Golkonda Fortification (Hyderabad)

India / Andhra Pradesh / Kapra / Hyderabad
 monument, panoramic view, fortification, region, historic ruins, tourist attraction
Golkonda was the capital of the Deccan region till 1591, when nearby Hyderabad was formed as the capital city. The Golkonda fort is one of the most magnificent fortress complexes in India. It lies on the western outskirts around 11km from Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The famous Kohinoor diamond, Regent diamond, Beu Sancy diamond,Darya Noor diamond, Noor Ul Ain diamond and Hope diamond have all come from Golkonda.

The city and fort are built on a granite hill that is 120 meters (400ft) high and is surrounded by massive crenelated ramparts. The beginnings of the fort date to the 1143, when the Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area. The Kakatiya dynasty were followed by the state of Warangal, which was later conquered by the Bahmani Sultanat. The fort became the capital of a major province in the Sultanate and after its collapse the capital of the Qutub Shahi sultans. The fort finally fell into ruins after a siege and its fall to Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Quli Qutub Shah seized the reins of power from the Bahamani kingdom in 1507 and established the fortress city of Golkonda. Inadequacy of water and frequent epidemics of plague and cholera persuaded Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah,the fifth sultan, to venture outward to establish new city in 1591. Initially Charminar was so proportionately planned that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city. Hyderabad's fame, strategic location and Golkonda's legendary wealth attracted Aurangzeb the Mughal Emperor who captured Golkonda after a long seige in 1687.

The city has two fortifications, one on the outer side wich is more than 7 kms and the inner one which contains the palaces and other royal buildings. The outer forification still remains intact most places, but poorly maintained. The inner one is in ruins battered by the troops of Aurangzeb during his seige of Golkonda.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   17°23'3"N   78°24'18"E

Comments

  • jhjkhjkhj
  • koinoor's place
  • I spend much time in golkunda,ths area is the hart of the city ,i love it,thts it.
  • Golconda is one of the famous forts of India. The name originates from the Telugu words "Golla Konda" meaning "Shepherd's Hill". The origins of the fort can be traced back to the Kakatiyas period Golconda was originally a mud fort, which passed to the Bahmani dynasty and later to the Qutb Shahis, who held it from 1518 to 1687 A.D. The first three Qutb Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a span of 62 years. The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces, factories, ingenious water supply system and the famous Fateh Rahben gun, one of the cannons used in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell. Sound & Light Show at Golconda Fort The glorious past of Golconda Fort is narrated effectively with matchless Sound and Light effects. The unique Sound & Light Show takes you right back in time, when Golconda was full of life, glory and grandeur. The world renowned "Kohinoor Diamond" originally belongs to this fort.
  • what happened to the Katora House in Golconda?? I heard that it is converted into a playground by the locals there???
  • hi golconda is a very beautiful place because there is a lot of peace and tradition.please all the people of golconda make it clean and tidy.thank you
  • I am a resiedent of golconda an as i am living there an my personal experiance is that golconda is really a beautiful place to see with family but the loose person also there so we erge them to come golconda to see not for doing bad things with there girl friends. If your are real lover then respect the people and dont do bad things
  • its an famous fort in hyderabad.
  • Very amazement and exciting.
  • golconda is really beautiful place and exciting.
  • that is my birth place
  • hay Golconda is a most historical place in India so i wanted to pollution save this historic place
  • My grandfather was living here in early 1900 his name was Syed Peer Pasha Hussaini he was the great sitar nawaz and friend of saif nawajan if some one have some information about my grandfather family contact at snhaqua@hotmail.com
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This article was last modified 6 years ago