Golconda Fort An Unassailable Bastion - గోల్కొండ ఫోర్ట్
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Golconda Fort is situated on the Western outskirts of Hyderabad 11 kms west of the city. The fort built in the 13th century served the kings as a stronghold,administrative centre and market place.
Before the city of Hyderabad was founded the Deccan was ruled from Golconda fort. Founded originally by the Kakatiya's in the 13th century,the fort was taken over by the Bhaamani kings,subsequently passing to the Qutub Shahi Kings. The existing structure was expanded by the Qutub Shahi kings into a massive fort with granite walls and ramparts extending some 5-km in circumference over a period of 62 years.
The Fortress City within the walls was famous for the diamond trade and Ko-hi-noor diamond is said to have come from here. The name originates from the Telugu words "Golla" and "Konda" - 'Shepard's hill'. Famous features of Golconda includes its system of acoustics - a hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the Bala Hissar,the highest point almost a kilometer away.
Golconda is also known for its Palaces,factories,water supply system and the famous Rahban cannon.
As Golconda is strategically located in the peninsular part of India, it acquired prominence on the political map of India when the Kakatiya rulers built Mangalawaram or Mankal, a mud fort in Golconda in 1143. The glory of the Golconda fort grew under the rulers of the Bahamani kingdom when they took over this fort in 1364. In 1507, Quli Qutab Shah founded the kingdom of Golconda and turned the mud fort into a strong fortress.
Golconda Fort has a strange savage grandeur to which the mammoth boulders on the surrounding hills contribute a rugged and eerie charm. From the top of the acropolis, the walls of Golconda appear meandering nearly four miles in circumference with 87 semi-circular bastions, eight gateways and four drawbridges, further secured by a deep moat running below the awesome ramparts. Later on, an irregular rhombus with a rough pentagon (known as the Naya Quila) was added to its northeastern side. Aurangzeb completely destroyed the fort in 1687 and left it in a heap of pathetic ruins. Huge cannons can still be seen mounted at a few vantage points.
The defense architecture at Golconda was so strong that it could face any known artillery attack of the 17th century. Golconda actually consists of four distinct forts joined together. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure that can be entered through the Fateh Darwaza (victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb's triumphant army marched in through this gate and destroyed the entire fort in 1687) near the southeastern corner. It is a vast tract covered with mansions of nobles, bazaars, temples, mosques, soldiers' barracks, powder magazines, stables, etc.
Golconda fort has a number of imposing gateways. The Fateh Darwaza (victory gate) is a marvel of architecture and is known for its acoustics. A clap of hands at the portico is heard at the Balahisar Baradari (a wind-swept pavilion) on top of the acropolis. This acted as the warning note to residents in case of danger, though it is now a mere amusing diversion to visitors. Most of the massive bastions still uphold cannons left behind by the Qutab Shahis and Mughal forces. The Fateh Rahbir canon (guide to victory) was mounted by Aurangzeb on the Pethla Burj where it stands as reminder of the Mughal emperor's determination to conquer Golconda. The Balahisar Darwaza is the most impressive gateway of this fort and is guarded by statues of mythical beasts and lions. From the Balahisar Darwaza starts the uphill ascent of some 380 uneven stone steps.
The offices of Akanna and Madanna, two important Hindu officials in the Qutab Shahi court, are further up. The large iron weights, half buried in the ground, are curious relics of the past. Ruins of the Ambar Khana and Bari Baoli (step well) are close to the upper terrace. One can also see a Hindu temple belonging to the Kakatiya period carved out of a huge boulder. It has colorful murals of the Goddess Kali on the white-painted façade. Another important structure is the mosque built by Taramati.
As one continues to move up, one is bound to see the unusual clay pipes fitted into the wall planks-evidence of an efficient water supply arrangement to the uphill residential area. A series of Persian wheels carried water from the reservoirs to upper terraces from where the pipes channelized it into baths, cisterns, gardens, and kitchens. This is a sixteenth-century engineering marvel. Prominent corner minarets distinguish the small mosque built by Ibrahim Quli Qutab Shah. The courtyard extends up to the ramparts providing spectacular views of the landscape below for miles. Close to the mosque lies a small Ram Mandir.
The 380-step ascent culminates at the Balahisar Baradari, a wind-swept pavilion, twelve-arched, triple-storied structure used as a durbar hall (royal court). It is divided by substantial piers into vaulted bays; a raised chamber with triple arches opens off the rear wall. On the uppermost terrace stands a stone throne. A pavilion, far away in the hills, is believed to have housed Taramati, Abul Hasan's paramour. The Baradari shows yet another engineering marvel-natural air-conditioning provided by a gap in the double walls, which sucks the air and releases it with accumulated pressure in the chambers.
Steep narrow steps descend to the zenana quarters (residence of women belonging to the royal household). These palaces, built on massive platforms, had high ceilings and walls covered with decorative niches, alcoves and cornices, essentially Persian in design. The tall wooden columns, now lost, reveal the bare structure of the triple-vaulted hall. Delicate arabesques in the roundels above the side arches constitute the elegant ornamentation on stucco.
Shepherd's Hill or 'Golla Konda', as it was known in Telugu, has an interesting story behind it. In 1143, on the rocky hill called 'Mangalavaram', a shepherd boy came across an idol. This was conveyed to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling at that time. The king got a mud fort constructed around the holy spot and nearly 200 years later Bahamini rulers (1364) took possession of the fort. From 1507 over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the the first three Qutub Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5km in circumference, which has been a silent witness to many historic events. The illustrious rule of the Qutub Shahis at Golconda ended in 1687, with the conquest of the fort by the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, who almost completely destroyed the fort and left it in a heap of pathetic ruins.
Golconda consists of four distinct forts with a 10km long outer wall having 87 semi circular bastions; some still mounted with cannons, eight gateways, four drawbridges and number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables etc, inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter 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. At Fateh Darwaza can be experienced the fantastic acoustical effects, characteristic of the engineering marvels at Golconda. 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 kilometre away. This acted as the warning note to residents in case of danger though now it is a mere amusing diversion to visitors.
Of the great gateways, the Balahisar Darwaza is the most impressive. Mythical beasts and lions on stucco panels of the spandrels provide decoration on this defence portal. From the Balahisar Darwaza starts the uphill ascent of some 380 uneven stone steps.
The main structure of the fort is laid out in a sequence of enclosures that holds the public and administrative structures to the royal residences and halls. The mortuary baths lie to the right of the portico. The baths were meant for the deceased royalty and harem ladies who were given the ritualistic bath before burial outside the Banjara Gate. Nagina Bagh, now in complete ruins, lies within an enclosure.
The offices of Akanna and Madanna, two important Hindu officials in the Qutab Shahi court, are further up. The large iron weights, half buried in the ground, are curious relics of the past. Ruins of the Ambar Khana (granary 1642) and Bari Baoli (step well) are close to the upper terrace. One can also see a Hindu temple (Madanna's) belonging to the Kakatiya period carved out of a huge boulder. It has colorful murals of the Goddess Kali on the white-painted facade.
Another important structure is the mosque built by Taramati. As one clambers up and down the boulders through narrow patches and uneven steps we can see unusual clay pipes fitted into the wall planks evidence of an efficient water supply arrangement to the uphill residential area.
Prominent corner minarets distinguish the small mosque (1518) built by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah. The courtyard extend up to the ramparts providing spectacular views of the landscape below, for miles. Close to the mosque lies the small Rama Mandir under the boulders. Ram Das, a revenue official jailed by Abul Hasan Tana Shah for misusing state funds, carved images of Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman on the rock surface in the cell.
The ascent of 380 steps finally culminates at the Balahisar Baradari, a wind-swept pavilion, twelve-arched, triple storeyed structure used as a durbar hall. It is divided by substantial piers into vaulted bays, a raised chamber with triple arches opens off the rear wall. On the uppermost terrace stands a stone throne. A pavilion, far away in the hills, is believed to have housed Taramati, Abul Hasan’s paramour. The Baradari shows yet another engineering marvel natural air-conditioning provided by a gap in the double walls which sucks the air and releases it with accumulated pressure in the chambers.
Steep narrow steps descend to the zenana quarters Rani Mahal. These palaces, built on massive platforms, had high ceilings and walls covered with decorative niches, alcoves and cornices, essentially Persian in design. The tall wooden columns, now lost, reveal the bare structure of the triple vaulted hall. Delicate arabesques in the roundels above the side arches constitute the elegant ornamentation on stucco. The Rani Mahal in its hey-days contained a world of luxury envied by the grand Mughals themselves.
There is also supposed to be secret underground tunnel leading from the 'Durbar Hall' to one of the palaces at the foot of the hill. The tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings, built with Islamic architecture lie about 1 km north of the outer wall of Golconda. These graceful structures are surrounded by landscaped gardens, some of which having beautifully carved stonework. Outside the Fort are two separate pavilions built on a rocky eminence - the 'Taramathi Gana Mandir' and the 'Premathi Nritya Mandir' where the legendary sisters 'Taramathi' and 'Premamathi' resided. They gave their performance on a circular dais atop a two-storied structure, the 'Kala Mandir', which was visible from the king's durbar (king's court) on top of the Golconda Fort. The fortress city within the walls was famous for its diamond trade and the famed Koh-i-noor diamond is said to have come from here.
Show Timings: Winter (November - February) 6:30pm, Summer (March - October) 7:00pm Duration: 55 minutes In English: Wednesday, Sunday In Hindi: Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday In Telugu: Thursday Closed on: Mondays
Golconda was the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty from 1512, the year the dynasty was founded, until 1591, when the dynastic capital shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahi dynasty lasted until 1687, when Golconda was captured by the forces of the Moghul emperor Aurangzeb. After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Nizams of Hyderabad declared independence. Later, the Nizams retained a measure of autonomy as allies of the British against Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Golconda was at that time the world's only known source of diamonds; both the Koh-i-Noor Diamond and the Hope Diamond were cut from gemstones found there.
