![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QXR3WF5FRVEG5CU2NCDJEDZZZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf7d7a92ba170fedf3ff0230b7d2e238cad8775a1c8d0c148f96f2f526067ba5&width=400&height=225)
Golconda was originally built in 1148 as a mud fort
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FQEK74IPFBF7JV6BRJMHMG54E.jpg?smart=true&auth=143e549ad242e8fffc381bb51a3876587cf2b0e9595601cbc7d43ecdff7102fa&width=400&height=225)
Golconda Fort was built on the top of a small granite hill overlooking Hyderabad, the joint capital of India's Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states. All photos: Taniya Dutta / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UR2OFWJ5BREJ5OQ235V6M7UYZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ccc2cab1b8b8096e2231a8a15e182ab53ba6da0f79baf53406385d6a52abbdc2&width=400&height=225)
It was built in 1148 by the Kakatiya empire, which ruled the region between 12th and 14th centuries
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C74QG7ZU3RFBNJ2LBK7KIHNOAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c915b669d42e3ff0415b6c0aec360b4227216f22114dd6f5db3623484b5c53c6&width=400&height=225)
It was later fortified by the Bahmani sultanate between the 14th and 17th centuries
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/INQDLCKVDBHLTPBEENFZRGBERA.jpg?smart=true&auth=21ef7e69b0652862d8ecd9f8ae287bab611339caa8eaa8cddb2cf081c68002ea&width=400&height=225)
The citadel was further established as the capital of the Persian Qutub Shahi dynasty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J5B3X2SXVZGYTCLOIAK5BMD7TE.jpg?smart=true&auth=04ed63e606dcc0c8946c4b9e9e26ddee51f0eeeb37abbd2c0f40acb61a15eb90&width=400&height=225)
There are eight gateways but only the eastern gate is open to tourists
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ITVVHMU4QZHE3FO3ZZN64J3VEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=46f63914e313036845358611a9869a73fe33a6722e0bb3120e9ae33473fe46f4&width=400&height=225)
A tourist looks at the city of Hyderabad from Golconda Fort
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X7TJHIZSO5D6RILODBI7RTS5NI.jpg?smart=true&auth=79d09f21a3116762e8eda5cb08e83f6c3ac7d0e4d6e47d7361fbdc8d97e556c3&width=400&height=225)
The fort, which stretches across three square kilometres, has numerous majestic halls, royal apartments, armouries, audience chambers, a mosque, a temple and stable
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6PHMGMEDN5CZLNZE643YSN5KI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd88bcd18ac191d6a2411d618b0e599ced63b651a63963c1ba108d9f15a05640&width=400&height=225)
The walls of the fort range from five to 10 metres, interspaced by 87 semi-circular bastions, some 18 metres in height
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E6MOG6L26NF67PN5G5B575EWX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=facd9325e499e7f14d8a6ebfa7c4a063973a7bc369dc4d24a3614329eb659476&width=400&height=225)
Even though some parts of it have been reduced to ruins, it is one of the most magnificent forts in the country
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HLHUDOMOLFB2ZAV3PPB6UTH4HQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=45ffdd650fbc972ab61cb6c9345324759ef4a4c829f79d64c05a81018dea281a&width=400&height=225)
Golconda was a defence fort for the rulers of the Deccan region
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JWUOANE64RBPJFPURPLI4VKG3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=c281a6f8a3653657a47640265729bc0e19ba6400be040b608953cedff4e77d6e&width=400&height=225)
The main hall on the top of the hill
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U2K6267QD5DIXAK5ARIHN4WLZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=598756d29e7c237f3c22ee3fe5f76559aff5d8f1f240030c7438ae69aa4aa599&width=400&height=225)
The mosque at Golconda Fort
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6F4R5YDPM5FRZG3A3X23WOUFT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ece007f3b5ade937756efb56507937345966a61d3a6836c732615b21b8c6088&width=400&height=225)
The fort still has cannons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2UHILH7DU5CZHB3HYT2DOTDHJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4a6dcdd50b5a1eb2b8eeea524828d857197ef6b758a686194d796fa9b15c683&width=400&height=225)
Tourists read a map of the colossal fort
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QXR3WF5FRVEG5CU2NCDJEDZZZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf7d7a92ba170fedf3ff0230b7d2e238cad8775a1c8d0c148f96f2f526067ba5&width=400&height=225)
Golconda was originally built in 1148 as a mud fort
