The ruined city and fortress of Golcondais situated 11 Kms west of Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Predesh.The fortress stands on a 120 metres high granite hill has been a silent witness to many historic events. The fort has a history dates back to 1143A.D, when the Hindu Kakatiya dynasty ruled the region. Around 1507, Golcondarose as the centre of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The mud fort was expanded by first three Qutub Shahi kings into a massive fort, over a period of 62 years. The existing fort made of granite extends around 5 Kms in circumference. Till the year 1590 Golconda remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and later the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. Golconda fort comprises of four forts with a 10 Km long boundary wall having 87semi-circular bastions. It has eight gateways, four draw bridges, several royal apartments and halls, temples, mosques and stables etc. The outer mostenclosure is relatively low and one can enter by the 'Fateh Darwaza'(Victory gate). The Fateh Darwaza is famous for unique acoustic effects, ahand clap at the entrance can be heard clearly at the Bala Hisar, the highest point around a kilometer away. The fortress city was famous for its diamond trade and it is said that the famous diamond Kohinoor has come from here. Golconda was known as Shepherd's Hill or "Golla Konda" in Telugu. According to legend a shepherd boy came across an idol on the rocky hill called 'Mangalavaram'. The boy conveyed it to the ruling king Kakatiya and the king got a mud fort constructed around the holy spot.
Architecture :
Golconda fort presents the architectural splendor, that can be seen in its acoustic system, the grandeur of the palaces and ingenious water supply system. The magnificent Fort built on a granite hill is surrounded by crenelated ramparts consist of masonry blocks weighing several tones. The ventilation especially designed to respite from the heat of summer, depictsthe brilliant architectural planning. The gateways of the fort are studded with pointed iron spikes to prevent them from elephants.
Attraction at Golconda Fort :
» The Sound and Light Show -
The Sound and Light Show is a major attraction at the fort. The show bringsthe legend of Golconda to life, with an interesting mix of audio and visual effects. The show presents the glorious past of the Golconda and its rulers.The show is presented alternatively in English, Hindi and Telugu in weekdays. The timings of the show 6.30 pm in Winter (November - February),7.00 pm in Summer (March - October). The duration of the show is 55 minutes and it is presented in English on Wednesday and Sunday. The show is presented in Hindi on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday while it is presented in Telugu on Thursday. There is no any show on Mondays.
Attraction near Golconda Fort :
» Qutb Shahi Tombs - The tombs of Qutb Shahi kings,lie around 2 Km north of Golkonda Fort. At Ibrahim Bagh seven tombs are built in memory of the departed kings of Golconda. The magnificent monuments stand as reminders of the grandeur and glory of Golconda kings. Set amidstlandscaped gardens the arch, dome and gallery of the tombs speak of QutbShahi architectural excellence. What is unique about this place is, that many tombs stand at one place.
Accessibility :
The capital Hyderabad is easily accessible, from there one has to cover a road journey of 11 Kms to reach Golconda fort. Auto rickshaws and Taxis are available a part from buses.
» Air- Hyderabad is well connected with all major cities of the country. Flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai etc are available for Hyderabad.
» Rail- Hyderabad - Secundarabad rail head areconnected to all the major railway stations of the country.
» Road -Regular bus services are available from many cities of Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad.
Accommodation :
The hotels in Hyderabad offer a vast array of choices for tourists. The hotels are available in different ranges according the budgets of guests.
Best Time to Visit :
The temperature in Hyderabad remain moderate in Summers and Winter. One can visit the city through out the year, but the best time to visit the Golcondafort is September to March.
