Golkonda Fort History
As per legends, an idol was found in the area (now known as Golkonda Fort) by a shepherd. Soon after, Kakatiyan king was informed about the same, and he gave the order to build a mud fort around the idol. The fort came to be known as "GollaKonda" which meant Shepherd's hill in Telugu.
The Golkonda fort was erected in the year 1143 under the Kakatiya Dynasty. However, it rose to prominence when it came under the rule of Qutub Shahi Dynasty during the 16th century, i.e. when Quli Qutub Shah declared his independence from the Bahmani Sultanate in 1518. The striking fort since then expanded from a mud fortress to a lofty structure to having a 10 km outer wall. After a failed attempt in the year 1686, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was finally able to breach the impregnable fort in 1687 after a long nine-month siege.
Architecture of Golkonda Fort
Golkonda Fort is a grand structure built on a hill of altitude 400 feet with a circumference of 7 km displaying the beautiful fusion of Hindu-Islamic style of architecture. Its wall comprises of 8 gates and 87 bastions each one reaching the height of 50-60 feet. There are three powerful consecutive fortification walls each within the other. The first line of the wall contains town, the second line is a double wall that runs around the foot of the hill on which the citadel stands. The third line is further up the hill lying within the second comprised of masonry and natural boulders. Situated with the fortress are the dwellings of the queens and princesses and homesteads of their retainers.
The dazzling fort is quite famous for its royal apartments, parade grounds, numerous halls and mosques. Amongst the eight gates, Fateh Darwaza is the main gate as the victorious march of King Aurangzeb proceeded through it. This door is 13ft wide and 25ft long and was made up of steel spikes to protect it from elephants. The Balahisar Darwaza which was built using the Nawabi style and culture is another magnificent structure. Today, only the eastern gate can be visited by the tourists. The Golkonda fort is situated on a hilltop and has superb airing which is what made life simpler for the royals during summers.
Golkonda Fort Sound and Light Show
Golkonda Fort is one of the most famous landmarks of the city of Hyderabad. Its ancient remains differentiate it from the rest of the tourist attractions and enhance its beauty. It is organized in the ruins of the Rani Mahal section of the fort.
Some details about the show:
1st show in English (on all days)2nd show in Telugu (on Monday, Wednesday and Friday), in Hindi (on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday)
Timings of the show-
First show- November to February- 6:30 PMMarch to October- 7 PM
Second show-November to February- 7:45 PMMarch to October- 8:15 PM
Timings of the ticket counter- Opens from 5:30 PM
Cost of tickets-
The ticket costs INR 140 (adult) and INR 110 (child) for executive classINR 80 (adult) and INR 60 (child) for normal class.
The light and sound show should definitely be experienced whenever you plan a visit to the Golkonda Fort.
Golkonda Fort Timings and Entry Fees
The timings for Golkonda Fort is 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The entry fees for the fort is as follows:Indians: INR 5Foreign Tourists: INR 100Still Camera: INR 25Sound & Light Show: INR 130
Best time to visit Golkonda Fort
The best time to visit the city of Hyderabad is during the months extending from September to March as the climate is moderate at that time and quite enjoyable as well. Golconda Fort can be visited during the evening hours when the weather is pleasant and some sound and light show can be enjoyed.
How to Reach Golkonda Fort
Since the local transportation system of the city is quite good, it connects the various parts of the city and makes the travel pretty much convenient. The Fort is situated at a distance of 9 km from Hussain Sagar Lake and can be reached either via car, through a bus or through the auto-rickshaws running in the city.
Top Tourist Places in Hyderabad
Ramoji Film city
Chowmahalla Palace
Snow world
Hussain Sagar Lake
Golkonda Fort
Laad Bazaar
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Tips
1. Carry water and eatables along with you while visiting the fort.2. Do not litter around the place. Use a dustbin to throw garbage.3. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes as there will be a lot of walking on foot.4. Light and sound show is the highlight of the fort and should definitely not be missed out on.5. It is advisable to take a guide in order to understand the uniqueness of this remarkable historic structure.
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