Golconda Fort
FACTS & FIGURES
| Built in | : | 12th century and 16th century AD |
| Built by | : | Various rulers |
| Location | : | Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) |
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).
GOLCONDA 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.
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.