Golconda Fort - reach-hyd.com

Golconda Fort

Golconda Fort: A Historical Citadel

Located on the western outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Built with mud walls in the 11th century by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparudra.
Transferred to the Bahmani Kings during Sultan Muhammad Shah's reign.
Later became the capital of the Golconda Sultanate under Sultan Quli.
Once a thriving diamond trade center, famous for Golconda Diamonds.
Now in a state of abandonment and ruins.
Listed in UNESCO's "tentative list" for potential World Heritage Site designation.

History:

The Golconda fort had its origins in the 11th century as a small mud fort built by Pratāparudra of the Kakatiya Empire.
The name "Golconda" is believed to mean "Cowherd's hill" in Telugu.
The fort was further developed into a fortified citadel in 1518 by Sultan Quli of the Qutb Shahi Empire.
Under the Bahmani Sultanate, Golconda became significant as Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk established it as the seat of his governance around 1501.
The Qutb Shahi dynasty expanded the mud fort over 62 years into a massive granite fortification around 5 km in circumference.
Golconda remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when it was moved to Hyderabad.
The city had a thriving cotton-weaving industry during the early seventeenth century, producing high-quality plain and patterned cloth for domestic and export.
The Golconda fort eventually fell into ruin in 1687 after an eight-month-long siege led by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, ending the Qutb Shahi reign and capturing the last Golconda king, Abul Hassan Tana Shah.

Distance from important places in Hyderabad

From Secunderabad Railway Station - 14.5 KMs - 50 Minutes
From Begumpet Railway Station - 12.2 KMs - 31 Minutes
From Kachiguda Railway Station - 13.0 KMs - 42 Minutes
From Nampally Railway Station - 9.5 KMs - 31 Minutes
From Mahatma Gandhi Bus Stand - 11.5 KMs - 37 Minutes
From Jubilee Bus Stand - 17.2 KMs - 46 Minutes
From Rajiv Gandhi international Airport - 27.8 KMs - 40 Minutes