| Golconda | |
|---|---|
| Hyderabad, India | |
 | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fort |
| Owner | Archaeological Survey of India |
| Controlled by | Archaeological Survey of India |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Location | |
  Golconda | |
| Coordinates | 17°22′59″N78°24′04″E / 17.38306°N 78.40111°E /17.38306; 78.40111 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 11th century |
| Built by | Kakatiya dynasty ruler KingPrataparudra in the 11th century Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk (1518 fortification) |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Bahmani Sultanate,Golconda Sultanate,Mughal Empire |
Golconda is a fortified citadel and ruined city located on the western outskirts ofHyderabad,Telangana, India.[1][2] The fort was originally built byKakatiya rulerPratāparudra in the 11th century out of mud walls.[3] It was ceded to the Bahmani Kings fromMusunuri Nayakas during the reign of the Bahmani SultanMohammed Shah I, during the firstBahmani-Vijayanagar War. Following the death of Sultan Mahmood Shah, the Sultanate disintegrated and Sultan Quli, who had been appointed as the Governor of Hyderabad by the Bahmani Kings, fortified the city and made it the capital of theGolconda Sultanate. Because of the vicinity of diamond mines, especiallyKollur Mine, Golconda flourished as a trade centre of large diamonds known asGolconda Diamonds. Golconda fort is currently abandoned and in ruins. The complex was put byUNESCO on its "tentative list" to become aWorld Heritage Site in 2014, with other forts in the region, under the nameMonuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate (despite there being a number of different sultanates).[1]
The origins of the Golconda fort can be traced back to the 11th century. It was originally a small mud fort built byPratāparudra of theKakatiya Empire.[3] The nameGolconda is thought to originate from theTeluguగొల్లకొండGollakoṇḍa for "Shepherd's hill".[4][5] It is also thought that Kakatiya rulerGanapatideva 1199–1262 built a stonehilltopoutpost — later known as Golconda fort — to defend their western region.[6] The fort was later developed into a fortified citadel in 1518 bySultan Quli of theQutb Shahi Empire and the city was declared the capital of theGolconda Sultanate.[5]
TheBahmani kings took possession of the fort after it was made over to them by means of asanad by the Rajah ofWarangal.[3] Under theBahmani Sultanate, Golconda slowly rose to prominence.Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk (r. 1487–1543), sent by the Bahmanids as a governor at Golconda, established the city as the seat of his governance around 1501. Bahmani rule gradually weakened during this period, and Sultan Quli (Quli Qutub Shah period) formally became independent in 1518, establishing theQutb Shahi dynasty based in Golconda.[7][8][9] Over a period of 62 years, the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi sultans into the present structure: a massivefortification of granite extending around 5 km (3.1 mi) incircumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted toHyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose 7 km (4.3 mi) outer wall enclosed the city.
During the early seventeenth century a strong cotton-weaving industry existed in Golconda. Large quantities of cotton were produced for domestic and exports consumption. High quality plain or patterned cloth made of muslin and calico was produced. Plain cloth was available as white or brown colour, in bleached or dyed variety. Exports of this cloth was to Persia and European countries. Patterned cloth was made of prints which were made indigenously with indigo for blue, chay-root for red coloured prints and vegetable yellow. Patterned cloth exports were mainly to Java, Sumatra and other eastern countries.[10]The fort finally fell into ruin in 1687 after aneight-month-long siege led to its fall at the hands of theMughal emperorAurangzeb, who ended the Qutb Shahi reign and took the last Golconda king,Abul Hassan Tana Shah, captive.[11][5]
The Golconda fort used to have a vault where the famousKoh-i-Noor andHope diamonds were once stored along with other diamonds.[12]
Golconda is renowned for the diamonds found on the south-east atKollur Mine nearKollur, Guntur district,Paritala and Atkur inKrishna district and cut in the city during theKakatiya reign. At thattime, India had the only known diamond mines in the world. Golconda was the market city of the diamond trade, and gems sold there came from a number of mines. The fortress-city within the walls was famous for diamond trade.[citation needed]
Its name has taken a generic meaning and has come to be associated with great wealth. Some gemologists use this classification to denote the extremely rare Type IIa diamond, a crystal that essentially lacks nitrogen impurities and is therefore colorless; Many Type IIa diamonds, as identified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), have come from the mines in and around the Golconda region.