Golconda's upper fort (Bala Hisar) was built on the eastern slope of the hill, as seen here. The photo looks west, from just inside Bala Hisar Gate. Enclosure walls separate the lower from the upper parts of the citadel. In the distance, the peak of the citadel rises steeply to 425 feet above the ground level. Public buildings such as an armory (photo extreme left) and royal mosque (Taramati Masjid, photo center) occupy the lower portions of the citadel. They are overlooked from the top of the hill by private palace buildings such as Ibrahim's Mosque, whose distant minarets are barely visible in the upper part of the photo.
The Qutb Shahi tombs are located in a pleasant, park-like, setting, near Golconda Fort. They are constructed of local granite and plaster, and were originally decorated with green and turquoise tiles. The tombs contain the burials of seven rulers of the dynasty (two additional rulers died in exile), and other persons associated with the royal family.
Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah (IV) was the fourth ruler of Golconda, a poet-king who founded the city of Hyderabad. His tomb (the north face is seen here) is 200 feet high, including its 60-foot dome. The structure's impressive 200-foot height is exactly balanced by the 200-foot wide double terrace on which it rests.
The lower terrace, 20 feet high, is supported by an arcade of 28 arches per side. Above, each side of the cubical building is elaborated with five recessed porticoes and a thick cornice, on top of which runs a battlemented parapet that is squared off by minarets. The dome rests on a lotus base that descends in transitions of 32-, 16-, and 8-sided figures to a square support. Mohammad Quli's cenotaph (see photo) is located at the upper floor level, underneath the dome; the actual crypt is located at ground level, within the lower terrace.
Lying to the west of Hyderabad city at a distance of 11 km, the historic Golkonda Fort derives its name from a Telugu word ‘Golla Konda’ which means Shepherd’s Hill. With its extensive and elevated fortifications it was a landmark that governed the destiny of the south. The fort originally belonged to the Kakatiyas of Warangal. This is testified by the over-door carvings and relief work in stucco consisting of lions, peacocks, griffins and lotus at the entrance of Balahisar. In AD1363 it was ceded to the Baihmanis. After their downfall in AD1518 it became the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings (AD 1518-1687). The fort was extended and substantially strengthened by these kings with massive fortification walls having bastions and battlements. Subsequently Aurangazeb annexed it to the Moghal Empire (AD 1687) during the reign of Abul Hasan Tana Shan, the last ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and appointed Asaf Jah as the Subedar of the Deccan province. Asaf Jah declared independence in AD1713 as Nizam-ul-Mulk and the Nizams held sway over Hyderabad until AD 1948.
Golkonda fort, one of the most famous and the biggest fortress in the Deccan plateau, was built on a 400 ft. high hill. It has three lines of massive fortification walls one within the other and rise to a height of over 12 m. The outer most wall was provided with a deep moat all around covering a vast area of the town with a circumference of 7 km. It has 8 imposing gateways and is buttressed with 87 bastions rising to a height of 15 to 18 meters. Each of these bastions was surmounted by cannons of varying caliber rendering the fort impregnable and strong among the forts of the medieval Deccan.
After the outer wall it has also a double wall that runs around the foot of the hill on which the citadel stands. Within the double wall, winding further up the hill, connecting the natural boulders with masonry walls is a third wall. An extension of the outer wall was made to enclose a small area on the northeast of the town in 1724 AD, which is now known as Naya Qila. The well-planned township of Golconda located within the fort was one of the splendid cities famous during the medieval world for its extensive trade in gems and diamonds as attested to by foreigners like Marco Polo, an Italian traveler. The fort has a striking appearance and its higher area is covered with the remains of armories, magazines, mosques, granaries, reservoirs and audience chambers; while at the foot of the citadel are nestled the dwellings of the queens and princesses and homesteads of their retainers.
The Golconda Fort is known as the Shepherd's Hill or Golla Konda in Telugu. There is an interesting story behind the construction of the fort. In 1143 AD, shepherd boy took notice of an idol on the rocky hill called 'Mangalavaram'. He told about the idol to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling Hyderabad at that time. The king constructed a mud fort around the holy spot. Almost 200 years later, Bahamini rulers in 1364 took possession of the fort.
The mud fort was converted into a massive fort of granite from 1507 AD by the first three Qutub Shahi kings over a period of 62 years. The fort was extended to a circumference of around 5 km. The rule of the Qutub Shahs at Golconda came to an end in 1687 AD with the capture of the fort by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He nearly annihilated the fort and left it into a mass of undignified ruins.
Golconda Fort is a complex comprising of four distinct forts. There is a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semi-circular bastions. The some of the bastions are still mounted with cannons. The fort has eight gateways, four drawbridges and several royal apartments, halls, temples, mosques, magazines and stables inside. The primary structure of the fort is laid out in a series of enclosures that holds the public and administrative structures as well as the royal residences and halls. The Nagina Bagh also lies within an enclosure but it is in utter ruins.
One can enter the Golconda Fort through the Fateh Darwaza or the Victory Gate in the southeast corner, called after the march of Aurangzeb after his victory. The gate is studded with iron spikes so that even the elephants cannot knock them down. The Fateh Darwaza has terrific acoustic effects, which characterizes the engineering skills of the architects of Golconda. The echo of the clap of hands at the center of the dome can be heard clearly at Bala Hisar Pavilion, which is the highest point of the fort and is around 1 km away. The acoustic feature was probably added deliberately to act as a warning note to the soldiers in case of an invasion.
The Bala Hisar Gate is the most impressive of all the gateways. The decoration of the gateway is done by putting the mythical beasts and lions on stucco panels of the spandrels. One has to climb some 380 uneven stone steps from the Bala Hisar Gate to reach the fort.
Akanna and Madanna were two important Hindu officials in the court of Qutub Shah. There offices are further up. The large iron weights are half buried in the ground. The ruins of the Ambar Khana or the granary and the Bari Baoli or the step well can be seen near the upper terrace. There is also see a Hindu temple of Madanna, which belongs to the Kakatiya period. It is carved out of a huge boulder and has colorful frescos of the Goddess Kali on the white-painted facade. There is also evidence to suggest that the fort had an efficient arrangement of water supply to the resident areas over the hill. You can see the queer clay pipes as you climb the steps.
The mosque built by Taramathi is also an important structure. Ibrahim Qutub Shah built a small mosque in 1518 AD, which is distinguished by the prominent corner minarets. The courtyard of the mosque extends up to the ramparts providing magnificent views of the landscape below. There is a small Rama Mandir under the boulders close to the mosque. Ram Das, revenue official who was jailed by Abul Hasan Tana Shah for misusing state funds, carved figures of Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman on the rock surface in the cell.
At the top is the Bala Hisar Baradari, which is a wind-swept pavilion. It has twelve arches and three storeys and used as a durbar hall. Strong piers divide it into vaulted bays where a raised chamber with triple arches opens from the rear wall. A stone throne is on the uppermost terrace. A pavilion, a little away in the hills, is believed to have housed Taramathi, Abul Hasan's paramour. The Baradari has another engineering marvel. It is the natural air-conditioning provided by an empty space between the double walls, which sucks the air and releases it with accumulated pressure in the chambers.
The zinnia quarters or the Rani Mahal are down the narrow steps. Golconda Fort TourThese palaces are built on huge platforms and had high ceilings. The walls are covered with decorative niches, alcoves and cornices, inspired by Persian design. The tall wooden columns, no more there, reveal the bare structure of the triple vaulted hall. The graceful beautification on the stucco is done with the arabesque in the roundels above the side arches.
The tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings are 1 km to the north outside the fort. They are remarkable for their design and implementation. This complex served as the burial ground of the family. Some of the tombs are above the ground and placed upon a huge platform of arches. The tombs are square in shape and are coated with plaster, bordered with small minarets each supporting a bulbous dome. This design became the style mark of the Qutub Shahi Architecture of the Deccan. There is a mortuary baths or the hammam to the right of the portico. These baths were meant to give ritualistic bath to the deceased royalty and harem ladies before the burial the Banjara Gate. To the west of the Hammam is the Tomb of Sultan Quli Qutub Khan, founder of the dynasty capital city of Golconda.. Tomb of Ibrahim Qutub Shah is towards the far south of the Hammam. It was once beautifully ornamented with enamel-work and paint. The Tomb of Mohammed Qutub Shah (1612-26) is directly towards the Hammam. It is the most impressive structure of the complex. Mohammad Qutub Shah was the founder of the city of Hyderabad.
There are two separate pavilions built over a rock outside the Golconda are the Taramati Gana Mandir and the Premamati Nritya Mandir. here the two legendary sisters Taramati and Premamati once lived. The sisters gave dance performances on a circular dais in the Kala Mandir. It was a two-storied structure was visible from the king's durbar on top of the Golconda Fort.
It is believed that there was also a secret underground tunnel leading from the Durbar Hall to one of the palaces at the foot of the hill.
The fortress city within the walls was famous for its diamond trade and the famous Koh-I-Noor diamond is said to have come from here.
There are several legends related with the manifestation of the Lord at Tirumala. The temple has its origins in the ancient sect of Vaishnavism that advocates the principles of equality and love and prohibits animal sacrifice. The sanctum sanctorum or the garbhagriha houses the awe-inspiring idol of the Lord of the Seven Hills, is situated in the main temple complex of Tirumala. It attracts pilgrims from all over the country who stand in line for hours together to obtain a glimpse of the presiding deity for a few fleeting seconds.
All the great dynasties of the southern peninsula paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara. The Pallavas of Kanchipuram in the 9th century AD, the Cholas of Thanjavur in the 10th century AD, the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijaya Nagar in the 14th -15th century AD were devotees of the Lord and they vied with one another in investing the temple with ample oblations and donations. During the reign of the Vijaya Nagar dynasty, the contributions to the temple increased. Sri Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts installed at the portals of the temple. The statue of Venkatapati Raya can be seen in the main temple.
