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Golconda

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Golconda
Hyderabad, India
BERJAYA
Site information
TypeFort
OwnerArchaeological Survey of India
Controlled byArchaeological Survey of India
Open to the public
Yes
Location
Golconda is located in Hyderabad
Golconda
Golconda
Location within Hyderabad
Coordinates17°22′59″N 78°24′04″E / 17.38306°N 78.40111°E / 17.38306; 78.40111
Site history
Built11th century
Built byKakatiya dynasty ruler King Prataparudra in the 11th century, 1143 CE
Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk (1518 fortification)
Garrison information
OccupantsBahmani Sultanate, Golconda Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Hyderabad State

Golconda is a fortified citadel and ruined city located on the western outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana, India.[1][2] The fort was built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparudra in the 11th century out of mud walls.[3] It was ceded to the Bahmani Kings (before it fragmented into 5 other kingdoms known as the "Deccan Sultanates") from Musunuri Nayakas during the reign of Bahmani Sultan Mohammed Shah I, during the first Bahmani–Vijayanagara War. Following the death of Sultan Mahmood Shah, the Sultanate disintegrated and Sultan Quli, who had been appointed as the Governor of Hyderabad by the Bahmani Kings, fortified the city and made it the capital of the Sultanate of Golconda. Because of the vicinity of diamond mines, especially Kollur Mine, Golconda flourished as a trade centre of large diamonds known as Golconda diamonds. The complex was put by UNESCO on its "tentative list" to become a World Heritage Site in 2014, with other forts in the region, under the name Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate (despite there being a number of different sultanates).[1]

History

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Ruins of the fort
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View of the Baradari at the Golconda Fort

The origins of the Golconda fort can be traced back to the 11th century. It was originally a small mud fort built by Pratāparudra of the Kakatiya dynasty.[3] The name Golconda is thought to originate from the Telugu గొల్లకొండ Gollakoṇḍa for "Shepherd's hill".[4][5] It is also thought that Kakatiya ruler Ganapati 1199–1262 built a stone hilltop outpost—later known as Golconda fort—to defend their western region.[6] The fort was later developed into a fortified citadel in 1518 by Quli Qutb Shah of the Sultanate of Golconda and the city was declared the capital of the Sultanate of Golconda.[5]

The Bahmani Kingdom took possession of the fort after it was made over to them by means of a sanad by the Rajah of Warangal.[3] Under the Bahmani Kingdom, Golconda slowly rose to prominence. Quli Qutb Shah (r. 1487–1543), sent by the Bahmanids as a governor at Golconda, established the city as the seat of his governance around 1501. Bahmani rule gradually weakened during this period, and Sultan Quli (Quli Qutub Shah period) formally became independent in 1518, establishing the Sultanate of Golconda based in Golconda.[7][8][9] Over a period of 62 years, the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi sultans into the present structure: a massive fortification of granite extending around 5 km (3.1 mi) in circumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose 7 km (4.3 mi) outer wall enclosed the city.

During the early seventeenth century a strong cotton-weaving industry existed in Golconda. Large quantities of cotton were produced for domestic and exports consumption. High quality plain or patterned cloth made of muslin and calico was produced. Plain cloth was available as white or brown colour, in bleached or dyed variety. Exports of this cloth was to Persia and European countries. Patterned cloth was made of prints which were made indigenously with indigo for blue, chay-root for red coloured prints and vegetable yellow. Patterned cloth exports were mainly to Java, Sumatra and other eastern countries.[10] The fort finally fell into ruin in 1687 after an eight-month-long siege led to its fall at the hands of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who ended the Qutb Shahi reign and took the last Golconda king, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, captive.[11][5]

Diamonds

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The Golconda fort used to have a vault where the famous Koh-i-Noor and Hope diamonds were once stored along with other diamonds.[12]

Diamonds believed to have been excavated from the mines of Golconda include:[citation needed]

During the Renaissance and early modern eras, the name "Golconda" acquired a legendary aura and became synonymous for vast wealth. The mines brought riches to the Qutb Shahis of Hyderabad State, who ruled Golconda up to 1687, then to the Nizam of Hyderabad, who ruled after the independence from the Mughal Empire in 1724 until 1948, when the Indian annexation of Hyderabad occurred. The siege of Golconda occurred in January 1687, when Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led his forces to besiege the Qutb Shahi dynasty at Golconda fort (also known as the Diamond Capitol of its time) and was home to the Kollur Mine. The ruler of Golconda was the well entrenched Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.[13]

Architecture

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Guide map of Golconda fort

Golconda fort is listed as an archaeological treasure on the official "List of Monuments" prepared by the Archaeological Survey of India under The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.[14] Golconda consists of four distinct forts with a 10 km (6.2 mi) long outer wall with 87 semicircular bastions (some still mounted with cannons), eight gateways, and four drawbridges, with a number of royal apartments and halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables, etc. inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure entered 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. An acoustic effect can be experienced at Fateh Darwazaan, a hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the "Bala Hisar" pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometer away. This worked as a warning in case of an attack.

