CleanupBot II at 23:21, 13 August 2023

2023-08-13T23:21:16Z

New page

{{Short description|Ruined citadel in Hyderabad, Telangana, India}}
{{Redirect|Golconda}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021| native_name =
| image = Golkonda_Fort_001.jpg
| caption =
| location_country = India
| coordinates = {{coord|17|22|59|N|78|24|04|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| completion_date = 1600s
| architect =
| cost =
| map_type = India Telangana
| structural_system =
| client =
| engineer =
| construction_start_date =
| date_demolished =
| style =
| size =
}}
[[File:Golconda Fort-Hyderabad-Telangana-DSC001.jpg|thumb|266x266px|Panoramic view of the Golconda Fort]]

'''Golconda Fort''' ([[Urdu]]: “round hill”), (also known as '''Golla konda''' ([[Telugu language|Telugu]]: "shepherds' hill"), is a fortified citadel built by the [[Qutb Shahi]] dynasty ({{Circa}} 1512–1687), located in [[Hyderabad district, India|Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], India. Because of the vicinity of diamond mines, especially [[Kollur Mine]], Golconda flourished as a trade centre of large diamonds, known as the [[Golconda Diamonds]]. The region has produced some of the world's most famous diamonds, including the colourless [[Koh-i-Noor]] (now owned by the United Kingdom), the blue [[Hope Diamond|Hope]] (United States), the pink [[Daria-i-Noor]] (Iran), the white [[Regent Diamond|Regent]] (France), the [[Dresden Green Diamond|Dresden Green]] (Germany), and the colourless [[Orlov (diamond)|Orlov]] (Russia), [[Nizam Diamond|Nizam]] and [[Jacob Diamond|Jacob]] (India), as well as the now lost diamonds [[Florentine Diamond|Florentine Yellow]], [[Akbar Shah (diamond)|Akbar Shah]] and [[Great Mogul Diamond|Great Mogul]].

The complex was put by [[UNESCO]] on its "tentative list" to become a [[World Heritage Site]] in 2014, with others in the region, under the name [[Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate]] (despite there being a number of different sultanates).<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5887/ UNESCO "tentative list"]</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Ruins of the Fort.jpg|thumb|Ruins of the Fort]]

Bahamani rulers took possession of the Hill to make a fort. Under the Bahmani Sultanate, Golconda slowly rose to prominence. Sultan [[Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk]] (r. 1487–1543), sent by the Bahmanids as a governor at Golconda, established the city as the seat of his government around 1501. Bahmani rule gradually weakened during this period, and Sultan Quli (Quli Qutub Shah period) formally became independent in 1538, establishing the [[Qutb Shahi dynasty]] based in Golconda.{{sfn|Sardar, Golconda through Time|2007|pp=66-67}}<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4 |pages=118}}</ref> Over a period of 62 years, the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi sultans into the present structure, a massive [[fortification]] of granite extending around {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|7|km|abbr=on}} outer wall enclosed the city.

During the early seventeenth century a strong cotton-weaving industry existed in Golconda. Large quantities of cotton were produced for domestic and exports consumption. High quality plain or patterned cloth made of muslin and calico was produced. Plain cloth was available as white or brown colour, in bleached or dyed variety. Exports of this cloth was to Persia and European countries. Patterned cloth was made of prints which were made indigenously with indigo for blue, chay-root for red coloured prints and vegetable yellow. Patterned cloth exports were mainly to Java, Sumatra and other eastern countries.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Moreland|first=W.H|title=Relation of Golconda in the Early Seventeenth Century|publisher=Halyukt Society|year=1931}}</ref>
[[File:THE GOLCONDA FORT.jpg|thumb]]
The fort finally fell into ruin in 1687, after an [[Siege of Golconda|eight-month-long siege]] led to its fall at the hands of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Aurangzeb]].<ref name=Madan>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= 178|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>

==Diamonds==
The Golconda Fort used to have a vault where the famous [[Koh-i-Noor]] and [[Hope Diamond|Hope diamonds]] were once stored along with other diamonds.<ref>{{cite book |title=Footprint India |first=Roma |last=Bradnock |isbn=978-1-906098-05-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/footprintindia0000dare/page/1035 1035] |url=https://archive.org/details/footprintindia0000dare/page/1035 }}</ref>

Golconda is renowned for the diamonds found on the south-east at [[Kollur Mine]] near [[Kollur, Guntur district]], [[Paritala]] and Atkur in [[Krishna district]] and cut in the city during the [[Kakatiya dynasty|Kakatiya reign]]. At that [[Diamond#Etymology, earliest use and composition discovery|time]], India had the only known diamond mines in the world. Golkonda was the market city of the diamond trade, and gems sold there came from a number of mines. The fortress-city within the walls was famous for diamond trade.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

Its name has taken a generic meaning and has come to be associated with great wealth. [[Gemologist]]s use this classification to denote a diamond with a complete (or almost-complete) lack of [[nitrogen]]; "Golconda" material is also referred to as "2A".{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

Many famed diamonds are believed to have been excavated from the mines of Golconda, such as:
* [[Daria-i-Noor]]
* [[Noor-ul-Ain]]
* [[Koh-i-Noor]]
* [[Hope Diamond]]
* [[Princie Diamond]]
* [[Regent Diamond]]
* [[Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond]]

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
Darya-e Noor Diamond of Iran.png|The [[Daria-i-Noor]] Diamond
Hope Diamond.jpg|The [[Hope Diamond]]
Koh-i-Noor_old_version_copy.jpg|The [[Koh-i-Noor]] Diamond
Wittelsbach Graff Diamond.JPG|The [[Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond]]
</gallery>

By the 1880s, "Golconda" was being used generically by English speakers to refer to any particularly rich mine, and later to any source of great wealth.