After the decline of the Vijaya Nagar dynasty, the nobles and the chieftains from all parts of the country continued to pay their homage and tender gifts to the temple. The Maratha general, Raghoji Bhonsle, visited the temple and made arrangements for permanent endowment for the conduct of worship in the temple. He also bestowed precious jewels to the Lord, including a large emerald, which is still preserved in a box named after him. Among The later rulers of Mysore and Gadwal have also endowed large amounts to the temple. After the fall of the Hindu kingdoms, the Muslim rulers of Karnataka and later the British took over the temple. Many of the temples came under their supervisory and protective control. In 1843 AD, the East India Company divested itself of the direct management of non-Christian places of worship and native religious institutions.
Tirumala Hill Sri Seva Dossji of the Hatiramji Mutt at Tirumala was entrusted with the administration of the shrine of Sri Venkateswara and a number of estates. The temple remained under the administration of the Mahants for nearly a century. In 1933 AD, the Madras Legislature passed a special act empowering the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Committee to control and administer a fixed group of temples in the Tirumala-Tirupati area, through a Commissioner appointed by the Government of Madras. In 1951 AD, the Act of 1933 was replaced by an enactment whereby the administration of TTD was entrusted to a Board of Trustees, and the Government appointed an Executive Officer. Charitable and Religious Endowments Act, 1966, retained the provisions of the Act of 1951.
Several Puranas have mentioned about Sri Venkatachala Mahatmyas out of which the most important are the Varaha Purana and the Bhavishyottara Purana. According to the Varaha Purana, Adi Varaha manifested Himself on the western bank of the Swami Pushkarini, while Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara came to reside on the southern bank of the Swami Pushkarini.
Rangadasa was a staunch devotee of Vishnu. One day, in the course of his pilgrimage, he joined Vaikhanasa Gopinatha who was going to the Tirumala Hill for his daily worship of Lord Venkateswara. After bathing in the Swami Pushkarini, he took notice of the lotus-eyed and blue-bodied Vishnu under a tamarind tree. Vishnu was being exposed to the sun, wind and rain. The only protection was by the extended wings of Garuda. Rangadasa raised a coarse wall of stones around the deity and started supplying flowers faithfully to Gopinatha everyday for Vishnu's worship.
One day, Rangadasa was distracted by a Gandharva king and his ladies making him forget to supply flowers to Gopinatha. The Lord then revealed Himself and told Rangadasa that He had been examining his continence. Rangadasa had not been steady and had yielded to the temptation. However, the Lord apprehended Rangadasa's devoted service to Him till then. He blessed Rangadasa that he would be reborn as a powerful king of a province and would enjoy the earthly pleasures. He would continue to serve the Lord, construct a beautiful temple with a vimana and high surrounding walls.
Rangadasa was reborn as Tondaman, the son of the royal couple, Suvira and Nandini. Tondaman lived a luxurious life as a young man. One day, on a hunting expedition on the Tirumala Hill, he saw Vishnu beneath the tamarind tree. Tondaman inherited his father's kingdom, Tondamandalam. He constructed a prakaram and dvara gopura, and arranged for regular worship of the Lord. In the Kali Yuga, Akasaraja ruled over Tondamandalam and married his daughter Padmavathi to Venkateswara. The marriage was officiated by Brahma and was celebrated with great pomp and grandeur.
Tirupati Temple The Tirupati temple with its 'gopuram' or tower is one of the finest examples of Dravidian style of temple architecture. The detailed rituals and manner of worship in the temple were prescribed by the saint Ramanujacharya and are being followed till today. The 'Vimana' or Cupola over the sanctum sanctorum or the garbhagriha is covered completely with gold plate and is known as "the Ananda Nilayam". The Shrine comprises of three 'Prakarams' or enclosures. The outermost enclosure contains the 'Dhvajastambha' or the banner post, the statues of Vijaya Nagara king Krishnadevaraya and his consorts and of Todarmal, the minister of Akbar.
The idol of Lord Venkateshwara is imperial, attractive and marvelously executed. The full figure of Lord Venkateswara has the attributes of both Vishnu and Shiva, i.e., the aspects of a preserver as well as the destroyer of the Hindu Trinity. This attribute appeals to both the sects, i.e., Vaishnavites and Saivites. The idol is shown with four arms, first one holding a conch, the second a discus, the third in the abhaya posture while the fourth is resting on the hip. The girdle made of the serpent, an emblem of Lord Shiva, encircles both the front arms. The idol looks graceful when the Lord is draped in all the fineries and ornamentations to give darshan or on the abhishekha day when all the clothes are removed.
Everyday is celebrated with great festivity at Tirumala. The most famous festival of the temple is the annual festival called 'Brahmotsavam'. It is celebrated on expansive scale for nine days in the month of September and attracts pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the country. The fifth and ninth days of the festival are especially significant Garudostavam and Rathotavam takes place on these days.
An Italian architect designed the Falaknuma Palace. The influences of various styles can be seen in the palace as the Nawab was an avid traveler. It a fine blend of the Italian and Tudor architecture. The foundation of the palace was laid on the 3rd March 1884 and took 9 years to complete it. The palace was designed in the shape of a scorpion with its two wings spread out on the north. The main building is in the middle part while the kitchen and the harem quarters are towards the south. However, the building yielded to many additions and alterations by its later occupants.
The décor style of Louis XIV co-exists with the lavish Munhall ambiance, Italian marble staircases and ornate fountains. The Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, who succeeded Nizam VII, changed the decor of the palace. A well-laid out garden is in front of the palace. The windows of the palace are stained and allow a spectrum of colors along with the light into the room.
There is a library in the palace, which has a walnut carved roof and is a replica of the one at Windsor Castle. The library had one of the finest collections of the holy Quran in India. The palace also has largest Venetian chandeliers. It is generally said that it takes six months to clean a 138-arm Osler chandelier and the palace has 40 such chandeliers decorating the halls. The huge dining hall of the palace could accommodate 100 guests on a single table. The chairs are made from rosewood and green leather upholstery. The tableware was made of gold and crystal. Osler introduced the telephone and electrical system in the palace in1883. The palace has one of the largest electrical switchboards in India.
Falaknuma Palace The living quarters of the palace are in the ground floor. The interior of the main building has an Italian marble staircase supporting marble figures, lined with portraits of British Governor Generals. The staircase made of marble leads to the upper floor. The staircase has carved balustrades which supports marble figures with candelabra at regular distance. The murals bordered with gilded relief decorate the ceiling of the reception room in the upper floor. One can see a panoramic view of the city from this floor.
The palace has a ballroom, which contains a two-ton manually operated organ. This organ is said to be the only one of its kind in the world. Apart from this, the palace has 220 rooms extravagantly decorated and 22 spacious halls.
The palace has some of the finest treasures accumulated by the Nizam. The Falaknuma Palace has a display of a large collection including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books. The Jade collection of the Palace is considered to be unique in the world. The palace was the owned by the Nizam's family earlier and thus the visitors were not allowed. The palace occasionally opened for public view.
The Golconda Fort is known as the Shepherd's Hill or Golla Konda in Telugu. There is an interesting story behind the construction of the fort. In 1143 AD, shepherd boy took notice of an idol on the rocky hill called 'Mangalavaram'. He told about the idol to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling Hyderabad at that time. The king constructed a mud fort around the holy spot. Almost 200 years later, Bahamini rulers in 1364 took possession of the fort.
The mud fort was converted into a massive fort of granite from 1507 AD by the first three Qutub Shahi kings over a period of 62 years. The fort was extended to a circumference of around 5 km. The rule of the Qutub Shahs at Golconda came to an end in 1687 AD with the capture of the fort by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He nearly annihilated the fort and left it into a mass of undignified ruins.
Golconda Fort is a complex comprising of four distinct forts. There is a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semi-circular bastions. The some of the bastions are still mounted with cannons. The fort has eight gateways, four drawbridges and several royal apartments, halls, temples, mosques, magazines and stables inside. The primary structure of the fort is laid out in a series of enclosures that holds the public and administrative structures as well as the royal residences and halls. The Nagina Bagh also lies within an enclosure but it is in utter ruins.
One can enter the Golconda Fort through the Fateh Darwaza or the Victory Gate in the southeast corner, called after the march of Aurangzeb after his victory. The gate is studded with iron spikes so that even the elephants cannot knock them down. The Fateh Darwaza has terrific acoustic effects, which characterizes the engineering skills of the architects of Golconda. The echo of the clap of hands at the center of the dome can be heard clearly at Bala Hisar Pavilion, which is the highest point of the fort and is around 1 km away. The acoustic feature was probably added deliberately to act as a warning note to the soldiers in case of an invasion.
The Bala Hisar Gate is the most impressive of all the gateways. The decoration of the gateway is done by putting the mythical beasts and lions on stucco panels of the spandrels. One has to climb some 380 uneven stone steps from the Bala Hisar Gate to reach the fort.
Akanna and Madanna were two important Hindu officials in the court of Qutub Shah. There offices are further up. The large iron weights are half buried in the ground. The ruins of the Ambar Khana or the granary and the Bari Baoli or the step well can be seen near the upper terrace. There is also see a Hindu temple of Madanna, which belongs to the Kakatiya period. It is carved out of a huge boulder and has colorful frescos of the Goddess Kali on the white-painted facade. There is also evidence to suggest that the fort had an efficient arrangement of water supply to the resident areas over the hill. You can see the queer clay pipes as you climb the steps.
The mosque built by Taramathi is also an important structure. Ibrahim Qutub Shah built a small mosque in 1518 AD, which is distinguished by the prominent corner minarets. The courtyard of the mosque extends up to the ramparts providing magnificent views of the landscape below. There is a small Rama Mandir under the boulders close to the mosque. Ram Das, revenue official who was jailed by Abul Hasan Tana Shah for misusing state funds, carved figures of Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman on the rock surface in the cell.
At the top is the Bala Hisar Baradari, which is a wind-swept pavilion. It has twelve arches and three storeys and used as a durbar hall. Strong piers divide it into vaulted bays where a raised chamber with triple arches opens from the rear wall. A stone throne is on the uppermost terrace. A pavilion, a little away in the hills, is believed to have housed Taramathi, Abul Hasan's paramour. The Baradari has another engineering marvel. It is the natural air-conditioning provided by an empty space between the double walls, which sucks the air and releases it with accumulated pressure in the chambers.