The "Bala Hisar" gate is the main entrance to the fort located on the eastern side. It has a pointed arch bordered by rows of scroll work. The spandrels have yalis and decorated roundels. The area above the door has peacocks with ornate tails flanking an ornamental arched niche. The granite block lintel below has sculpted yalis flanking a disc. The design of peacocks and lions is typical of Hindu architecture and underlies this fort's Hindu origins.

The Jagdamba temple, located next to the mosque of Ibrahim and the king's palace, is visited by hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees during Bonalu festival every year.[15][16] Jagadamba temple is about 900 to 1,000 years old, dating back to early Kakatiya dynasty.[17] A Mahakali temple is located in the vicinity, within Golconda fort.[18]

The fort also contains the Qutb Shahi tombs. These tombs display features of Indo-Islamic architecture and are located about 1 km (0.62 mi) north of the outer wall of Golconda. They are encircled by gardens and numerous carved stones.

The two individual pavilions on the outer side of Golconda are built on a point which is quite rocky. The "Kala Mandir" is also located in the fort. It can be seen from the king's durbar (king's court) which was on top of the Golconda fort.

The other buildings found inside the fort are: Habshi Kamans (Abyssian arches), Ashlah Khana, Taramati mosque, Ramadas Bandikhana, Camel stable, private chambers (kilwat), Mortuary bath, Nagina bagh, Ramasasa's kotha, Durbar hall, Ambar khana etc.

Golconda ruling dynasties

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Naya Qila (New Fort)

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Qutub Shahi tombs

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Tombs of Sultan Quli Qutb Shah and Subhan Quli Qutb Shah

Golconda ropeway

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Golconda Fort Ropeway, a 1.5-kilometre-long (0.93 mi) ropeway project between hilltop Golconda Fort and 7 Qutb Shahi tombs was approved in September 2025 under Parvatmala, tenders were invited for feasibility study were invited, following which DPR will be prepared for the construction.[19]

Golconda Artillery Centre, Indian Army

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195th Gunners' Day celebration at Golconda Artillery Centre, Hyderabad, 28 September 2021

Golconda Artillery Centre, Hyderabad, was raised on 15 August 1962 as the Second Recruit Training Centre for the Regiment of Artillery.[20][21] Golconda Artillery Centre is located in and around the Golconda fort. The Golconda centre has three training regiments and presently trains 2900 recruits at a time.[22]

UNESCO World Heritage

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The Golconda fort and other Qutb Shahi dynasty Monuments of Hyderabad (the Charminar, and the Qutb Shahi Tombs) were submitted by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO in 2010 for consideration as World Heritage Sites. They are currently included on India's "tentative list".[23][24]

Influences

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Places named after Golconda

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See also

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Citations

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  1. 1 2 UNESCO "tentative list"
  2. ↑ "How an impregnable fort city was finally breached by treachery". 29 December 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Bilgrami, Syed Ali Asgar (1927). The Landmarks of the Deccan. Hyderabad-Deccan, India: Government Central Press. pp. 108–110. Reprint: ISBN 9789353245733.
  4. ↑ Harin Chandra (14 May 2012). "Enjoy a slice of history". The Hindu.
  5. 1 2 3 Lasania, Yunus (19 February 2022). "Hyderabad: How rumours of a secret tunnel are ruining the Charminar". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Yimene, Ababu Minda (2004). An African Indian community in Hyderabad. Cuvillier Verlag. p. 2. ISBN 978-3-86537-206-2. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  7. ↑ Sherwani, H.K. (1974). The History of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty. India: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 9788121503396.
  8. ↑ Sardar, Marika (2007). Golconda Through Time: A Mirror of the Evolving Deccan (PhD thesis). New York University. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-0-549-10119-2.
  9. ↑ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 118. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  10. ↑ Moreland, W.H (1931). Relation of Golconda in the Early Seventeenth Century. Halyukt Society.
  11. ↑ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 178.
  12. ↑ Bradnock, Roma (2007). Footprint India. Footprint. p. 1035. ISBN 978-1-906098-05-6.
  13. ↑ "Delving into the rich and often bloody history of Golconda Fort". The Hindu. 5 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Alphabetical List of Monuments—Andhra Pradesh". Archaeological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "Historic Jagadamba temple sees many devotees, but few facilities". The Times of India. 30 October 2017.
  16. ↑ "Golconda Bonalu begins with religous [sic] fervour". The Hindu. 30 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "With pandemic on ebb, state gears up for grand Bonalu". 13 June 2022.
  18. ↑ "Golconda Mahankali temple set for grand Bonalu fete". 15 June 2022.
  19. ↑ Govt approves overhead sky cable car project, Hans India, 2 Oct 2025.
  20. ↑ "830 new recruits pass out from Artillery Centre". The Times of India. 28 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "First batch of Agniveers start training at Golconda Artillery in Hyderabad". The Times of India. 10 January 2023.
  22. ↑ "Arty Centre, Hyderabad". Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  23. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org.
  24. ↑ Archana Khare Ghose. "Prestige or Preservation?". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  25. ↑ Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1837). "poetical illustration". Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1834. Fisher, Son & Co. pp. 12–14.Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1837). "picture". Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1838. Fisher, Son & Co.
  26. ↑ "6. On receiving a curious Shell. Keats, John. 1884. The Poetical Works of John Keats". Bartleby.com. Retrieved 1 May 2013.

Further reading

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