Golconda Fort, Hyderabad (Entry Fee, Timings, History, Built by, Images & Location)
Located at a distance of 11km from the city, Golconda Fort is the most famous of all Hyderabad sightseeing places. The name of the fort has been derived from the Telugu words “Golla” and “Konda” which together means ‘Shepard’s Hill’. Founded in the approximately 12th Century by the Kakatiyas Kings, this massive Golconda Fort with eight gates and 87 bastions was later built by Qutub Shahi Kings.
With perimeters of around 11 kilometers, the fort has 15 to 18 foot high walls. It has huge gates that have pointed iron spikes on them. This protected the fort from Elephants damaging the fort as well as enemy attacks. The fort presents a mesmerizing architecture which will astonish you at each and every step.
The system of acoustics in the Fort is something which attracts each and every visitor. The sound of clapping at the entrance can be heard at the ‘Bala Hissar’ which is the highest point and almost a kilometer away. This system was apparently used for communication purposes.
Other attractive features of the Fort include water supply system as well as famous ‘Rahban’ cannon. Ramdas’ prison is one of the popular spot inside the fort. According to legend, Ramdas who was a revenue collector in Abdul Hasan Shah’s court was imprisoned. During his imprisonment, he carved Hindu deities on the wall of his cell.
It is said that Golconda used to a famous diamond market attracting merchants from all over the world. It was at Golconda that the famous Kohinoor and Hope diamonds along with others such as The Regent Diamond, Darya-e Nur, Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond were stored.
Another feature that makes Golconda fort all the more attractive is the light and sound show presenting its history and facts. The sound and light show is done in three languages namely English, Hindi and Telugu with a voice over of Bollywood living legend Amitabh Bachchan.