The zinnia quarters or the Rani Mahal are down the narrow steps. These palaces are built on huge platforms and had high ceilings. The walls are covered with decorative niches, alcoves and cornices, inspired by Persian design. The tall wooden columns, no more there, reveal the bare structure of the triple vaulted hall. The graceful beautification on the stucco is done with the arabesque in the roundels above the side arches.
The tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings are 1 km to the north outside the fort. They are remarkable for their design and implementation. This complex served as the burial ground of the family. Some of the tombs are above the ground and placed upon a huge platform of arches. The tombs are square in shape and are coated with plaster, bordered with small minarets each supporting a bulbous dome. This design became the style mark of the Qutub Shahi Architecture of the Deccan. There is a mortuary baths or the hammam to the right of the portico. These baths were meant to give ritualistic bath to the deceased royalty and harem ladies before the burial the Banjara Gate. To the west of the Hammam is the Tomb of Sultan Quli Qutub Khan, founder of the dynasty capital city of Golconda.. Tomb of Ibrahim Qutub Shah is towards the far south of the Hammam. It was once beautifully ornamented with enamel-work and paint. The Tomb of Mohammed Qutub Shah (1612-26) is directly towards the Hammam. It is the most impressive structure of the complex. Mohammad Qutub Shah was the founder of the city of Hyderabad.
There are two separate pavilions built over a rock outside the Golconda are the Taramati Gana Mandir and the Premamati Nritya Mandir. here the two legendary sisters Taramati and Premamati once lived. The sisters gave dance performances on a circular dais in the Kala Mandir. It was a two-storied structure was visible from the king's durbar on top of the Golconda Fort.
It is believed that there was also a secret underground tunnel leading from the Durbar Hall to one of the palaces at the foot of the hill.
The fortress city within the walls was famous for its diamond trade and the famous Koh-I-Noor diamond is said to have come from here.
Andhra Pradesh presents a wonderful opportunity to observe the sharing of religious spaces. The rise of both Buddhism and Jainism in Andhra desa, as in other parts of India, was marked by the many prayer houses they left behind, called differently as stupas and basadis. Muslim rulers built many new mosques and converted some temple complexes into mosques. Andhra has been able to preserve a wonderful form of Hinduism too. Many ancient Hindu texts have been translated into Telugu from Sanskrit since ancient times.
Triputi Temple The Chalukyan, the Dravidian, the Nagara, and the Orissan styles of temple architecture can be seen in Andhra Pradesh. The Tirupati is the most visited pilgrim center and the richest temple. It is an ancient temple, which has the idol of the Lord Balaji or Venkatachalapati. The Sree Sailam temple is famous because it is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Shiva. Sree Sailam is near Kurnool and has the idol of the Mallikarjun in an ancient style. It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya composed the Sivandalahiri in this temple. The Alampur Nava Brahma temple has 9 ancient temples were constructed from 7th century onwards. It is the gateway to Sree Sailam. They are dedicated to the Lord Shiva. The Drakashrama is famous for one of the Pancharama temples. According to the legends, the Shivalingam held by demon Tarak broke into 5 pieces and fell at 5 Pancharama kshetram. Simhachalan means 'hill of lion'. The southern Chola kings and Gangas of Orissa patronized this temple. The Sree Kalahasti temple is one of the Panchabhoota temples of Shiva. The idol in the temple is the Vayu Lingam. It represents wind out of the five essential elements Agni, Vayu, Aakash, Jalam and Prithvi.
The Ahobhilam temple has the shrine of the Nava Narsimha. People have a lot of faith in this temple.The Dharmapuri temple near Karimnagar has the idol of the Yoga Narsimha, which is the manifestation of the Vishnu and the Ramlingeshwara, which is related to the legend from the Ramayana. Mangalagiri near Vijayawada has a hill temple, which bears the shrine of the Panala Narsimha and the Lakshmi Narayan. A hill temple at Yadagirigutta near Bhongir has a hill temple dedicated to the Narsimha who is the manifestation of the Vishnu. Vijayawada has 3 important temples of the Kanakdurga, the Malleshwara and the Vijayeshwara. Palampet has the Ramappa temple dating back to the Kakateya period. The sculptures are rich in carvings. The Thousand Pillared temple at Hanumakonda is a fine example of workmanship. The Hanumakonda is the ancient capital of Kakatiyas of Warangal. Bhadrachalam has the temple of Rama at a place where Lord Rama supposedly crossed the River Godavari to go southwards in search of Sita.
The Rajeshwar temple at Vemulawada is quite old and can be dated back to Vemulawada Chalukayas. The ancient capital of the Kalinga, Mukhalingam have 3 beautifully built temple in the Orissan style. Kotipalli (Kumaravana) in coastal Andhra Pradesh has the shrine of Someshwara. It is an ancient pilgrim center. The Amreshwara Shiva temple is in the ancient city of Amravati. Temple of Bhimeswara can be seen in Bhimarama or Kumararama at Simalkota. It has some very interesting sculptural work. The modern Birla Mandir is built of marble. It is situated in Hyderabad and has become an integral part of the city.
Often called "The Arc de Triomphe of the East",Charminar was built in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah and is a beautiful structure with four intricately carved minarets. Enormous in its size,this imposing monument exudes a charm that is more than 400 years old! The Charminar is a square edifice with four grand arches each facing a cardinal point that opened once upon a time into four royal streets. At each corner stands an exquisitely shaped minaret,more than 55 meters high with a double balcony. A bulbous dome crowns each minaret with dainty petal like designs at the base.
A beautiful mosque is located at the western end of the open roof and the remaining part of the roof served as a court during the Qutb Shahi times.
About 149 winding steps guide the visitor to the upper floor. Once atop,the solitude and serenity of the beautiful interior is refreshing. The space in the upper floor between the minarets was meant for Friday prayers. There are forty-five prayer spaces.
The summit of Charminar offers an excellent panoramic view of the city. Even as one turns towards the Golconda fort,the mind goes back into time and recapitulates the past glory of Hyderabad during the Qutb Shahi times. Skyscrapers and the bustling modern city life today encompass the Charminar,which was once surrounded by royal piazzas. But inspite of all this,nothing can wane the elegance of Charminar! Built with granite and lime-mortar,the Charminar is a fine example of the Cazia style of architecture. The intertwined arches and domes are typical of the Islamic architecture. The graceful floral motif atop the Charminar is enchanting! The Charminar depicts the Indo-Saracenic tradition - a symbiosis of the Hindu and the Muslim traditions,which has woven the magic of a rich Deccani culture. The nightly illumination of Charminar is spectacular.
As was usual in Indo-Islamic palace architecture, the first courtyard was dedicated to public functions; succeeding courtyards held the private rooms and apartments of the court. The Bara Imam, a building in the first (north) courtyard, is seen here. It was the administrative wing of the palace, and occupies the east side of the courtyard. The palace entrance is from the north, to the left of the photo, and the throne room (next page) is south, to the right of the photo.
Before the city of Hyderabad was founded the Deccan was ruled from Golconda fort. Founded originally by the Kakatiya's in the 13th century,the fort was taken over by the Bhaamani kings,subsequently passing to the Qutub Shahi Kings. The existing structure was expanded by the Qutub Shahi kings into a massive fort with granite walls and ramparts extending some 5-km in circumference over a period of 62 years.
The Fortress City within the walls was famous for the diamond trade and Ko-hi-noor diamond is said to have come from here. The name originates from the Telugu words "Golla" and "Konda" - 'Shepard's hill'. Famous features of Golconda includes its system of acoustics - a hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the Bala Hissar,the highest point almost a kilometer away.
Golconda is also known for its Palaces,factories,water supply system and the famous Rahban cannon.
An Impregnable Stronghold
The awesome Golconda Fort is famous for its military architecture. The defenses of this fort were so strong that no known attack of the time could penetrate its strong ramparts. No wonder, its downfall could only be engineered by the guile of a traitor. Though in an advanced state of decay, the fort still conveys the majesty of its heydays.Style Military Architecture
Golconda Fort is a marvelous piece of military architecture. It was one of the most defensive and impregnable strongholds of its time with massive ramparts, bastions, and gateways. The fort also reflects the architectural skill of its builders, who built it atop a rugged boulder-strewn terrain.The marvelous acoustic features of the fort speak highly of technical achievements of the builders of that time. The architectural skill of the Qutab Shahi rulers of Golconda is further reflected from the waterworks seen in the premises of the fort and below it. People living within the precincts of the fort, the royal baths, both residential and administrative buildings, received their due share of water, through a maze of well-laid clay pipes fed by Persian wheels (located below the fort).As Golconda is strategically located in the peninsular part of India, it acquired prominence on the political map of India when the Kakatiya rulers built Mangalawaram or Mankal, a mud fort in Golconda in 1143. The glory of the Golconda fort grew under the rulers of the Bahamani kingdom when they took over this fort in 1364. In 1507, Quli Qutab Shah founded the kingdom of Golconda and turned the mud fort into a strong fortress.
Golconda Fort has a strange savage grandeur to which the mammoth boulders on the surrounding hills contribute a rugged and eerie charm. From the top of the acropolis, the walls of Golconda appear meandering nearly four miles in circumference with 87 semi-circular bastions, eight gateways and four drawbridges, further secured by a deep moat running below the awesome ramparts. Later on, an irregular rhombus with a rough pentagon (known as the Naya Quila) was added to its northeastern side. Aurangzeb completely destroyed the fort in 1687 and left it in a heap of pathetic ruins. Huge cannons can still be seen mounted at a few vantage points.
The defense architecture at Golconda was so strong that it could face any known artillery attack of the 17th century. Golconda actually consists of four distinct forts joined together. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure that can be entered through the Fateh Darwaza (victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb's triumphant army marched in through this gate and destroyed the entire fort in 1687) near the southeastern corner. It is a vast tract covered with mansions of nobles, bazaars, temples, mosques, soldiers' barracks, powder magazines, stables, etc.
