Golconda Fort
Telangana region, known for its range of tourist destinations is also home to many heritage structures and one of them is the magnificent Golconda fort. Golconda fort, dating back to several centuries is located nearly 6 km away from Mehdipatnam in Hyderabad. Hyderabad is considered one of the best heritage cities of India. Golconda Fort had once flourished as the capital of the Golconda Kingdom.
It was originally known as Mankal, and built on a hilltop in the year 1143. It was originally a mud fort under the reign of Raja of Warangal. Later it was fortified between 14th and 17th centuries by the Bahmani Sultans, followed by the Qutub Shahi dynasty. Golconda was the principal capital of the Qutub Shahi kings. The inner fort contains ruins of palaces, mosques and a hill top pavilion, which rises about 130 meters high and gives a bird’s eye view of other buildings. The outer fort occupies an area of three square kilometers, which is 4.8 kilometers in length. The walls of the fort range from 17 to 34 feet marked by 87 semi-circular bastions, some of them reaching 60 feet in height.
The fortress rests on a granite hill 120 meters high while huge crenellated ramparts surround this structure. It was initially called Shepherd’s Hill, meaning Golla Konda in Telugu while according to legend, on this rocky hill a shepherd boy had come across an idol and the information was conveyed to the ruling Kakatiya king at that time. The king constructed a mud fort around this holy spot and after 200 years, Bahmani rulers took possession of the place. Later the Qutub Shahi kings converted this into massive granite fort extending 5km in circumference. The Qutub Shahis reign at Golconda ended in 1687 when it was run over by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
The Golconda fort still features mounted cannons, four drawbridges, eight gateways, and majestic halls, magazines, stables etc. The outermost enclosure is called Fateh Darwaza meaning Victory gate, after Aurangzeb’s army marched successfully through this gate. Here tourists can experience wonderful acoustical effects, one among the many famous engineering marvels at Golconda. Clapping your hand at a certain point near the dome entrance reverberates and this is heard clearly at the hill top pavilion, almost one kilometer away. This reportedly served as a warning note to the inhabitants of the fort of any impending danger.
Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) organizes regular sound and light shows at the amazing Golconda fort. The impressive and popular sound & light show at Golconda fort shows the grand history of the rulers of various dynasties. Here the colourful laser lighting system, along with an excellent sound track is considered as the highlight of the show. The Sound and Light Show at the Golconda Fort attracts a large number of tourists who witness the events showing the past of the fort using by means of sound and light effects. The Sound and Light Show at the breathtaking fort of Golconda leaves the audience mesmerized, transporting them back to the historic era, explaining the monumental signifance of the centuries-old fort. One of the most famous landmarks of Hyderabad city, Golconda fort will take you back in time when kings ruled, epic battles were fought, and history was created.