For Foreigners - Light and Sound Show: Rs. 200

The duration of the light and sound show is approximately 1 hour.

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How To Reach Golconda Fort

By Road: Located around 11 kilometers from Hyderabad city center.

Journey takes approximately 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

By Public Transport: Several buses run from different parts of Hyderabad to Golconda Fort.

Buses available from major bus stations like MGBS or Jubilee Bus Station.

By Metro: Nearest metro station is Shaikpet Metro Station, around 4 kilometers away.

Tips and recommendations for visitors

- There are not many options for food and water inside the fort. You may have to buy them from outside vendors at higher prices

- The fort has many stories and secrets that are not easily visible or understandable. Therefore, hire a guide or use an audio guide to learn more about the history and significance of various parts of the fort.

- There are many hawkers and touts who may try to sell you souvenirs or services at inflated prices or scam you in some way.

Golconda Fort Reviews

Jayati Sen

73 Followers

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Golconda fort too has its own grandeur. Remarkable use of acoustics in the fort to communicate messages is the major attraction. If you clap in the portico (a spot just under the dome) of the main entrance of Bala Hissar, it can be heard clearly in the Bala Hissar pavilion on the top of the hill. Also, the exceptional engineering skill in lifting water by Persian wheels to the top of the hill through intricate pipelines and storage in overhead tanks is worth mentioning. Qutub Shahi dynasty were Persians by descent and because of which a strong Persian influence is seen throughout the fort. Large fountains, luxury baths are evidences of the luxurious lifestyle. Hard to believe, but separate outlets for hot and cold water were used in the bath tubs! A network of earthen pipes were used to supply water to the residents of the fort in different Mahals, gardens, fountains etc and even to the mortuary baths where the royals were given their last bath. This water was drawn from Durgam Cheruvu Lake, which was 5 km away from the fort. I wondered how the Royals planned such an efficient water supply system in an area of water scarcity! The water was used not only for daily work or agriculture but also to carry out the overall luxurious lifestyle, maintaining the gardens, operating fountains, baths etc. Qutub Shah rulers like many other benevolent kings, constructed many water tanks and lakes in Hyderabad, to name a few – the Satham Cheruvu, Ibrahipatnam Cheruvu, Nampally tank, Ma Saheba Tank, Hussain Sagar etc. The Fort is 400 ft high, has eight entrances and surrounded by 10 km long wall. We entered through the Fateh Darwaza. We got a guide book with a rough sketch map of the fort and some details. My teenage daughter, the most enthusiastic of us, took hold of the guide book and literally guided us through the fort.It’s her interest in historical places that brought us to Hyderabad ,I must say.

Deepak Kashyap

141 Followers

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My friend Mayank was in Hyderabad for some days and I was also located there in Feb Month of 2017. We made this plan to visit the most reputed place in Hyderabad called the Golconda Fort. And trust me it was just too much fun :) We took a direct uber from gachibolwi to Golconda it cost us around 200 odd Rs. The ticket was only around RS 15 for the entry. And there is an option where you can buy the tickets for the light and sound show from inside only. The tickets for light and sound show was RS 80 for adult. It was one amazing little trek in the fort, going through the hill. Came across various amazing structures and architecture. The outermost enclosure is called Fateh Darwaza meaning Victory gate, after Aurangzeb’s army marched successfully through this gate. At Fateh Darwaza one can witness fantastic acoustical effects, which is one among the many famous engineering marvels at Golconda. Clapping your hand at a certain point near the dome entrance reverberates which is heard clearly at the hill top pavilion, almost one kilometer away. This served as a warning note to the inhabitants of the fort of any impending danger, Ofcourse it now amuses visitors. Climbing further up, one can spot the stunning Deccan plateau and also get a bird's eye view of the bustling and lit-up city.Touring the fort, one can sample the rich flavour of its history, which saw the throne change hands among various dynasties. Apart from this there was also enough spots which were too good for the images. The fort's upkeep was terrific. I would highly recommend going to the top of the fort as the view is magnificent. We end up the day by watching one epic light and sound show and trust me it's a must :) Overall Golconda is one amazing place to visit if you wanna have fun and know some history as well. The images are attached :)

