Hyderabad: Monuments and Historic Buildings

Golkonda Fort is a very splendid fortress complex that is situated about 11 kilometers to the west of Hyderabad. The best time to visit this fort is from September to March.

The name is derived from ‘Golla Konda’ or Shepherd’s Hill in Telugu language. Golkonda is made of four disparate forts. There is a long outer wall that is 10 kilometers long and has 87 semi circular bastions, some of which still have cannons.

There are also four drawbridges, eight gateways and several royal apartments, stables, magazines, mosques, temples and halls. On the south-eastern corner is the ‘Fateh Darwaza’ or Victory gate. Here, the door is studded with huge iron spikes to prevent elephants from breaking them.

At this gate, incredible acoustical effects can be experienced. The clapping of hands at a specific point under the dome close to the entrance can be heard distinctly at the ‘Bala Hisar’ pavilion, which is about one kilometer away.