Golconda Fort: All about Famous Monument in Hyderabad

Forts are amongst the all-time favorite visiting places of people, as they depict history. There are many famous monuments in India and if we talk about the place of royals, Hyderabad, it is a must-visit. It is known for its heritage beauty that includes tombs, monuments, and minarets. Golconda fort is amongst 11 majestic forts in Hyderabad that redefines the heritage and royalty. And it is a delight to learn more about Golconda fort Hyderabad. 

History of Golconda Fort

Golconda Fort is also called Golla Konda, the fort is located in the western part of the city and it covers 9 km starting from the Hussain Sagar Lake. The South Indian dynasty “Kakatiyas” built the Golconda Qila Hyderabad. The Golconda history depicts that it was bloomed as the trade center of big diamonds. It has produced many world-famous diamonds which include the famous colorless Koh-i-Noor.

The fort was originally known as Mankal and it was built on a hilltop in 1143. The Golconda Fort Hyderabad Telangana was originally a mud fort under the regime of Rajah of Warangal. The Golconda fort history depicts that it was fortified between 14th and 17th centuries by the Qutub Shahi dynasty and Bahmani Sultans. 

The inner area of the fort contains the ruins of mosques, palaces, and a hilltop pavilion. No doubt the Golconda history leaves you spellbound and amaze you with the stories behind it as it is amongst the magnificent fortresses in India. 

The history of the Golconda fort takes you back to the 13th century to the ruling time of Kaktiyas which was followed by the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The fort rests on the 120-meter high granite hilltop and it is surrounded by huge crenulated ramparts.

The fort was known as Shepherd’s hill which actually means Golla Konda in Telugu. According to the legends, the shepherd boy came across an idol on this huge hill. And this information was brought into the consideration of ruling Kaktiyas at that time. 

Thus, the ruling king constructed the mud fort surrounding the holy spot. Later on, the Qutub Shahi dynasty converted the mud fort into a massive granite fort by extending its circumference by 5 km. 

The Golconda fort is taken into consideration as a mute witness to historic events in the region. After the Kaktiyas and Qutub Shahi dynasty, the kingdom of the fort came into the hands of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb who purposely left it in ruins.

Golconda Fort’s Valuation

Usually, the valuation of heritage monuments are over and above, here is a rough estimation of how much Golconda Fort architecture is worth:

• The sq ft price of Golconda Fort is Rs 4,718
• The Golconda Fort is made up of a total area of 3 sq km

The total land cost of the Golconda Fort is Rs 152 billion, just about which translates into $2-billion, which also considers the current exchange value.

The cost of the fort’s land does not include the cost of the construction or any other exception that is attached to the fort structure.

Well, it is hard to believe about Golconda fort that it is worth Rs 15,200 crore/$2 billion. And another surprising thing, it just considers the cost of the land. 

The Golconda Fort is in the western area of Hyderabad city, which owes its present eminence to Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah. Qutub Shah acquired the Fort from the dynasty of Bahmani. 

The Golconda fort location is a historical marvel which is popular for its location and size. The Golconda fort map has been listed amongst the most marvelous fortresses in the country. Golconda’s location, interiors, planning, and architecture make it one of the must-go visits in India.  

Golconda Fort Construction 

Golconda, built in the 12th century, was originally a mud fort but was fortified later by the Bahmani Sultans between the 14th and 17th centuries. The fort later changed hands and the Qutub Shahi dynasty made it the capital of their kingdom.

The inner fort still has ruins of palaces, mosques, and a hilltop pavilion which rises about 130 meters high and gives a bird’s eye view of the other buildings.

Golconda in Telugu means ‘shepherd’s hill’, meaning Golla Konda, which according to local legend was about a boy who came across an idol here. The Kakatiya king then constructed a mud fort here, which was later taken over by the Bahamani kings.

The structure that you see today is built by the Qutub Shahi kings as they converted the mud fort into a massive granite fort extending 5 km in circumference. It was in 1687 when Mughal emperor Aurangzeb took over the Golconda and left it in ruins.

The fort still has mounted cannons, drawbridges, gateways, and majestic halls. The fort is also an engineering marvel as it has a number of acoustical features. For example, a person talking at the dome entrance can be clearly heard from the hilltop pavilion, which is almost one kilometer away.

Architecture and design of Golconda Fort

The Golconda fort was designed in the distinct style of Qutb Shahi architecture i.e. Indo-Islamic architecture of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The Golconda fort was built by Qutb Shahi architecture which was also called out as the Sultanate. The fortress was built on the granite hill which is 120 meters high and surrounded by large crenulated ramparts. 

It is a very huge fort of the city that consists of several palaces, mosques, temples, apartments, halls, and many other structures. The fort covers around 11 km of area and it has amazing architecture. The Golconda fort is subdivided into four forts and each fort has its worship places, halls, apartments, and other necessary structures.

Golconda is a majestic structure with an indigenous water supply, therefore there were no mirrors in the chamber of the Queens. It was believed that the repetition of looking into the mirror could increase the dark spots on the skin of the Queen. Thus, the water pit was made to see the reflection of the face. The fort has an amazing ventilation system with exotic designs. The system was so intricately designed that a cool breeze can easily reach the interior part of the fort.

