The Golconda Fort is located near Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana. The fort dates back to 1143, when it was built by the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The name of the historic Golconda Fort is derived from the Telugu word 'Golla Konda' which means shepherd. Initially, it was an earthen fort but was later converted into granite during the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The Golconda Fort is one of the major tourist destinations in Hyderabad. The fort is located about nine kilometers from Hussain Sagar Lake, one of the largest man-made lakes in the country, and is one of the most preserved monuments in the region. There are many more interesting things about this fort that we and you may not know. Let's know some interesting facts related to it.
Secret Tunnels of the Fort
It is believed that there are some secret tunnels in this fort, which start from the Durbar Hall and go up to a palace at the bottom of the hill. It is said that it was built as an escape route, but no one has been able to find it.
History
An interesting history is associated with the construction of this fort. It is said that one day a shepherd boy found a statue on the hill. When the then-ruler Kakatiya King got information about that statue, he considered it a holy place and built a mud fort around it, which is today known as Golconda Fort.
This fort is in the south of India
This fort built in the south of India was the capital of the medieval sultanate of the Qutb Shahi Empire of Golconda between 1518-1687. Golconda Fort is located 11 kilometers south of Hyderabad. It comes in the Telangana state of India. This is an ancient and famous fort. This fort was also famous all over the world because many precious things were found here like Kohinoor Diamond, Hope Diamond, Nasak Diamond Noor-al-Ain, etc. However, now it remains only as a fort and a ruined city near Hyderabad city in southern India.
Names of three places in America inspired by it
In the United States of America, three places have been named after Golconda - Arizona, Illinois, and Nevada. Mining towns in Arizona and Nevada are known as Golconda Towns. However, now the towns of Arizona and Nevada are known as ghost towns. Sarahville Town in Illinois, which looks like Hyderabad, was named Golconda in 1817.
Darbar Hall
You can get an idea of the magnificent grandeur of this fort by looking at the Darbar Hall here, which has been built on the top of the hill keeping in mind both the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. One has to climb a thousand stairs to reach here.
Mahakali temple is at the top
Shri Jagdamba Maha Mandir is situated at the top of Golconda. King - Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah was so popular among his subjects that he was called Malkabhiram by Hindus. After celebrating the Bonalu festival here, this festival is celebrated in the whole city.
Mystery
The biggest mystery of this fort is that it is built in such a way that when someone claps on the floor of the fort, its sound reverberates from Bala Hissar Gate and is heard throughout the fort. This place is called 'Talia Mandap' or modern sound pavilion.
400 year old tree
Inside this fort, there is a very old African baobab tree, which is 400 years old. It is said that this tree was gifted to Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah by some Arabian traders. Local people call it Hathiyan ka Jhaad.
Mysterious tunnel
It is believed that there is a mysterious tunnel in the fort, which passes through the lowest part of the fort and comes out of the fort. It is said that this tunnel was built to safely take the royal family members out in case of emergency, but till now nothing has been known about this tunnel.
Famous light and sound show
Golconda Fort is one of the most famous places in Hyderabad city. The light and sound show held here is in three languages - English, Hindi, and Telugu. In this show, you will get to know about the history of Hyderabad. Golconda Fort is open from 9 am to 5.30 pm. The entry fee for this sound and light show of the fort is Rs 130.
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