This is why you need to visit Golconda ‘Kohinoor’ Fort

India, being home to several forts and palaces, is a traveller’s delight. They transport us to a time warp and make us realise how far we have travelled. And Golconda Fort, situated in Hyderabad, truly justifies the above concept. With 500 years of existence to its credit, Golconda Fort is still standing strong, proving age is just a number.

Once you step inside the fort, you will feel as if you have entered a mini-kingdom, far away from the ravages of people and time. This very fort was once upon a time the glory and pride of the land, withstanding numerous battles and ransacking, and its walls still seem to whisper the past tales.
In fact, Golconda Fort is rich in both history and mystery. This article gives you a detailed account of the fort and how it witnessed the wrath of time.

Golconda Fort
This fort has seen many dynasties from the ancient Kakatiyas, Bahmanis, Qutub Shahis to Mughals. There are tales around it, a mix of history and myth, and might just make you question your belief system. The story of this fort takes you back to the times when Hyderabad was not even a city with a global impact. It was during the 12th century AD, when Kakatiya first fortified the Shepherd’s Hill (Golla-Konda).
Initially, the fort was built with mud on a granite hill. This is the very reason why the fort could not withstand invasion. By 1364, the fort kept changing hands, i.e., from the Kakatiyas to Munusuri Nayaks, and then to Bahamani Sultans. The fort was then taken over by Qutb Shahi dynasty that built the structure into the granite fort that we see today. The fort then eventually fell into the hands of the Mughals; fast forward to today’s date, we still get to see this grand fort and take part in walks to learns more about India’s history.

The story of diamonds and valour, straight from Golconda Fort
Of Kohinoor and more diamonds
This region was popular for its mine; so popular that they brought prosperity to several rulers of Hyderabad, including the Nizams and Qutb Shahis. If some sources are to be believed, India was one of the only places from where diamonds were mined during that time. So, during the Kakatiya dynasty, Golconda gradually became a hub for diamond cutters. It was also a place, where precious stones and gems were sold in the market palaces, and saw the new light of prosperity.

Golconda was a place of opulence and glamour at that time; and today, you just get to see glimpses of its past glory. Further, speaking of the coveted precious stones, it is believed that the famous Kohinoor, Daria-i-Noor and Hope Diamond were unearthed from here.
You will not be allowed to visit the mines today as they remain accessible, yet you get the grandiosity of the fort.

Golconda is inspired from Golla Konda, which means Shepherd’s Hill
There are many stories and myths surrounding this beautiful fort, which are fanciful yet intriguing at the same time. However, the true story behind this fort is that the Golla Konda (Shepherd’s Hill) was built by the Hindu Kakatiya kings during 13th century. As per a legend, it so happened that a shepherd found an idol on the hill, which lead to the construction of a mud fort by the then ruler.

The fort kept changing hands, and eventually became home to one of the most powerful Muslim sultanates and also the centre of flourishing diamond trade.

Golconda’s secret passages and water systems
It is widely believed that there is a secret underground passage that connects the durbar halls, which is situated at the top, to one of the palaces situated at the bottom of the hill. Though the route was meant to be an escape route for the royals, it was never found.
The entry gate of the fort has been kept intentionally kept narrow so that an elephant would be unable to hit the door directly during an attack. And as an added security measure, there was a canon placed at the entrance of the fort, which was used to pour hot oil on enemies.
The queens believed that looking into a mirror increases the possibility of having dark spots on one’s face; so, the fort had water pits to let the queens see their reflection instead of mirrors.

Also, the ventilation of the fort is such that even during summers, hot winds used to turn cooler when inside. It was the water tank mechanism that used to cool the hot winds.

Interesting acoustics
One clap! This is all you have to do to discover the wonder of acoustics in this fort. Try clapping inside the majestic portico under the dome and you will be able to hear the sound of the clap in Bala Hisar pavilion, which is almost 1 km away.
This is entirely because of the carefully constructed arches within the walls of the fort. It is believed that the fort was built this way to enable the army chief to listen to what his sentries were up to. Materials that were known for creating sound reflection properties, were blended with other materials used for building the wall.

Golconda Fort, apart from being majestic and having rich history, deserves a visit to help understand the fact how far we have travelled and how some things should never turn into ruins.