Hyderabad - Golconda Fort

Portions of the Golconda Fort date from the 13th C but the majority was added in the 16th C. Although much of the fort is in ruins, the outer walls have semi circular bastions and some are still mounted with cannons. Golconda Fort also features eight gateways, four drawbridges, numerous royal apartments and halls, temples, mosques, magazines, and stables.

The Golconda Fort epitomizes the opulent culture of the time and the scale, complexity and military might are still so obvious. This immense fortress was built on a granite hill, surrounded by ramparts of large masonry blocks. The main gates were studded with iron spikes as a way of obstructing war elephants from entering. A reliable water system was also set in place with concealed earthen pipes. The fortress city of Golconda became famous for its diamond market and the vault that contained the coveted Kohinoor diamond.

The tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings lie north of the outer wall of Golconda. The tombs are located in a landscaped garden. Some of the mausoleums and other structures have beautifully carved stonework.

The Golconda Fort is also the sight of a unique narrated Sound and Light Show that takes spectators back to a time when Golconda was full of life!