Golconda Fort

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Golconda Fort-Go Back in Time

• www.ticketgoose.com

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• Step back into time and get to visit this fort to
  understand how life must have been in the
  medieval ages.
• With steps leading high up to a hill-top
  overlooking the city, a masjid, a temple,
  beautiful gardens and high walls, the site is
  truly enchanting.
• Golconda Fort lies in Hyderabad, more on the
  outskirts portion, at a distance of 11 km from
  the city centre. The nearest commercial and urban
  locality is Tolichowki at a distance of 3 km.

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Blast from the Past

• The fort is more popular as a Muslim monument,
  built by the Qutub Shahi dynasty. However, the
  history of the fort precedes the Qutub Shahi
  dynasty.
• Legend has it that a local shepherd discovered
  an idol in the area and reported it to the
  Kakatiya king, who ordered a small mud fort built
  around the idol.
• Thus in 1143, the foundation of the fort was laid
  during Kakatiya dynastys rule. This fort was
  subsequently called Gollu Konda, which in Telugu
  means shepherds hill.

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• In the years that followed, the Bahamani
  Sultanate emerged victorious after long and
  fierce battles with rivals. They made Golconda
  their capital. Later, Quli Qutub Shah formed the
  break-away Qutub Shahi dynasty in 1518.
• For the next 72 years, the fort grew from a mere
  mud structure to a strong and massive granite
  structure up to a circumference of 5 km. In 1590,
  when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad,
  Golconda expanded to a circumference of 10 km.

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• In 1686, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb laid a
  siege to Golconda with his aim of expanding the
  kingdom.

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• His troops were based and waited patiently at a
  place now called Tolichowki, meaning post of the
  troops.
• It seemed almost impossible for the Mughals to
  breach the walls, when after a tiresome
  nine-month wait, they finally managed the
  impossible in 1687. Some say that the fort would
  not have fallen had a traitor not sabotaged its
  walls.

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What to Expect Today?

• You can always hire a guide and understand the
  history of the fort better.
• Make sure you reach the spot at least an hour
  before 5 pm in order to reach the hill-top at a
  height of 400 feet to catch some cool breeze and
  a magnificent view of Hyderabad city.
• Visit the fort during Bonalu, a thanksgiving
  Telugu Hindu festival, when the entry to the fort
  is for free. You can explore on your own or
  simply relax in the gardens.

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The Spooky Side

• To the psychic, theres much more on the fort
  premises than it meets the eye.
• There have been innumerable reports of ghosts of
  thieves dwelling in the trees, apparitions in the
  form of shadows gliding down and cries of people
  in pain.
• It is believed that the ghost of Taramati, a
  courtesan who went on to become a queen, is still
  seen around. In the quest of ghost-hunting, dont
  be too adventurous as visitors are not allowed in
  after dark.

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Events

• The annual Bonalu festival held in July/August is
  the occasion when devotees flock to the temple
  within the fort premises for worship.
• Visit it on a Sunday during the festival for the
  darshan. Breaking the fast, or iftar, during the
  Islamic fasting month of Ramadan on the fort
  premises can be a pleasant experience, too.
• Stay back for the light-and-sound show in the
  evening that is held daily. Be a part of the
  celebrations and enjoy the local Hyderabadi
  variants of the burger and biryani at nearby
  stalls.

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• Buses to the city from major cities like Mumbai,
  Chennai, Bangalore and Pune are readily
  available. For travelling to Hyderabad, you can
  book your tickets at ticketgoose.com. Some of the
  travel operators providing services are Kallada
  Travels,Hebron Travels,SVR Travels,National
  Travels,ABT Travels and Universal Travels.
• You can easily disembark at Tolichowki
  or Mehdipatnam and take an auto or bus leading
  directly to the fort.
• With so much of history, trekking, adventure and
  festivities in the offering, Golconda Fort
  definitely is an all-out enjoyment-cum-learning
  spot