Golconda is a ruined city and fortress 11 km west of the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh state, India. The city and fortress are built on a granite hill that is 120 meters high and is surrounded by massive crenellated ramparts. The beginnings of the fort date to the 1143, when the Hindu Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area. The Kakatiyas were followed by the state of Warangal, which was later conquered by the Muslim Bahmani Sultanate. A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer) (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words khilia = thousand and metro = count/measure). ... Jump to: navigation, search Hyderabad (హైదరాబాదు in Telugu, حیدراباد in Urdu), the 5th largest metropolis of India [1], is the capital of the present day State of Andhra Pradesh. ... Jump to: navigation, search Andhra Pradesh (ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశం in Telugu) (Āndhra Prādesh), is a state in south-eastern India and is part of the linguistic-cultural region of South India. ... Jump to: navigation, search India is subdivided into twenty-eight states, six union territories and the National Capital Territory. ... Quarrying granite for the Mormon Temple, Utah Territory. ... metre or meter, see meter (disambiguation) The metre is the basic unit of length in the International System of Units. ... Jump to: navigation, search Events Celestine II is elected pope. ... Jump to: navigation, search A Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural systems of Bharat (India) and Nepal. ... The Kakatiya Dynasty was a south Indian dynasty that ruled parts of what is now Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083-1323 AD. They were one of the few Telugu kingdoms that lasted for centuries. ... The Kakatiya Dynasty was a south Indian dynasty that ruled parts of what is now Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083-1323 AD. They were one of the few Telugu kingdoms that lasted for centuries. ... Map showing warangal district Warangal is a city in Andhra Pradesh state of southeastern India. ... Jump to: navigation, search A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم) is an adherent of Islam. ... The Bahmani Sultanate was a Muslim state of the Deccan in southern India. ...

Golconda fort, a major landmark of Hyderabad

According to one story, the fort derives its name from Golla Konda, which is the telugu word for Shepherd's Hill. It is said that a shepherd boy came across an idol on the hill. This led to the construction of a mud fort by the then Kakatiya ruler of the kingdom around the site. Subsequently the fort was administered by Recherla Vellamas who ruled over Golconda, Rajaconda and Devarconda. Their capital was Rajaconda. Following the defeat of the Recherla Velamma kingdom, the three forts fell to the Bahamani Kings (1364). Following the collapse of the Bahamani Kingdom, Golconda rose to prominence as the seat of the Qutb Shahi dynasty around 1507. Over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5 km in circumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose 10 km outer wall enclosed the city. The Qutb Shahi sultanate lasted until its conquest by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1687. The fortress held out against Aurangzeb for eight months, falling to the Mughals through treachery. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Jump to: navigation, search Hyderabad (హైదరాబాదు in Telugu, حیدراباد in Urdu), the 5th largest metropolis of India [1], is the capital of the present day State of Andhra Pradesh. ... Telugu belongs to the family of Dravidian languages and is the official language of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. ... In a draw in a mountainous region, a shepherd guides a flock of about 20 sheep amidst scrub and olive trees. ... In a draw in a mountainous region, a shepherd guides a flock of about 20 sheep amidst scrub and olive trees. ... The term idol (derived from Greek eid-, videre, to see. ... Jump to: navigation, search In computer gaming, a MUD (multi-user dungeon, dimension, or sometimes domain) is a multi-player computer game that combines elements of role-playing games, hack and slash style computer games, and social instant messaging chat rooms. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... The Kakatiya Dynasty was a south Indian dynasty that ruled parts of what is now Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083-1323 AD. They were one of the few Telugu kingdoms that lasted for centuries. ... In politics, a country (or in some cases, a group of countries) over which a king or queen reigns, is a kingdom, see: monarchy. ... Jump to: navigation, search Rajacondas history dates back to the 14th century A.D., when it was constructed by Singama Nayak, the founder of a new clan of kings (previously serving the Kakatiya rulers as millitary commanders since the 2nd century A.D) and governing the territory of Rajaconda. ... Centuries: 13th century - 14th century - 15th century Decades: 1310s 1320s 1330s 1340s 1350s - 1360s - 1370s 1380s 1390s 1400s 1410s Years: 1359 1360 1361 1362 1363 - 1364 - 1365 1366 1367 1368 1369 See also: 1364 state leaders Events Foundation of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków The Breton War of Succession... The Qutb Shahi dynasty (whose members were also called the Qutub Shahis) was the ruling family of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. ... // Events The western continent is named America on the maps of Martin Waldseemüller. ... Jump to: navigation, search In computer gaming, a MUD (multi-user dungeon, dimension, or sometimes domain) is a multi-player computer game that combines elements of role-playing games, hack and slash style computer games, and social instant messaging chat rooms. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... The Qutb Shahi dynasty (whose members were also called the Qutub Shahis) was the ruling family of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer) (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words khilia = thousand and metro = count/measure). ... Jump to: navigation, search The circumference is the distance around a closed curve. ... The Qutb Shahi dynasty (whose members were also called the Qutub Shahis) was the ruling family of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. ... Events March 14 - Battle of Ivry - Henry IV of France again defeats the forces of the Catholic League under the Duc de Mayenne. ... Jump to: navigation, search Hyderabad (హైదరాబాదు in Telugu, حیدراباد in Urdu), the 5th largest metropolis of India [1], is the capital of the present day State of Andhra Pradesh. ... The Qutb Shahi dynasty (whose members were also called the Qutub Shahis) was the ruling family of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer) (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words khilia = thousand and metro = count/measure). ... The Qutb Shahi dynasty (whose members were also called the Qutub Shahis) was the ruling family of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... Jump to: navigation, search Abu Muzaffar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir (Persian: ابو مظف محی الدین محمد اورنگزیب علام گیر)(November 3, 1618 – March 3, 1707), usually known as Aurangzeb, but also sometimes as Alamgir I, was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1658 until 1707. ... Events March 19 - The men under explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle murder him while searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River. ... In law, treason is the crime of disloyalty to ones nation. ...