Interesting Facts about Golconda Fort

There are several key facts about the Golconda fort that will leave you surprised. The below-listed pointers will give you information about Golconda Fort and its mind-blowing unique facts. 

• Secrets of Golconda fort

It is believed that Golconda fort has several escape routes and secret tunnels. The secret tunnel is supposed to be below the bottom of the hills but it has not yet been found. 

• Diamond mines around the Golconda fort

The Golconda fort is popular as “Diamond Capital” as there are several diamond mines in the region which has produced many world-famous diamonds such as, 

Koh-I-Noor (Owned by the UK)

The Blue Hope (Owned by the USA)

The White Regent (Owned by France)

The Gresden Green (Owned by Germany)

Daria-i-Noor (Owned by Russia)

Nizam and Jacob (Owned by India)

Colourless Orlov (Owned by Russia)

• 240kg Stone

There is ironstone inside the Golconda fort that weighs 240 kg. The purpose of the stone in earlier times, anyone who is seeking a job inside the fort has to pick this stone single-handedly. 

• Entrance Speciality

Bala Hissor Pavilion, the highest point of the Golconda fort, and it is just 1 km from the entrance. If you clap or talk at the entrance it can be easily heard at the Bala Hissar, the entrance is made in a special way that royals could easily identify who is entering the fort.

• 400 hundred-year-old tree

There is an African Baobab tree inside the fort which is commonly known as “Hatiyan Ka Jhaad”. The age of this tree is above 400 years, which was the gift of Arabian traders to Mohommad Sultan Quli Qutub Shah. Also, the interesting fact about the tree is that there is a cave amidst the branches of this old tree. 

• UNESCO world heritage site

The Golconda fort is listed under the UNESCO world heritage site which is the specialized agency of the UN. This agency promotes security and world peace via international cooperation in education, culture, and science.

Golconda Fort Timings & Entry Fee

The Golconda fort is one of the best heritage monuments that several people visit every year in order to explore its historical beauty. Thus, you can look at the Golconda fort ticket price, Golconda fort Sound, and light show timings along with its ticket Cost below. 

Timings:

• 9:00 A.M. – 5:30 P.M., open all the days of the week

Sound and light show timings at Golconda Fort:

• 1st Show Language: English (All days of the week)
• 2nd Show Language: Telugu (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)
• 2nd Show Language: Hindi (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday)

Show Timings:

• (Nov to Feb) 1st Show 6:30 pm and 2nd Show 7.45 pm
• (Mar to Oct) 1st Show 7:00 pm and 2nd Show 8.15 pm

Entry Fee:

The entry fee of the Golconda fort is Rs. 30 for all the Indian Tourists and for all the foreigners it is Rs. 250.

Light and Sound Show Price:

Executive Class

Adult – Rs.140

Child – Rs.110

Normal Class

Adult – Rs.80

Child – Rs.60

How to Reach Golconda Fort?

The Golconda Fort is the heart of Hyderabad’s beauty which makes it a must-visit place to every tourist or resident. Hyderabad to Golconda distance is 11 km from the main city and it is a famous tourist attraction which could be reached by different conveniences.

• The nearest airport: Hyderabad Airport
• The nearest railway station: Hyderabad Deccan and Begumpet Stations
• The nearest bus station: Golconda Bus Station

The Golconda Fort is within reach from anywhere in Hyderabad and also via the city’s metro train. Peddamma Temple is the nearest metro station to Golconda Fort. Also, you can visit the fort by taking a taxi or auto-rickshaw from the Jubilee Hills Check Post Metro Station which is on the Blue line. 

Best Time to Visit Golconda Fort

In case you are planning to visit the most popular tourist attraction of Hyderabad i.e. Golconda fort then you must visit the place between September to March. The climate of the city remains moderate between September to March. The pleasant climate lets you enjoy your visit, otherwise, the hotter weather in summer becomes a hurdle because the fort is huge and requires you to walk.

Or you can also visit the fort during night hours where sound and light show will delight your visitors. Well, the best time slot to visit the Golconda fort is 4 pm as it takes about 2 hours to walk through the whole area. 

Revenue Generated and Worth of Golconda Fort

The monuments not only depict the history and hold heritage beauty but also have become an utmost earning source to the government in today’s time. And the Golconda fort is of the best monument of India, that generates a handsome revenue by people visiting it every year. 

As per the year, 2013-2014 the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism and Culture Shri Shripad Yesso Naik said, the monuments are protected and kept presentable to attract visitors. Also, the public facilities are advanced at these places.   

As per the reports of 2013-2014, the revenue generated by Golconda fort is Rs 92,92,120.

The Bottom Line

No doubt, the Golconda fort is one of the most magnificent fortresses of India. The fort has a great history of several ages and is considered a mute witness to the historic events of all time rulers. The region where the fort is located was used to be the world-famous diamond mines that have produced Koh-I-Noor and many other popular diamonds. 

The fort was constructed over the high hilltop in Indo-Islamic architecture style which concludes four different forts within it. And sadly the fort is left with the ruins of all its historic structures but the best part is, you can anytime visit the fort to explore the history. 

The fort is located in Hyderabad city, the capital of Telangana and it is within 9 km of the city. You can visit the fort by taxi, bus, metro to enjoy its heritage along with sound and light shows.

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