Many famed diamonds are believed to have been excavated from the mines of Golconda, such as:
By the 1880s, "Golconda" was being used generically by English speakers to refer to any particularly rich mine, and later to any source of great wealth.
Duringthe Renaissance and the early modern eras, the name "Golconda" acquired a legendary aura and became synonymous for vast wealth. The mines brought riches to theQutb Shahis ofHyderabad State, who ruled Golconda up to 1687, then to theNizam of Hyderabad, who ruled after the independence from theMughal Empire in 1724 until 1948, when theIndian integration of Hyderabad occurred. Thesiege of Golconda occurred in January 1687, when Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led his forces to besiege the Qutb Shahi dynasty at Golconda fort (also known as the Diamond Capitol of its time) and was home to the Kollur Mine. The ruler of Golconda was the well entrenchedAbul Hasan Qutb Shah.[13]
Golconda fort is listed as an archaeological treasure on the official "List of Monuments" prepared by theArchaeological Survey of India under The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.[14] Golconda consists of four distinctforts with a 10 km (6.2 mi) long outer wall with 87 semicircular bastions (some still mounted withcannons), eight gateways, and fourdrawbridges, with a number of royal apartments and halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables, etc. inside. The lowest of these is the outermostenclosure entered by the "Fateh Darwaza" (Victory gate, so called afterAurangzeb’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. Anacoustic effect can be experienced at Fateh Darwazaan, a hand clap at a certain point below thedome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the "Bala Hisar"pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometer away. This worked as a warning in case of an attack.
The "Bala Hisar" gate is the main entrance to the fort located on the eastern side. It has a pointed arch bordered by rows of scroll work. The spandrels haveyalis and decorated roundels. The area above the door has peacocks with ornate tails flanking an ornamental arched niche. The granite block lintel below has sculpted yalis flanking a disc. The design of peacocks and lions is typical ofHindu architecture and underlies this fort's Hindu origins.
TheJagadambatemple, located next to themosque ofIbrahim and the king's palace, is visited by hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees duringBonalu festival every year.[15][16] Jagadamba temple is about 900 to 1,000 years old, dating back to earlyKakatiya period.[17] AMahankalitemple is located in the vicinity, within Golconda fort.[18]
The fort also contains thetombs of the Qutub Shahi kings. These tombs display features ofIndo-Islamic architecture and are located about 1 km (0.62 mi) north of the outer wall of Golconda. They are encircled by gardens and numerous carved stones.
The two individual pavilions on the outer side of Golconda are built on a point which is quite rocky. The "Kala Mandir" is also located in the fort. It can be seen from the king's durbar (king's court) which was on top of the Golconda fort.
The other buildings found inside the fort are: Habshi Kamans (Abyssian arches), Ashlah Khana, Taramati mosque, Ramadas Bandikhana, Camel stable, private chambers (kilwat), Mortuary bath, Nagina bagh, Ramasasa's kotha, Durbar hall, Ambar khana etc.
Naya Qila is an extension of Golconda fort which was turned into theHyderabad Golf Club despite resistance from farmers who owned the land and various NGOs within the city. The ramparts of the new fort start after the residential area with many towers and theHatiyan ka Jhad ("Elephant-sized tree")—an ancientbaobab tree with an enormous girth. It also includes a war mosque. These sites are under restrictive access to the public because of the Golf Course.
The tombs of the Qutub Shahi sultans lie about one kilometre north of Golconda's outer wall. These structures are made of beautifully carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped gardens. They are open to the public and receive many visitors. It is one of the famous sight-seeing places in Hyderabad.
Golconda Artillery Centre, Hyderabad, was raised on 15 August 1962 as the Second Recruit Training Centre for theRegiment of Artillery.[19][20] Golconda Artillery Centre is located in and around the Golconda fort. The Golconda centre has three training regiments and presently trains 2900 recruits at a time.[21]
The Golconda fort and other Qutb Shahi dynasty Monuments of Hyderabad (theCharminar, and the Qutb Shahi Tombs) were submitted by the Permanent Delegation of India toUNESCO in 2010 for consideration asWorld Heritage Sites. They are currently included on India's "tentative list".[22][23]
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