5/5 Farhan P. 3 years ago on Google
The
story
of
Golconda
Fort
is
the
story
of
Hyderabad,
the
prequel,
the
beginnings
of
what
is
today
an
ever
growing
city
with
global
impact. Let’s
rewind
the
clock
a
few
hundred
years,
to
the
12th
century
AD,
when
the
Shepard’s
Hill
(Golla-Konda)
was
first
fortified
by
the
Kakatiya
Dynasty.
Built
on
a
granite
hill,
the
first
structures
were
made
of
mud
and
predictably
didn’t
hold
too
well
against
invasion. By
1364,
the
fort
had
changed
hands,
so
to
speak,
from
the
Kakatiyas
to
the
Munusuri
Nayaks,
to
the
Bahamani
Sultans.
Breaking
away
from
the
Bahamani
Sultanate,
Sultan
Quli
Qutb-ul-Mulk
quickly
established
the
Qutb
Shahi
dynasty,
soon
restrengthening
and
expanding
the
structure
into
the
granite
fort
we
see
today.
Fast-forward
a
century,
to
the
year
1687,
after
eight
years
of
being
under
siege
by
the
Mughal
emperor,
Aurangzeb,
the
fort
fell
to
the
Mughal
Empire.
Golconda’s
outer
wall
encompasses
11 kilometres,
with
each
successive
ruling
dynasty
adding
to
the
architecture
of
the
fort. There
are four
forts,
a
number
of
temples,
mosques,
stables,
royal
apartments,
bastions,
gardens
—
the
works. Entry
into
the
fort
is
guarded
by
spiked
gates,
the
15
to
18
feet
high
walls
deterring
the
most
determined
of
diamond
burglars.
Speaking
of much-coveted rocks,
the
Daria-i-Noor,
Koh-i-Noor,
and
Hope
Diamond
are
believed
to
have
been
unearthed
at
the
Golconda
Mines. While
the
mines
may
be
inaccessible
today,
a
really
fun
feature
of
Golconda
you
can
still
witness
first
hand
is
the
acoustic
design.
From
the
Bala
Hisar
pavilion,
at
the
apex
of
the
hill,
you
can
clearly
hear
handclaps
at
the
entrance
of
the
fort
(a
warning
signal
in
case
of
invasion).
Nearby
heritage
sites
include
the
Qutub
Shahi
Tombs
and
Taramati
Baradari
(a
royal
music
hall),
where
you
can
catch
the
occasional
classical
music
concert.
Timing:
9
am
-
5:30
pm
Cost:
INR
15
per
person,
INR
25
for
still
camera
Pro-Tip
We
recommend
watching
the
Sound
and
Light
show,
held regularly
at the
fort
for
a
dazzling
crash-course
into
the
history
of
Golconda,
narrated
by
the
inimitable
Amitabh
Bachchan. Slip
into
a
food-coma
as
you
bite
into
a
Sheermal
—
a
sweet
flatbread,
and
a
Hyderabadi favourite —
paired
with
local
kebabs
from
the
area,
at
several
eateries
dotted
outside
the
fort.
Long recommendation
short
—
go
here
for
a
fascinating
trip
into
the
past.
Go
here
for
the
architecture,
the
acoustics,
and
the
food.
Go
here
to
witness
the
crown
jewel
of
Golconda,
the
most
valuable
treasure
of
all
—
harmony.
Love
thy neighbour!
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