One of the most spectacular monuments of India, Golkonda fort is located 11kms west of Hyderabad. This historic fort derives its name from the Telugu word “Golla Konda” which means Shepherd’s hill. The fort stands on a 400 ft high hill and was initially built by the Kakatiya dynasty in the twelfth century.
It was originally a mud fort but was later reconstructed in stone. This was done by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah Wali , the fourth Qutub king of the Qutub Shahi dynasty.
This dynasty had ruled the kingdom of Golkanda from 1512. The fort was rebuilt for the purpose of defense from invading Mughals from the north. They transformed it into a mighty fort which has three imposing walls one within the other that rise to a height of over 12m.
A deep moat surrounds the outer most wall covering a substantial area of the town with a circumference of 7km. Besides having walla ranging from a thickness of 17 to 34 feet, the fort also has 87 semi circular bastions which are 50 to 60 geet high.
This majestic citadel boasts 8 gates or Darwazas as they are known locally, the main gate being Fateh Darwaza which means Gate of Victory.The door is 13 feet wide and 25 feet high and is studded with steel spikes to protect it from charging elephants. All this rendered the fort impenetrable and made if one of the strongest forts of the Medieval Deccan.
Apart from its impressive exterior, there are quite a few attractions within the fort. One of the most impressive features of this fort is its acoustics system. By means of this system, a hand clap sounded at the fort’s main gate, the grand portico, can be heard clearly at the ‘Bala Hissar’, the highest point a kilometer away.
The Golkonda fort is divided into four distinct forts. The exceptional architecture still shines through in each of the apartments, halls, temples, mosques and even the stables.The important structures inside the fort are the striking Silai Khana, a three-storied armory building, Nagina Bagh, guide lines, Akkanna-Madanna Offices, Ramdas jail, Darbar hall and a Masjib founded by Ibrahim Qutub Shah. Moreover, the fort also has an ingeniously evolved water supply system.
Last but not the least, a visit to the Golkonda fort isn’t complete without the viewing of the Light and Sound show. It brings the legend of Golkonda to life.
Opening hours: 8:00am-6:30pm daily
Best time to visit: September to March
Entry Fee: Adult-Rs.120/- & Child-Rs.100/-