Golconda Fort Considered as one of the seven wonders of Andhra Praesh, it is one of the most beautiful Forts of Andhra. It can be easily reached from Hyderabad via road as the fort is only 11 kms from Hydeabad City. It is the same city from which the world known diamonds like KOHINOOR came from. Luxury buses and cabs are easily avaialable to take you to the fort.

Flashback

Mankal is the other name of the place where Golconda Fort is situated. It derives its name from the Kai Temple which to this date exists in the premises of the Fort. And as the story goes the Fort derives its name from the name Golla Konda, which in Telgu means The Shepherds Hill. It is so said that a little shepheard boy came across an idol which lead to the construction of a mud fort by the then Kaktiya Dynasty ruler of the Kingdom which is today knowm as the Maha Kali Temple(Temple of Goddess Kali). The fort was administered by Recherla Vellamas who ruled over Golkonda, Rajaconda and Devarconda. Their capital was Rajaconda. After the defeat of the Recherla Velamma kingdom, the three forts were ruled by the Bahamani Kings (1364). When the Bahamani Kingdom collapsed, Golkonda rose to prominence as the seat of the Qutb Shahi dynasty around 1507. Over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi kings into a massive fort made up of Granite. It remained so until the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The qutab Shahis were then blown over by Aurangzeb in 1687 who eventually took over the Golconda Fort.

The Fort

Golconda Fort has four distinct forts inside it, with a 10 km outer wall with 87 semi - circular bastions. It has the great cannons to boast of, eight gateways, four draw bridges and royal apartments, mosques, temples inside the circumference of the fort. Then there is the Fateh Darwaza ( The Gate of Victory) with giant iron spikes. This Gate is also famous for its architecture - a hand clap at a peculiar point (ask your Guide for that particular point), below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard at Bala Hisar Pavilion, the highest point around one kilometer away from the Darwaza. (In the olden days it acted as a warning for the residents of the Fort). Golconda Fort has four distinct forts inside it, with a 10 km outer wall with 87 semi - circular bastions. It has the great cannons to boast of, eight gateways, four draw bridges and royal apartments, mosques, temples inside the circumference of the fort. Then there is the Fateh Darwaza ( The Gate of Victory) with giant iron spikes. This Gate is also famous for its architecture - a hand clap at a peculiar point (ask your Guide for that particular point), below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard at Bala Hisar Pavilion, the highest point around one kilometer away from the Darwaza. (In the olden days it acted as a warning for the residents of the Fort).

In and Around

» The Clay Pipes : Though they sound ordinary, these clay pipes fitted into the wall planks provided sufficient supply to the uphill residents. A series of Persian Wheels carried water to the upper terrace where the pipes channalised the water into gardens, kitchens, cisterns etc.