Golconda fort has a number of imposing gateways. The Fateh Darwaza (victory gate) is a marvel of architecture and is known for its acoustics. A clap of hands at the portico is heard at the Balahisar Baradari (a wind-swept pavilion) on top of the acropolis. This acted as the warning note to residents in case of danger, though it is now a mere amusing diversion to visitors. Most of the massive bastions still uphold cannons left behind by the Qutab Shahis and Mughal forces. The Fateh Rahbir canon (guide to victory) was mounted by Aurangzeb on the Pethla Burj where it stands as reminder of the Mughal emperor's determination to conquer Golconda. The Balahisar Darwaza is the most impressive gateway of this fort and is guarded by statues of mythical beasts and lions. From the Balahisar Darwaza starts the uphill ascent of some 380 uneven stone steps.
Important Monuments Within The Fort
The main structure of the fort is laid out in a sequence of enclosures that provide a transition from public and administrative structures to the royal residences and halls. The mortuary baths lie to the right of the portico. Earthen pipes fed the large cisterns here, the source of hot and cold water. The baths were meant for the deceased harem ladies who were given the ritualistic bath before burial outside the Banjara Gate. Nagina Bagh, now in complete ruins, lies within an enclosed area.The offices of Akanna and Madanna, two important Hindu officials in the Qutab Shahi court, are further up. The large iron weights, half buried in the ground, are curious relics of the past. Ruins of the Ambar Khana and Bari Baoli (step well) are close to the upper terrace. One can also see a Hindu temple belonging to the Kakatiya period carved out of a huge boulder. It has colorful murals of the Goddess Kali on the white-painted façade. Another important structure is the mosque built by Taramati.
As one continues to move up, one is bound to see the unusual clay pipes fitted into the wall planks-evidence of an efficient water supply arrangement to the uphill residential area. A series of Persian wheels carried water from the reservoirs to upper terraces from where the pipes channelized it into baths, cisterns, gardens, and kitchens. This is a sixteenth-century engineering marvel. Prominent corner minarets distinguish the small mosque built by Ibrahim Quli Qutab Shah. The courtyard extends up to the ramparts providing spectacular views of the landscape below for miles. Close to the mosque lies a small Ram Mandir.
The 380-step ascent culminates at the Balahisar Baradari, a wind-swept pavilion, twelve-arched, triple-storied structure used as a durbar hall (royal court). It is divided by substantial piers into vaulted bays; a raised chamber with triple arches opens off the rear wall. On the uppermost terrace stands a stone throne. A pavilion, far away in the hills, is believed to have housed Taramati, Abul Hasan's paramour. The Baradari shows yet another engineering marvel-natural air-conditioning provided by a gap in the double walls, which sucks the air and releases it with accumulated pressure in the chambers.
Steep narrow steps descend to the zenana quarters (residence of women belonging to the royal household). These palaces, built on massive platforms, had high ceilings and walls covered with decorative niches, alcoves and cornices, essentially Persian in design. The tall wooden columns, now lost, reveal the bare structure of the triple-vaulted hall. Delicate arabesques in the roundels above the side arches constitute the elegant ornamentation on stucco.
Legend of the Fort
In spite of all its defenses, the Golconda Fort finally fell into the hands of the Mughals who were led by Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal emperor. Rani Mahal was the stage for the last act in the drama of the Qutab Shahi rule. The news of Aurangzeb's army rushing into the fort reached Abul Hasan Tana Shah. He took his bath, ate his breakfast, bade farewell to the harem ladies, and received the Mughal commander. Throughout the proceedings, Abul Hasan conducted himself with rare dignity and a stoic acceptance of his destiny that took him to Daulatabad prison (he expired there in 1700). He passed through the Fateh Darwaza studded with giant spikes to prevent elephants battering it with their heads. However, he forgot to take into account the human fallacies-temptation and deceit. Aurangzeb bribed Abul Hasan's general, who left the gate open at night to facilitate entry of Mughal troops into the fort that had valiantly withstood the eight-month long siege. A traitor's day ended the illustrious rule of the Qutab Shahis at Golconda in 1687.Tourism in India
Golconda fort is one of the most magnificent fortress complex in India which lies on the western outskirts around 11km from Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The history of Golconda Fort dates back to the early 13th century, when this south eastern part of the country was ruled by the Kakatiyas. The bulk of the ruins of this fort, date from the time of the Qutub Shahi kings, who had ruled this area in the 16th and 17th century. The fortress is built on a granite hill 120 metres high, surrounded by massive crenellated ramparts.Shepherd's Hill or 'Golla Konda', as it was known in Telugu, has an interesting story behind it. In 1143, on the rocky hill called 'Mangalavaram', a shepherd boy came across an idol. This was conveyed to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling at that time. The king got a mud fort constructed around the holy spot and nearly 200 years later Bahamini rulers (1364) took possession of the fort. From 1507 over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the the first three Qutub Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5km in circumference, which has been a silent witness to many historic events. The illustrious rule of the Qutub Shahis at Golconda ended in 1687, with the conquest of the fort by the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, who almost completely destroyed the fort and left it in a heap of pathetic ruins.
Golconda consists of four distinct forts with a 10km long outer wall having 87 semi circular bastions; some still mounted with cannons, eight gateways, four drawbridges and number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables etc, inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter 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. At Fateh Darwaza can be experienced the fantastic acoustical effects, characteristic of the engineering marvels at Golconda. 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 kilometre away. This acted as the warning note to residents in case of danger though now it is a mere amusing diversion to visitors.
Of the great gateways, the Balahisar Darwaza is the most impressive. Mythical beasts and lions on stucco panels of the spandrels provide decoration on this defence portal. From the Balahisar Darwaza starts the uphill ascent of some 380 uneven stone steps.
The main structure of the fort is laid out in a sequence of enclosures that holds the public and administrative structures to the royal residences and halls. The mortuary baths lie to the right of the portico. The baths were meant for the deceased royalty and harem ladies who were given the ritualistic bath before burial outside the Banjara Gate. Nagina Bagh, now in complete ruins, lies within an enclosure.
The offices of Akanna and Madanna, two important Hindu officials in the Qutab Shahi court, are further up. The large iron weights, half buried in the ground, are curious relics of the past. Ruins of the Ambar Khana (granary 1642) and Bari Baoli (step well) are close to the upper terrace. One can also see a Hindu temple (Madanna's) belonging to the Kakatiya period carved out of a huge boulder. It has colorful murals of the Goddess Kali on the white-painted facade.
Another important structure is the mosque built by Taramati. As one clambers up and down the boulders through narrow patches and uneven steps we can see unusual clay pipes fitted into the wall planks evidence of an efficient water supply arrangement to the uphill residential area.
Prominent corner minarets distinguish the small mosque (1518) built by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah. The courtyard extend up to the ramparts providing spectacular views of the landscape below, for miles. Close to the mosque lies the small Rama Mandir under the boulders. Ram Das, a revenue official jailed by Abul Hasan Tana Shah for misusing state funds, carved images of Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman on the rock surface in the cell.
The ascent of 380 steps finally culminates at the Balahisar Baradari, a wind-swept pavilion, twelve-arched, triple storeyed structure used as a durbar hall. It is divided by substantial piers into vaulted bays, a raised chamber with triple arches opens off the rear wall. On the uppermost terrace stands a stone throne. A pavilion, far away in the hills, is believed to have housed Taramati, Abul Hasan’s paramour. The Baradari shows yet another engineering marvel natural air-conditioning provided by a gap in the double walls which sucks the air and releases it with accumulated pressure in the chambers.
Steep narrow steps descend to the zenana quarters Rani Mahal. These palaces, built on massive platforms, had high ceilings and walls covered with decorative niches, alcoves and cornices, essentially Persian in design. The tall wooden columns, now lost, reveal the bare structure of the triple vaulted hall. Delicate arabesques in the roundels above the side arches constitute the elegant ornamentation on stucco. The Rani Mahal in its hey-days contained a world of luxury envied by the grand Mughals themselves.
There is also supposed to be secret underground tunnel leading from the 'Durbar Hall' to one of the palaces at the foot of the hill. The tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings, built with Islamic architecture lie about 1 km north of the outer wall of Golconda. These graceful structures are surrounded by landscaped gardens, some of which having beautifully carved stonework. Outside the Fort are two separate pavilions built on a rocky eminence - the 'Taramathi Gana Mandir' and the 'Premathi Nritya Mandir' where the legendary sisters 'Taramathi' and 'Premamathi' resided. They gave their performance on a circular dais atop a two-storied structure, the 'Kala Mandir', which was visible from the king's durbar (king's court) on top of the Golconda Fort. The fortress city within the walls was famous for its diamond trade and the famed Koh-i-noor diamond is said to have come from here.
The Sound and Light Show
A new attraction at the fort is a sound and light show that brings the legend of Golconda to life. With a spectacular interplay of audio and visual effects, the story of Golconda unfolds over centuries of splendour. The show livens up the glorious past and it is an experience worth watching. The show is presented in English, Hindi and Telugu.Show Timings: Winter (November - February) 6:30pm, Summer (March - October) 7:00pm Duration: 55 minutes In English: Wednesday, Sunday In Hindi: Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday In Telugu: Thursday Closed on: Mondays
How to get there
Air: Hyderabad can be reached by air, from all the major cities of the country. Rail: Hyderabad is well connected by rail to all parts of the country. Road: There is a regular bus service to Hyderabad from many cities in southern, central and southeastern parts of the country. City Transport: Golconda Fort is around 11-km from Hyderabad. Auto rickshaws and Taxis are available apart from luxury/semi-luxury buses, for local transportation.Golconda was the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty from 1512, the year the dynasty was founded, until 1591, when the dynastic capital shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahi dynasty lasted until 1687, when Golconda was captured by the forces of the Moghul emperor Aurangzeb. After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Nizams of Hyderabad declared independence. Later, the Nizams retained a measure of autonomy as allies of the British against Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Golconda was at that time the world's only known source of diamonds; both the Koh-i-Noor Diamond and the Hope Diamond were cut from gemstones found there.