Golconda consists of four distinct forts with a 10 km long outer wall having 87 semi circular bastions; some still mounted with cannons, eight gateways, four drawbridges and number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables etc, inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter by the 'Fateh Darwaza' (Victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb’s triumphant army marched in through this gate) studded with giant iron spikes ( to prevent elephants from battering them down) near the south-eastern corner. At Fateh Darwaza can be experienced the fantastic acoustical effects, characteristic of the engineering marvels at Golconda. A hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the 'Bala Hisar' pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometre away. This acted as the warning note to residents in case of danger. Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer) (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words khilia = thousand and metro = count/measure). ... A small cast-iron cannon on a carriage A cannon is any large tubular firearm designed to fire a heavy projectile over a considerable distance. ... A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle, but the term is also used to describe modern bascule bridges and lift bridges. ... A royal family is the extended family of a monarch. ... The word temple has different meanings in the fields of architecture, religion, geography, anatomy, and education. ... Jump to: navigation, search Mosque; Aswan, Egypt. ... Enclosure can refer to a number of concepts relating to the surrounding or fencing-off of an area or item: The historical Enclosure of common land. ... Jump to: navigation, search Look up Victory on Wiktionary, the free dictionary A Victory is a win. ... Jump to: navigation, search Abu Muzaffar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir (Persian: ابو مظف محی الدین محمد اورنگزیب علام گیر)(November 3, 1618 – March 3, 1707), usually known as Aurangzeb, but also sometimes as Alamgir I, was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1658 until 1707. ... Jump to: navigation, search Army (from French armée) can, in some countries, refer to any armed force. ... Jump to: navigation, search General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Atomic mass 55. ... Jump to: navigation, search Genera and Species Loxodonta Loxodonta cyclotis Loxodonta africana Elephas Elephas maximus Elephas recki † Stegodon † Mammuthus † Elephantidae (the elephants) is a family of pest animals, the only family in the order Proboscidea that still exists today. ... Look up Acoustic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary For the study of sound, a branch of physics, see acoustics. ... ... St Peters Basilica, Rome A dome is a common structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. ... Pavilion, in the English language (derived from French, pavillon) can refer to any structure large or small, however there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer), symbol: km is a unit of length in the metric system equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words χίλια (khilia) = thousand and μέτρο (metro) = count/measure). ...

The tombs of the Qutb Shahi sultans lie about one kilometer north of Golconda's outer wall. These graceful structures are made of beautifully carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped gardens. The Qutb Shahi dynasty (whose members were also called the Qutub Shahis) was the ruling family of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer) (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words khilia = thousand and metro = count/measure). ... Part of a garden in Bristol, England A flower bed in the gardens of Bristol Zoo, England Checkered flower bed in Tours, France A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. ...

The fortress city within the walls was famous for its diamond trade, and many famed diamonds including the Koh-i-noor, the Regent Diamond and the Hope are said to have come from here. The wealth of the Golconda mines enriched the ruling Nizams of Hyderabad, which ruled the area from their independence from the Mughals in 1724 to 1948, when Hyderabad was annexed by India to become an Indian state. Hyderabad state was broken up in 1956, and Golconda became part of Andhra Pradesh state. Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... Jump to: navigation, search A scattering of round-brilliant cut diamonds shows off the many reflecting facets. ... Jump to: navigation, search Koh-i-noor (Ú©ÙˆÛ‚ نور) is from the Persian language and means Mountain of Light. The Koh-i-Noor, Koh-i-Nur, or Kohinoor is a 108 carat (21. ... Jump to: navigation, search Regent Diamond Weight 140. ... Hope Diamond in museum The Hope Diamond is a large, deep blue diamond, currently housed in the Smithsonian Institution. ... Hyderabad and Berar, 1903 Hyderābād was an autonomous princely state of south-central India from 1724 until 1948, ruled by a hereditary Nizam, and an Indian state from 1948 to 1956. ... Jump to: navigation, search Events January 14 - King Philip V of Spain abdicates the throne February 20 - The premiere of Giulio Cesare, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel, takes place in London June 23 - Treaty of Constantinople signed. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Hyderabad and Berar, 1903 Hyderābād was an autonomous princely state of south-central India from 1724 until 1948, ruled by a hereditary Nizam, and an Indian state from 1948 to 1956. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Admission in 2005 was 5 Rupees for Indian citizens (approx. 12 cents US) and $2 US (or equivalent) for foreigners. Golconda is wide open for exploration, with few or no areas roped off from visitors.

The mining town of Golconda, Arizona, now a ghost town, was named for the Golconda mines. See also Golconda, Illinois. Golconda is a city located in Pope County, Illinois. ...

See also

• List of sultans of Golkonda
• Afanasiy Nikitin - the first European to visit Golconda

The Qutb Shahi dynasty (whose members were also called the Qutub Shahis) was the ruling family of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. ... Afanasiy Nikitin (Никитин, Афанасий in Russian) (? _ 1472) was a Russian traveller, writer and the first European to visit India. ...

External links

• Golconda at the Islamic Monuments of India Photographic Database
• Monuments of India
• india-picture.net Several photos of Golconda