Golkonda Fort, Hyderabad’s one of the greatest architectural wonders, has completed 500 years of its existence. Golkonda, also known as Golla konda ("shepherd's hill"), is a fort of Southern India and capital of the medieval sultanate of the Qutub Shahi dynasty (16th century). The Fort was built in 1518 by Sultan Quli Qutub-ul-Mulk. It was further strengthened by subsequent Qutub Shahi kings. Sultan Quli Qutub-ul-Mulk began construction of the Golconda Fort a few years after he was appointed the governor of Telangana by the Bahmani sultans. But he declared himself as an independent king in 1518 and made Golconda his seat of power. It was home to one of the most powerful Muslim sultanates in the region and was the centre of a flourishing diamond trade. The region is known for the mines that have produced some of the world's most famous gems, including the Koh-i-Noor, the Hope Diamond and the Nassak Diamond.
The fort has a striking appearance and its higher area is covered with remains of armories, magazines, mosques, granaries, reservoirs and audience chambers; while at the bottom of the citadel, dwellings of the queens and princesses and homesteads of their retainers are nestled. One of Golkonda’s greatest engineering marvels is the fantastic acoustic effects. Various edifices are placed in such a way so as to transmit sound to different far away points. One handclap at a certain point below the entrance dome can be heard at the highest point of the pavilion which is almost a kilometre away. This was said to be used for warning the royals in case of an attack. The clever architectural plan also allowed uninterrupted supply of water throughout the year. The water raised by Persian wheels was stored in overhead tanks at different levels. Water thus collected was effectively distributed to various mahals, other apartments, roof gardens and fountains in the citadel through stone aqueducts and a network of earthen pipes by sheer force of gravity.
The fort is built on a granite hill at a height of around 120 meters and is bordered by thick walls. The stone blocks used for constructing these massive walls weigh several tons. It had sprawling gardens and dancing fountains, which are now in ruins.Golconda was the centre of trade on Surat-Machilipatnam route. The Qutub Shahis brought the Kalamkari and the Bidri craft and gave us the Golconda miniature painting and a new style of architecture.
Golkonda consists of four distinct forts with a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semicircular bastions (some still mounted with cannons), eight gateways, and four drawbridges, with a number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables, etc. inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter by the "Fateh Darwaza" (Victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb’s triumphant army marched in through this gate) studded with giant iron spikes (to prevent elephants from battering them down) near the south-eastern corner.
The important structures inside the citadel or balahissar are the imposing Silai Khana ( a three-storied Aslah Khana – armoury building), Nagina bagh, guard lines, Akkanna-Madanna Offices, Ramdas Jail, Darbar hall, ruins of Ambar khana, Baradari on the summit, an inner cordon wall, and aMasjid raised by Ibrahim Qutub Shah (1550-1580 AD). The east gateway is the only entrance to the citadel and it is one of the biggest gates in the entire fort.
The QutbShahi sultanate lasted until its conquest by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1687. Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhaktha Ramadaasu, a devout Hindu who constructed Bhadrachalm temple without informing the sultan at that time Tana Shah, was kept in a jail located inside the fort.
The place is one of the must visit historical places in Hyderabad. Night time is the best time to visit Golkonda, from where the city can be seen from the top of the fort.