Golconda's upper fort (Bala Hisar) was built on the eastern slope of the hill, as seen here. The photo looks west, from just inside Bala Hisar Gate. Enclosure walls separate the lower from the upper parts of the citadel. In the distance, the peak of the citadel rises steeply to 425 feet above the ground level. Public buildings such as an armory (photo extreme left) and royal mosque (Taramati Masjid, photo center) occupy the lower portions of the citadel. They are overlooked from the top of the hill by private palace buildings such as Ibrahim's Mosque, whose distant minarets are barely visible in the upper part of the photo.
The Qutb Shahi tombs are located in a pleasant, park-like, setting, near Golconda Fort. They are constructed of local granite and plaster, and were originally decorated with green and turquoise tiles. The tombs contain the burials of seven rulers of the dynasty (two additional rulers died in exile), and other persons associated with the royal family.
Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah (IV) was the fourth ruler of Golconda, a poet-king who founded the city of Hyderabad. His tomb (the north face is seen here) is 200 feet high, including its 60-foot dome. The structure's impressive 200-foot height is exactly balanced by the 200-foot wide double terrace on which it rests.
The lower terrace, 20 feet high, is supported by an arcade of 28 arches per side. Above, each side of the cubical building is elaborated with five recessed porticoes and a thick cornice, on top of which runs a battlemented parapet that is squared off by minarets. The dome rests on a lotus base that descends in transitions of 32-, 16-, and 8-sided figures to a square support. Mohammad Quli's cenotaph (see photo) is located at the upper floor level, underneath the dome; the actual crypt is located at ground level, within the lower terrace.
Lying to the west of Hyderabad city at a distance of 11 km, the historic Golkonda Fort derives its name from a Telugu word ‘Golla Konda’ which means Shepherd’s Hill. With its extensive and elevated fortifications it was a landmark that governed the destiny of the south. The fort originally belonged to the Kakatiyas of Warangal. This is testified by the over-door carvings and relief work in stucco consisting of lions, peacocks, griffins and lotus at the entrance of Balahisar. In AD1363 it was ceded to the Baihmanis. After their downfall in AD1518 it became the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings (AD 1518-1687). The fort was extended and substantially strengthened by these kings with massive fortification walls having bastions and battlements. Subsequently Aurangazeb annexed it to the Moghal Empire (AD 1687) during the reign of Abul Hasan Tana Shan, the last ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and appointed Asaf Jah as the Subedar of the Deccan province. Asaf Jah declared independence in AD1713 as Nizam-ul-Mulk and the Nizams held sway over Hyderabad until AD 1948.
Golkonda fort, one of the most famous and the biggest fortress in the Deccan plateau, was built on a 400 ft. high hill. It has three lines of massive fortification walls one within the other and rise to a height of over 12 m. The outer most wall was provided with a deep moat all around covering a vast area of the town with a circumference of 7 km. It has 8 imposing gateways and is buttressed with 87 bastions rising to a height of 15 to 18 meters. Each of these bastions was surmounted by cannons of varying caliber rendering the fort impregnable and strong among the forts of the medieval Deccan.
After the outer wall it has also a double wall that runs around the foot of the hill on which the citadel stands. Within the double wall, winding further up the hill, connecting the natural boulders with masonry walls is a third wall. An extension of the outer wall was made to enclose a small area on the northeast of the town in 1724 AD, which is now known as Naya Qila. The well-planned township of Golconda located within the fort was one of the splendid cities famous during the medieval world for its extensive trade in gems and diamonds as attested to by foreigners like Marco Polo, an Italian traveler. The fort has a striking appearance and its higher area is covered with the remains of armories, magazines, mosques, granaries, reservoirs and audience chambers; while at the foot of the citadel are nestled the dwellings of the queens and princesses and homesteads of their retainers.
Monuments of Golconda Fort, Hyderabad
Golconda Fort TourThe Golconda Fort is a magnificent fortress complex, which lies on the western outskirts around 11km from Hyderabad. Originally a mud fort, it was later reconstructed in stone. Since then it has had a variety of additions by the various rulers of the area. The fortress is built on a 120 metres high granite hill surrounded by massive castled ramparts.The Golconda Fort is known as the Shepherd's Hill or Golla Konda in Telugu. There is an interesting story behind the construction of the fort. In 1143 AD, shepherd boy took notice of an idol on the rocky hill called 'Mangalavaram'. He told about the idol to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling Hyderabad at that time. The king constructed a mud fort around the holy spot. Almost 200 years later, Bahamini rulers in 1364 took possession of the fort.
The mud fort was converted into a massive fort of granite from 1507 AD by the first three Qutub Shahi kings over a period of 62 years. The fort was extended to a circumference of around 5 km. The rule of the Qutub Shahs at Golconda came to an end in 1687 AD with the capture of the fort by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He nearly annihilated the fort and left it into a mass of undignified ruins.
Golconda Fort is a complex comprising of four distinct forts. There is a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semi-circular bastions. The some of the bastions are still mounted with cannons. The fort has eight gateways, four drawbridges and several royal apartments, halls, temples, mosques, magazines and stables inside. The primary structure of the fort is laid out in a series of enclosures that holds the public and administrative structures as well as the royal residences and halls. The Nagina Bagh also lies within an enclosure but it is in utter ruins.
One can enter the Golconda Fort through the Fateh Darwaza or the Victory Gate in the southeast corner, called after the march of Aurangzeb after his victory. The gate is studded with iron spikes so that even the elephants cannot knock them down. The Fateh Darwaza has terrific acoustic effects, which characterizes the engineering skills of the architects of Golconda. The echo of the clap of hands at the center of the dome can be heard clearly at Bala Hisar Pavilion, which is the highest point of the fort and is around 1 km away. The acoustic feature was probably added deliberately to act as a warning note to the soldiers in case of an invasion.
The Bala Hisar Gate is the most impressive of all the gateways. The decoration of the gateway is done by putting the mythical beasts and lions on stucco panels of the spandrels. One has to climb some 380 uneven stone steps from the Bala Hisar Gate to reach the fort.
Akanna and Madanna were two important Hindu officials in the court of Qutub Shah. There offices are further up. The large iron weights are half buried in the ground. The ruins of the Ambar Khana or the granary and the Bari Baoli or the step well can be seen near the upper terrace. There is also see a Hindu temple of Madanna, which belongs to the Kakatiya period. It is carved out of a huge boulder and has colorful frescos of the Goddess Kali on the white-painted facade. There is also evidence to suggest that the fort had an efficient arrangement of water supply to the resident areas over the hill. You can see the queer clay pipes as you climb the steps.
The mosque built by Taramathi is also an important structure. Ibrahim Qutub Shah built a small mosque in 1518 AD, which is distinguished by the prominent corner minarets. The courtyard of the mosque extends up to the ramparts providing magnificent views of the landscape below. There is a small Rama Mandir under the boulders close to the mosque. Ram Das, revenue official who was jailed by Abul Hasan Tana Shah for misusing state funds, carved figures of Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman on the rock surface in the cell.
At the top is the Bala Hisar Baradari, which is a wind-swept pavilion. It has twelve arches and three storeys and used as a durbar hall. Strong piers divide it into vaulted bays where a raised chamber with triple arches opens from the rear wall. A stone throne is on the uppermost terrace. A pavilion, a little away in the hills, is believed to have housed Taramathi, Abul Hasan's paramour. The Baradari has another engineering marvel. It is the natural air-conditioning provided by an empty space between the double walls, which sucks the air and releases it with accumulated pressure in the chambers.
The zinnia quarters or the Rani Mahal are down the narrow steps. Golconda Fort TourThese palaces are built on huge platforms and had high ceilings. The walls are covered with decorative niches, alcoves and cornices, inspired by Persian design. The tall wooden columns, no more there, reveal the bare structure of the triple vaulted hall. The graceful beautification on the stucco is done with the arabesque in the roundels above the side arches.
The tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings are 1 km to the north outside the fort. They are remarkable for their design and implementation. This complex served as the burial ground of the family. Some of the tombs are above the ground and placed upon a huge platform of arches. The tombs are square in shape and are coated with plaster, bordered with small minarets each supporting a bulbous dome. This design became the style mark of the Qutub Shahi Architecture of the Deccan. There is a mortuary baths or the hammam to the right of the portico. These baths were meant to give ritualistic bath to the deceased royalty and harem ladies before the burial the Banjara Gate. To the west of the Hammam is the Tomb of Sultan Quli Qutub Khan, founder of the dynasty capital city of Golconda.. Tomb of Ibrahim Qutub Shah is towards the far south of the Hammam. It was once beautifully ornamented with enamel-work and paint. The Tomb of Mohammed Qutub Shah (1612-26) is directly towards the Hammam. It is the most impressive structure of the complex. Mohammad Qutub Shah was the founder of the city of Hyderabad.
There are two separate pavilions built over a rock outside the Golconda are the Taramati Gana Mandir and the Premamati Nritya Mandir. here the two legendary sisters Taramati and Premamati once lived. The sisters gave dance performances on a circular dais in the Kala Mandir. It was a two-storied structure was visible from the king's durbar on top of the Golconda Fort.
It is believed that there was also a secret underground tunnel leading from the Durbar Hall to one of the palaces at the foot of the hill.
The fortress city within the walls was famous for its diamond trade and the famous Koh-I-Noor diamond is said to have come from here.
Venkateshwara Temple, Tirupati
The ancient sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala or Venkata Hill or the Tirupati Hill and lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini. He is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills. The temple of Sri Venkateswara has gained unique sanctity in Indian religious lore. The Shastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams and Alwar hymns have declared that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Sri Venkateswara. The epics like the Rig Veda and the Asthadasa Puranas have described Sri Venkateswara as the great bestower of boons. The temple is said to be the richest temple in the world.There are several legends related with the manifestation of the Lord at Tirumala. The temple has its origins in the ancient sect of Vaishnavism that advocates the principles of equality and love and prohibits animal sacrifice. The sanctum sanctorum or the garbhagriha houses the awe-inspiring idol of the Lord of the Seven Hills, is situated in the main temple complex of Tirumala. It attracts pilgrims from all over the country who stand in line for hours together to obtain a glimpse of the presiding deity for a few fleeting seconds.