Abhinaba Chatterjee

687 Followers

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Post lunch, head to the Qutub Shahi Tombs. The tombs are't very far from Tolichowki and an autorickshaw or OLA will take you there. This is a majestic place! Some of the tombs and thebaoliare undergoing renovation. Look closely and you'll still manage to find the intricate stone work and carvings. Do visit the tiny museum; it provides a great perspective of how the architecture evolved and history associated with the place. From the Qutub Shahi Tombs head to the Golkonda Fort. Here again I advise you to take a professional guide. The fort is mostly in ruins, hence you won't appreciate the grandeur of the place unless you are shown around. Do climb to the top of the fort and you'll be greeted by a panoramic view of the city skyline. Stay back for the light and sound show. If you feel a trip to Hyderabad is incomplete without a visit to Paradise, the place famous for Hyderabadi Biriyani, do visit one. My personal recommendation will be to visit the Jewel of Nizam restaurant at the outskirts of the city. Do make a reservation for this place and also arrange for a car to take you and get you back from there. In case the Jewel of Nizam doesn't work out for you, then I suggest Kabul Darbar for some authentic Afghan fare. If you want vegetarian stuff, head to Chutneys or Bikanerwala.You can also plan Saturday a bit differently starting with Hussain Sagar. Follow it up with Salarjung, Lunch Break, Chowmahalla, Mecca Masjid and finally Charminar. This way you can also get to shop at Laad Bazaar and capture the Charminar at night. Whatever suits you!

Vandana Goenka

267 Followers

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A day spent at Golconda FortHyderabad.I travelled to Hyderabad to meet my parents and spent some quality time with them.They have moved to a new house so when my mom said that Golconda fort is just 2 kms far from her house I can’t stop myself to see the great fort which is quite interesting in all the aspects as I don’t know much about the history of this fort but one thing just amazes me that Golconda Fort used to have a vault where once Kohinoor diamond was stored along with other precious diamonds.As Golconda mines are very famous these mines yielded many diamonds and Golconda was the huge market city of the diamond trade and gems sold there. After clicking so many pictures I was waiting for the light and sound show which was again very interesting and informative about the history of Golconda Fort.This show starts by 6 pm and it is a very interesting show and the entry fees for this is just Rs 30/- per head and kids who are part of history should definitely visit as it actually help them in their subject. It was late in the evening and because of winters the fog was surrounded by the fort so I couldn’t head up to the top of this fort but I have heard that the top view is also very amazing and in my next trip I will definitely share the other beautiful view of Golconda Fort.

Sagar Pradhan

593 Followers

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It was on Day-2 that we decided to visit Golconda fort early morning. Golkonda Fort was first built by the Kakatiya dynasty as part of their western defenses along the lines of the Kondapalli Fort. The city and the fortress were built on a granite hill that is 120 meters high, surrounded by massive battlements. The fort was rebuilt and strengthened by Rani Rudrama Devi and her successor Prataparudra Later, the fort came under the control of the Musunuri Nayaks, who defeated the Tughlaqi army occupying Warangal. It was ceded by the Musunuri Kapaya Naidu to the Bahmani Sultanate as part of a treaty in 1364. Under the Bahmani Sultanate, Golkonda slowly rose to prominence. Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk (r. 1487-1543), sent as a governor of Telangana, established it as the seat of his government around 1501. Bahmani rule gradually weakened during this period, and Sultan Quli formally became independent in 1538, establishing the Qutb Shahi dynasty based in Golkonda. Over a period of 62 years, the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi sultans into the present structure, a massive fortification 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 fort finally fell into ruin in 1687, after a eight year long siege leading to its fall at the hands of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Golconda fort with armory on left