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FQEK74IPFBF7JV6BRJMHMG54E.jpg?smart=true&auth=143e549ad242e8fffc381bb51a3876587cf2b0e9595601cbc7d43ecdff7102fa&width=400&height=225)
Golconda Fort was built on the top of a small granite hill overlooking Hyderabad, the joint capital of India's Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states. All photos: Taniya Dutta / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UR2OFWJ5BREJ5OQ235V6M7UYZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ccc2cab1b8b8096e2231a8a15e182ab53ba6da0f79baf53406385d6a52abbdc2&width=400&height=225)
It was built in 1148 by the Kakatiya empire, which ruled the region between 12th and 14th centuries
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C74QG7ZU3RFBNJ2LBK7KIHNOAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c915b669d42e3ff0415b6c0aec360b4227216f22114dd6f5db3623484b5c53c6&width=400&height=225)
It was later fortified by the Bahmani sultanate between the 14th and 17th centuries
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/INQDLCKVDBHLTPBEENFZRGBERA.jpg?smart=true&auth=21ef7e69b0652862d8ecd9f8ae287bab611339caa8eaa8cddb2cf081c68002ea&width=400&height=225)
The citadel was further established as the capital of the Persian Qutub Shahi dynasty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J5B3X2SXVZGYTCLOIAK5BMD7TE.jpg?smart=true&auth=04ed63e606dcc0c8946c4b9e9e26ddee51f0eeeb37abbd2c0f40acb61a15eb90&width=400&height=225)
There are eight gateways but only the eastern gate is open to tourists
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ITVVHMU4QZHE3FO3ZZN64J3VEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=46f63914e313036845358611a9869a73fe33a6722e0bb3120e9ae33473fe46f4&width=400&height=225)
A tourist looks at the city of Hyderabad from Golconda Fort
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X7TJHIZSO5D6RILODBI7RTS5NI.jpg?smart=true&auth=79d09f21a3116762e8eda5cb08e83f6c3ac7d0e4d6e47d7361fbdc8d97e556c3&width=400&height=225)
The fort, which stretches across three square kilometres, has numerous majestic halls, royal apartments, armouries, audience chambers, a mosque, a temple and stable
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6PHMGMEDN5CZLNZE643YSN5KI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd88bcd18ac191d6a2411d618b0e599ced63b651a63963c1ba108d9f15a05640&width=400&height=225)
The walls of the fort range from five to 10 metres, interspaced by 87 semi-circular bastions, some 18 metres in height
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E6MOG6L26NF67PN5G5B575EWX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=facd9325e499e7f14d8a6ebfa7c4a063973a7bc369dc4d24a3614329eb659476&width=400&height=225)
Even though some parts of it have been reduced to ruins, it is one of the most magnificent forts in the country
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HLHUDOMOLFB2ZAV3PPB6UTH4HQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=45ffdd650fbc972ab61cb6c9345324759ef4a4c829f79d64c05a81018dea281a&width=400&height=225)
Golconda was a defence fort for the rulers of the Deccan region
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JWUOANE64RBPJFPURPLI4VKG3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=c281a6f8a3653657a47640265729bc0e19ba6400be040b608953cedff4e77d6e&width=400&height=225)
The main hall on the top of the hill
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U2K6267QD5DIXAK5ARIHN4WLZE.jpg?smart=true&auth=598756d29e7c237f3c22ee3fe5f76559aff5d8f1f240030c7438ae69aa4aa599&width=400&height=225)
The mosque at Golconda Fort
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6F4R5YDPM5FRZG3A3X23WOUFT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ece007f3b5ade937756efb56507937345966a61d3a6836c732615b21b8c6088&width=400&height=225)
The fort still has cannons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2UHILH7DU5CZHB3HYT2DOTDHJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b4a6dcdd50b5a1eb2b8eeea524828d857197ef6b758a686194d796fa9b15c683&width=400&height=225)
Tourists read a map of the colossal fort
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QXR3WF5FRVEG5CU2NCDJEDZZZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf7d7a92ba170fedf3ff0230b7d2e238cad8775a1c8d0c148f96f2f526067ba5&width=400&height=225)
Golconda was originally built in 1148 as a mud fort
Postcard from Golconda: The formidable Indian fort that guarded the Koh-i-Noor diamond
The fort was home to different dynasties over 800 years
![Taniya Dutta](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Ff16b3521-2438-42ac-a914-4072ef298f1c.png?smart=true&auth=2e7bd18a9d681304782408cd2ad4662f50ed2dec6f481149b8eb1cac80d9d410&width=70&height=70)
Taniya Dutta
26 April, 2024
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