All the great dynasties of the southern peninsula paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara. The Pallavas of Kanchipuram in the 9th century AD, the Cholas of Thanjavur in the 10th century AD, the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijaya Nagar in the 14th -15th century AD were devotees of the Lord and they vied with one another in investing the temple with ample oblations and donations. During the reign of the Vijaya Nagar dynasty, the contributions to the temple increased. Sri Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts installed at the portals of the temple. The statue of Venkatapati Raya can be seen in the main temple.
After the decline of the Vijaya Nagar dynasty, the nobles and the chieftains from all parts of the country continued to pay their homage and tender gifts to the temple. The Maratha general, Raghoji Bhonsle, visited the temple and made arrangements for permanent endowment for the conduct of worship in the temple. He also bestowed precious jewels to the Lord, including a large emerald, which is still preserved in a box named after him. Among The later rulers of Mysore and Gadwal have also endowed large amounts to the temple. After the fall of the Hindu kingdoms, the Muslim rulers of Karnataka and later the British took over the temple. Many of the temples came under their supervisory and protective control. In 1843 AD, the East India Company divested itself of the direct management of non-Christian places of worship and native religious institutions.
Tirumala Hill Sri Seva Dossji of the Hatiramji Mutt at Tirumala was entrusted with the administration of the shrine of Sri Venkateswara and a number of estates. The temple remained under the administration of the Mahants for nearly a century. In 1933 AD, the Madras Legislature passed a special act empowering the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Committee to control and administer a fixed group of temples in the Tirumala-Tirupati area, through a Commissioner appointed by the Government of Madras. In 1951 AD, the Act of 1933 was replaced by an enactment whereby the administration of TTD was entrusted to a Board of Trustees, and the Government appointed an Executive Officer. Charitable and Religious Endowments Act, 1966, retained the provisions of the Act of 1951.
Several Puranas have mentioned about Sri Venkatachala Mahatmyas out of which the most important are the Varaha Purana and the Bhavishyottara Purana. According to the Varaha Purana, Adi Varaha manifested Himself on the western bank of the Swami Pushkarini, while Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara came to reside on the southern bank of the Swami Pushkarini.
Rangadasa was a staunch devotee of Vishnu. One day, in the course of his pilgrimage, he joined Vaikhanasa Gopinatha who was going to the Tirumala Hill for his daily worship of Lord Venkateswara. After bathing in the Swami Pushkarini, he took notice of the lotus-eyed and blue-bodied Vishnu under a tamarind tree. Vishnu was being exposed to the sun, wind and rain. The only protection was by the extended wings of Garuda. Rangadasa raised a coarse wall of stones around the deity and started supplying flowers faithfully to Gopinatha everyday for Vishnu's worship.
One day, Rangadasa was distracted by a Gandharva king and his ladies making him forget to supply flowers to Gopinatha. The Lord then revealed Himself and told Rangadasa that He had been examining his continence. Rangadasa had not been steady and had yielded to the temptation. However, the Lord apprehended Rangadasa's devoted service to Him till then. He blessed Rangadasa that he would be reborn as a powerful king of a province and would enjoy the earthly pleasures. He would continue to serve the Lord, construct a beautiful temple with a vimana and high surrounding walls.
Rangadasa was reborn as Tondaman, the son of the royal couple, Suvira and Nandini. Tondaman lived a luxurious life as a young man. One day, on a hunting expedition on the Tirumala Hill, he saw Vishnu beneath the tamarind tree. Tondaman inherited his father's kingdom, Tondamandalam. He constructed a prakaram and dvara gopura, and arranged for regular worship of the Lord. In the Kali Yuga, Akasaraja ruled over Tondamandalam and married his daughter Padmavathi to Venkateswara. The marriage was officiated by Brahma and was celebrated with great pomp and grandeur.
Tirupati Temple The Tirupati temple with its 'gopuram' or tower is one of the finest examples of Dravidian style of temple architecture. The detailed rituals and manner of worship in the temple were prescribed by the saint Ramanujacharya and are being followed till today. The 'Vimana' or Cupola over the sanctum sanctorum or the garbhagriha is covered completely with gold plate and is known as "the Ananda Nilayam". The Shrine comprises of three 'Prakarams' or enclosures. The outermost enclosure contains the 'Dhvajastambha' or the banner post, the statues of Vijaya Nagara king Krishnadevaraya and his consorts and of Todarmal, the minister of Akbar.
The idol of Lord Venkateshwara is imperial, attractive and marvelously executed. The full figure of Lord Venkateswara has the attributes of both Vishnu and Shiva, i.e., the aspects of a preserver as well as the destroyer of the Hindu Trinity. This attribute appeals to both the sects, i.e., Vaishnavites and Saivites. The idol is shown with four arms, first one holding a conch, the second a discus, the third in the abhaya posture while the fourth is resting on the hip. The girdle made of the serpent, an emblem of Lord Shiva, encircles both the front arms. The idol looks graceful when the Lord is draped in all the fineries and ornamentations to give darshan or on the abhishekha day when all the clothes are removed.
Everyday is celebrated with great festivity at Tirumala. The most famous festival of the temple is the annual festival called 'Brahmotsavam'. It is celebrated on expansive scale for nine days in the month of September and attracts pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the country. The fifth and ninth days of the festival are especially significant Garudostavam and Rathotavam takes place on these days.
Falaknuma Palace
The Falaknuma Palace or the Mirror of the Sky is the one of the finest palaces of Hyderabad. It is situated on a 2000 ft high hill at a distance of 5 km from Char Minar. It was built in 1883-84 AD by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra Bahadur, who was the fifth Amir of Paigah and the prime Minister of Hyderabad. The Sixth Nizam purchased it in 1897 AD to use it as the royal Guest House. Nowadays it belongs to Nawab Mukarramjah Bahadur, the grandson of seventh Nizam.An Italian architect designed the Falaknuma Palace. The influences of various styles can be seen in the palace as the Nawab was an avid traveler. It a fine blend of the Italian and Tudor architecture. The foundation of the palace was laid on the 3rd March 1884 and took 9 years to complete it. The palace was designed in the shape of a scorpion with its two wings spread out on the north. The main building is in the middle part while the kitchen and the harem quarters are towards the south. However, the building yielded to many additions and alterations by its later occupants.
The décor style of Louis XIV co-exists with the lavish Munhall ambiance, Italian marble staircases and ornate fountains. The Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, who succeeded Nizam VII, changed the decor of the palace. A well-laid out garden is in front of the palace. The windows of the palace are stained and allow a spectrum of colors along with the light into the room.
There is a library in the palace, which has a walnut carved roof and is a replica of the one at Windsor Castle. The library had one of the finest collections of the holy Quran in India. The palace also has largest Venetian chandeliers. It is generally said that it takes six months to clean a 138-arm Osler chandelier and the palace has 40 such chandeliers decorating the halls. The huge dining hall of the palace could accommodate 100 guests on a single table. The chairs are made from rosewood and green leather upholstery. The tableware was made of gold and crystal. Osler introduced the telephone and electrical system in the palace in1883. The palace has one of the largest electrical switchboards in India.
Falaknuma Palace The living quarters of the palace are in the ground floor. The interior of the main building has an Italian marble staircase supporting marble figures, lined with portraits of British Governor Generals. The staircase made of marble leads to the upper floor. The staircase has carved balustrades which supports marble figures with candelabra at regular distance. The murals bordered with gilded relief decorate the ceiling of the reception room in the upper floor. One can see a panoramic view of the city from this floor.
The palace has a ballroom, which contains a two-ton manually operated organ. This organ is said to be the only one of its kind in the world. Apart from this, the palace has 220 rooms extravagantly decorated and 22 spacious halls.
The palace has some of the finest treasures accumulated by the Nizam. The Falaknuma Palace has a display of a large collection including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books. The Jade collection of the Palace is considered to be unique in the world. The palace was the owned by the Nizam's family earlier and thus the visitors were not allowed. The palace occasionally opened for public view.
Monuments of Golconda Fort, Hyderabad
The Golconda Fort is a magnificent fortress complex, which lies on the western outskirts around 11km from Hyderabad. Originally a mud fort, it was later reconstructed in stone. Since then it has had a variety of additions by the various rulers of the area. The fortress is built on a 120 metres high granite hill surrounded by massive castled ramparts.The Golconda Fort is known as the Shepherd's Hill or Golla Konda in Telugu. There is an interesting story behind the construction of the fort. In 1143 AD, shepherd boy took notice of an idol on the rocky hill called 'Mangalavaram'. He told about the idol to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling Hyderabad at that time. The king constructed a mud fort around the holy spot. Almost 200 years later, Bahamini rulers in 1364 took possession of the fort.
The mud fort was converted into a massive fort of granite from 1507 AD by the first three Qutub Shahi kings over a period of 62 years. The fort was extended to a circumference of around 5 km. The rule of the Qutub Shahs at Golconda came to an end in 1687 AD with the capture of the fort by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He nearly annihilated the fort and left it into a mass of undignified ruins.
Golconda Fort is a complex comprising of four distinct forts. There is a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semi-circular bastions. The some of the bastions are still mounted with cannons. The fort has eight gateways, four drawbridges and several royal apartments, halls, temples, mosques, magazines and stables inside. The primary structure of the fort is laid out in a series of enclosures that holds the public and administrative structures as well as the royal residences and halls. The Nagina Bagh also lies within an enclosure but it is in utter ruins.
One can enter the Golconda Fort through the Fateh Darwaza or the Victory Gate in the southeast corner, called after the march of Aurangzeb after his victory. The gate is studded with iron spikes so that even the elephants cannot knock them down. The Fateh Darwaza has terrific acoustic effects, which characterizes the engineering skills of the architects of Golconda. The echo of the clap of hands at the center of the dome can be heard clearly at Bala Hisar Pavilion, which is the highest point of the fort and is around 1 km away. The acoustic feature was probably added deliberately to act as a warning note to the soldiers in case of an invasion.
