Golkonda is a historical Fort in Hyderabad, Telangana. Located on a round granite hill 120 meter high which is about 11 km from Hyderabad City. Fort has palaces, halls, gardens, masques, rsidential quareters of soldiers, stables, magazines etc. Entire length of circumferential wall may be ten km. The wall has eight gates, four drawbridges & 87 bastions.
2. Entry to the Fort is by ticket & so is the use of camera. official guides are available for a fee. Sound & light show is held in the evenings. The Fort opens at 9 & closes 5.30. Noons are hot here take care. Small restaurant is availble inside. Depending upon interest in history tour of the Fort may take a day or may be a couple of days. Climbing up 400 feet is a bit tough. Interesting features of the Fort are accoustical or sound echo communication, water harvesting, ventilation & of course security managment.
3. In olden times Golkonda was better known for diamonds kept in the vaults rather than as a fort. In nearby Kollur, Atkur and Paritala diamonds were mined. These were cut & sold in Golkonda. Some of the prominent ones are Koh-e-noor, Daria-e-noor, Noor-ul-Ain, Hope, Princie & Regent Diamond.
4. As with these diamonds passing on to different royalties, the Fort also saw several dynasties occupying it. Foundation of the Fort was laid by Kakatiya kings who ruled from 1163 to 1323. Thereafter came Musunuri Nayakas who stayed up to 1386. Then came Bahmani Sultans who occupied the Fort up to 1527. Qutaub Shahi dynasty ruled till 1687. During this period the Fort was expanded & strenthened.
Aurangzeb attacked, won & Mughals stayed till 1707 though the Fort was severly damaged. After Aurangzeb died Mughal Empire weakened, Nizams took over in 1724 & shifted capital to Hyderabad. Nizams had some understanding with British which allowed them to rule till merger in India in 1948. Some photos:
2. Entry to the Fort is by ticket & so is the use of camera. official guides are available for a fee. Sound & light show is held in the evenings. The Fort opens at 9 & closes 5.30. Noons are hot here take care. Small restaurant is availble inside. Depending upon interest in history tour of the Fort may take a day or may be a couple of days. Climbing up 400 feet is a bit tough. Interesting features of the Fort are accoustical or sound echo communication, water harvesting, ventilation & of course security managment.
3. In olden times Golkonda was better known for diamonds kept in the vaults rather than as a fort. In nearby Kollur, Atkur and Paritala diamonds were mined. These were cut & sold in Golkonda. Some of the prominent ones are Koh-e-noor, Daria-e-noor, Noor-ul-Ain, Hope, Princie & Regent Diamond.
4. As with these diamonds passing on to different royalties, the Fort also saw several dynasties occupying it. Foundation of the Fort was laid by Kakatiya kings who ruled from 1163 to 1323. Thereafter came Musunuri Nayakas who stayed up to 1386. Then came Bahmani Sultans who occupied the Fort up to 1527. Qutaub Shahi dynasty ruled till 1687. During this period the Fort was expanded & strenthened.
Aurangzeb attacked, won & Mughals stayed till 1707 though the Fort was severly damaged. After Aurangzeb died Mughal Empire weakened, Nizams took over in 1724 & shifted capital to Hyderabad. Nizams had some understanding with British which allowed them to rule till merger in India in 1948. Some photos:
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| 1. View from Rani Mahal |
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| 2. One of the many bastions. Whole complex has large number of heavy boulders |
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| 3. Arches or Mehrabs here are beautiful. High ceilings provided much needed cooling effect |
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4. Inside main arches there is particular type of plaster which reflects light. So lesser number of torches & candles were used
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| 6. There are number lawns & gardens which are well maintained |
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| 7. Part of Nagina Bagh |
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| 8. Another view of the Fort |
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| 9. Gardens & a view of Hyderabad City |
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| 10. Mosque at the top |
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| 11. Another view of the Fort |
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| 12. Magazine or Aslahkhana |
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| 13. Nagina Bagh |
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| 14. High walls meant security |
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| 15. Several such pathways have been added for tourists |
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| 16. Golkonda is also spelt Golconda or Golla Konda |
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| 17. Keep walking! |
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| 18. Garden & the city |
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| 19. Rain water harvesting. Notice the 3x3 holes which have clay pipes for carrying water collected above |
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| 20. Such cavities were used to store water |
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| 21. Must have been a beautiful lively place |
5 comments:
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2019/05/golkonda-fort-hyderabad.html
Never seen so many pics of this fort,specially the inside views, loved reading it.
Thanks Sarkar
Thank you Bike Rentals in Hyderabad.
Great, Very well explained Photos have captured all the important places. Vijay Nishchal
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