The Bala Hisar Gate is the most impressive of all the gateways. The decoration of the gateway is done by putting the mythical beasts and lions on stucco panels of the spandrels. One has to climb some 380 uneven stone steps from the Bala Hisar Gate to reach the fort.
Akanna and Madanna were two important Hindu officials in the court of Qutub Shah. There offices are further up. The large iron weights are half buried in the ground. The ruins of the Ambar Khana or the granary and the Bari Baoli or the step well can be seen near the upper terrace. There is also see a Hindu temple of Madanna, which belongs to the Kakatiya period. It is carved out of a huge boulder and has colorful frescos of the Goddess Kali on the white-painted facade. There is also evidence to suggest that the fort had an efficient arrangement of water supply to the resident areas over the hill. You can see the queer clay pipes as you climb the steps.
The mosque built by Taramathi is also an important structure. Ibrahim Qutub Shah built a small mosque in 1518 AD, which is distinguished by the prominent corner minarets. The courtyard of the mosque extends up to the ramparts providing magnificent views of the landscape below. There is a small Rama Mandir under the boulders close to the mosque. Ram Das, revenue official who was jailed by Abul Hasan Tana Shah for misusing state funds, carved figures of Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman on the rock surface in the cell.
At the top is the Bala Hisar Baradari, which is a wind-swept pavilion. It has twelve arches and three storeys and used as a durbar hall. Strong piers divide it into vaulted bays where a raised chamber with triple arches opens from the rear wall. A stone throne is on the uppermost terrace. A pavilion, a little away in the hills, is believed to have housed Taramathi, Abul Hasan's paramour. The Baradari has another engineering marvel. It is the natural air-conditioning provided by an empty space between the double walls, which sucks the air and releases it with accumulated pressure in the chambers.
The zinnia quarters or the Rani Mahal are down the narrow steps. These palaces are built on huge platforms and had high ceilings. The walls are covered with decorative niches, alcoves and cornices, inspired by Persian design. The tall wooden columns, no more there, reveal the bare structure of the triple vaulted hall. The graceful beautification on the stucco is done with the arabesque in the roundels above the side arches.
The tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings are 1 km to the north outside the fort. They are remarkable for their design and implementation. This complex served as the burial ground of the family. Some of the tombs are above the ground and placed upon a huge platform of arches. The tombs are square in shape and are coated with plaster, bordered with small minarets each supporting a bulbous dome. This design became the style mark of the Qutub Shahi Architecture of the Deccan. There is a mortuary baths or the hammam to the right of the portico. These baths were meant to give ritualistic bath to the deceased royalty and harem ladies before the burial the Banjara Gate. To the west of the Hammam is the Tomb of Sultan Quli Qutub Khan, founder of the dynasty capital city of Golconda.. Tomb of Ibrahim Qutub Shah is towards the far south of the Hammam. It was once beautifully ornamented with enamel-work and paint. The Tomb of Mohammed Qutub Shah (1612-26) is directly towards the Hammam. It is the most impressive structure of the complex. Mohammad Qutub Shah was the founder of the city of Hyderabad.
There are two separate pavilions built over a rock outside the Golconda are the Taramati Gana Mandir and the Premamati Nritya Mandir. here the two legendary sisters Taramati and Premamati once lived. The sisters gave dance performances on a circular dais in the Kala Mandir. It was a two-storied structure was visible from the king's durbar on top of the Golconda Fort.
It is believed that there was also a secret underground tunnel leading from the Durbar Hall to one of the palaces at the foot of the hill.
The fortress city within the walls was famous for its diamond trade and the famous Koh-I-Noor diamond is said to have come from here.
Temples of Andhra Pradesh
Bhimeswara Temple Andhra Pradesh has some of the most beautiful temples of South India. The language of the state, Telugu, considered to be one of the classical languages, is the one in which most devotional songs exist. A recent study by the Anthropological Survey of India has revealed that many Indians follow more than one religion. In most parts of India, Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism flourished at the same time (from the last few centuries of the pre-Christian era to the 10th-11th century AD). Thereafter, Islam also joined the three religions and the interactive culture, architecture and traditions became all the richer for it.Andhra Pradesh presents a wonderful opportunity to observe the sharing of religious spaces. The rise of both Buddhism and Jainism in Andhra desa, as in other parts of India, was marked by the many prayer houses they left behind, called differently as stupas and basadis. Muslim rulers built many new mosques and converted some temple complexes into mosques. Andhra has been able to preserve a wonderful form of Hinduism too. Many ancient Hindu texts have been translated into Telugu from Sanskrit since ancient times.
Triputi Temple The Chalukyan, the Dravidian, the Nagara, and the Orissan styles of temple architecture can be seen in Andhra Pradesh. The Tirupati is the most visited pilgrim center and the richest temple. It is an ancient temple, which has the idol of the Lord Balaji or Venkatachalapati. The Sree Sailam temple is famous because it is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Shiva. Sree Sailam is near Kurnool and has the idol of the Mallikarjun in an ancient style. It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya composed the Sivandalahiri in this temple. The Alampur Nava Brahma temple has 9 ancient temples were constructed from 7th century onwards. It is the gateway to Sree Sailam. They are dedicated to the Lord Shiva. The Drakashrama is famous for one of the Pancharama temples. According to the legends, the Shivalingam held by demon Tarak broke into 5 pieces and fell at 5 Pancharama kshetram. Simhachalan means 'hill of lion'. The southern Chola kings and Gangas of Orissa patronized this temple. The Sree Kalahasti temple is one of the Panchabhoota temples of Shiva. The idol in the temple is the Vayu Lingam. It represents wind out of the five essential elements Agni, Vayu, Aakash, Jalam and Prithvi.
The Ahobhilam temple has the shrine of the Nava Narsimha. People have a lot of faith in this temple.The Dharmapuri temple near Karimnagar has the idol of the Yoga Narsimha, which is the manifestation of the Vishnu and the Ramlingeshwara, which is related to the legend from the Ramayana. Mangalagiri near Vijayawada has a hill temple, which bears the shrine of the Panala Narsimha and the Lakshmi Narayan. A hill temple at Yadagirigutta near Bhongir has a hill temple dedicated to the Narsimha who is the manifestation of the Vishnu. Vijayawada has 3 important temples of the Kanakdurga, the Malleshwara and the Vijayeshwara. Palampet has the Ramappa temple dating back to the Kakateya period. The sculptures are rich in carvings. The Thousand Pillared temple at Hanumakonda is a fine example of workmanship. The Hanumakonda is the ancient capital of Kakatiyas of Warangal. Bhadrachalam has the temple of Rama at a place where Lord Rama supposedly crossed the River Godavari to go southwards in search of Sita.
The Rajeshwar temple at Vemulawada is quite old and can be dated back to Vemulawada Chalukayas. The ancient capital of the Kalinga, Mukhalingam have 3 beautifully built temple in the Orissan style. Kotipalli (Kumaravana) in coastal Andhra Pradesh has the shrine of Someshwara. It is an ancient pilgrim center. The Amreshwara Shiva temple is in the ancient city of Amravati. Temple of Bhimeswara can be seen in Bhimarama or Kumararama at Simalkota. It has some very interesting sculptural work. The modern Birla Mandir is built of marble. It is situated in Hyderabad and has become an integral part of the city.
Charminar,Hyderabad
Hyderabad is most famous for its charming minarets - Charminar. The city is often identified with the majestic Charminar,which stands at the center of the old city in its entire splendor amidst the colorful shops of Ladbazaar with its glittering traditional bangles.Often called "The Arc de Triomphe of the East",Charminar was built in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah and is a beautiful structure with four intricately carved minarets. Enormous in its size,this imposing monument exudes a charm that is more than 400 years old! The Charminar is a square edifice with four grand arches each facing a cardinal point that opened once upon a time into four royal streets. At each corner stands an exquisitely shaped minaret,more than 55 meters high with a double balcony. A bulbous dome crowns each minaret with dainty petal like designs at the base.
A beautiful mosque is located at the western end of the open roof and the remaining part of the roof served as a court during the Qutb Shahi times.
About 149 winding steps guide the visitor to the upper floor. Once atop,the solitude and serenity of the beautiful interior is refreshing. The space in the upper floor between the minarets was meant for Friday prayers. There are forty-five prayer spaces.
The summit of Charminar offers an excellent panoramic view of the city. Even as one turns towards the Golconda fort,the mind goes back into time and recapitulates the past glory of Hyderabad during the Qutb Shahi times. Skyscrapers and the bustling modern city life today encompass the Charminar,which was once surrounded by royal piazzas. But inspite of all this,nothing can wane the elegance of Charminar! Built with granite and lime-mortar,the Charminar is a fine example of the Cazia style of architecture. The intertwined arches and domes are typical of the Islamic architecture. The graceful floral motif atop the Charminar is enchanting! The Charminar depicts the Indo-Saracenic tradition - a symbiosis of the Hindu and the Muslim traditions,which has woven the magic of a rich Deccani culture. The nightly illumination of Charminar is spectacular.
Chau Mahalla Palace
The neoclassical-style Chau Mahalla was the seat of the Nizams of Hyderabad. It consists of four buildings surrounding two courtyards, which are aligned north-south (the name "Chau Mahalla," also spelled "Chou Mahalla" or "Chow Mahalla," means "four pavilions;" "mahalla" is the same root word as the "Mahal" in "Taj Mahal.".As was usual in Indo-Islamic palace architecture, the first courtyard was dedicated to public functions; succeeding courtyards held the private rooms and apartments of the court. The Bara Imam, a building in the first (north) courtyard, is seen here. It was the administrative wing of the palace, and occupies the east side of the courtyard. The palace entrance is from the north, to the left of the photo, and the throne room (next page) is south, to the right of the photo.
How To Reach
The great Golconda fort is located on the western side of the city of Hyderabad. Hyderabad is well connected by air, rail, and road with important cities in India and abroad. Travelers can reach the fort either by taking local buses or, alternatively, they can take auto-rickshaw and taxis. A steep climb of 380 steps lead one to the topmost building of the fort.
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