During [[the Renaissance]] and the early modern eras, the name "Golconda" acquired a legendary aura and became synonymous for vast wealth. The mines brought riches to the [[Qutb Shahis]] of [[Hyderabad State]], who ruled Golconda up to 1687, then to the [[Nizam of Hyderabad]], who ruled after the independence from the [[Mughal Empire]] in 1724 until 1948, when the [[Indian integration of Hyderabad]] occurred. The siege of Golconda occurred in January 1687, when Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led his forces to besiege the Qutb Shahi dynasty at Golconda Fort (also known as the Diamond Capitol of its time) and was home to the Kollur Mine. The ruler of Golconda was the well entrenched Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.

== The Fort ==
[[File:Guide map of Golkonda fort.jpg|thumb|Guide map of Golkonda fort]]

Golconda Fort is listed as an archaeological treasure on the official "List of Monuments" prepared by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] under The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Andhra Pradesh |publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]] |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_andhra.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625052615/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_andhra.asp |archive-date=25 June 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=27 August 2015 }}</ref>
Golconda consists of four distinct [[fort]]s with a {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} long outer wall with 87 semicircular bastions (some still mounted with [[cannon]]s), eight gateways, and four [[drawbridge]]s, with a number of royal apartments and halls, [[temple]]s, [[mosque]]s, magazines, stables, etc. inside. The lowest of these is the outermost [[Building|enclosure]] entered 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 [[elephant]]s from battering them down) near the south-eastern corner. An [[acoustics|acoustic]] effect can be experienced at Fateh Darwazaan, 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 kilometer away. This worked as a warning in case of an attack.

Bala Hissar Gate is the main entrance to the fort located on the eastern side. It has a pointed arch bordered by rows of scroll work. The spandrels have [[Yali (mythology)|yalis]] and decorated roundels. The area above the door has peacocks with ornate tails flanking an ornamental arched niche. The granite block lintel below has sculpted yalis flanking a disc. The design of peacocks and lions is typical of Hindu architecture and underlies this fort's Hindu origins.

[[Toli Masjid]], situated at [[Karwan]], about {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} from the Golconda Fort, was built in 1671 by Mir Musa Khan Mahaldar, royal architect of Abdullah Qutb Shah. The facade consists of five arches, each with lotus medallions in the spandrels. The central arch is slightly wider and more ornate. The mosque inside is divided into two halls, a transverse outer hall and an inner hall entered through triple arches.

It is believed that there is a secret tunnel that leads from the "Durbar Hall" and ends in one of the palaces at the foot of the hill.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} The fort also contains the [[Qutb Shahi tombs|tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings]]. These tombs have Islamic architecture and are located about {{convert|1|km|abbr=on}} north of the outer wall of Golconda. They are encircled by beautiful gardens and numerous carved stones. It is also believed that there was a secret tunnel to [[Charminar]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

The two individual pavilions on the outer side of Golconda are built on a point which is quite rocky. The "Kala Mandir" is also located in the fort. It can be seen from the king's durbar (king's court) which was on top of the Golconda Fort.

The other buildings found inside the fort are:

: Habshi Kamans (Abyssian arches), Ashlah Khana, Taramati mosque, Ramadas Bandikhana, Camel stable, private chambers (kilwat), Mortuary bath, Nagina bagh, Ramasasa's kotha, Durbar hall, Ambar khana etc.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Golconda_Fort-Hyderabad-Telangana-DSC002.jpg|A view of the ruins of the fort
File:Golconda 091.JPG|Fort overlooking the city of [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]
File:Golkonda 05.jpg|Mosque of Ibrahim
File:Golconda Fort 002 - Baradari.jpg|The Baradari located at the top of the citadel
File:Golconda Fort 017.jpg|View from the Baradari
File:Architect in golconda fort.jpg|Design inside the Golconda fort
File:Streets in golconda.jpg|Pathway in Golconda fort
File:The Baradari.jpg|The Baradari fort
</gallery>

== Golconda ruling dynasties ==
Several dynasties ruled Golconda over year

*
* Kakatiya Rulers
* [[Bahamani Sultans]]
* [[Qutb Shahi dynasty]]
* [[Mughal Empire]]

== Naya Qila (New Fort) ==
{{Main|Naya Qila}}

[[Naya Qila]] is an extension of Golconda Fort which was turned into the [[Hyderabad Golf Club]] despite resistance from farmers who owned the land and various NGOs within the city. The ramparts of the new fort start after the residential area with many towers and the ''Hatiyan ka Jhad'' ("Elephant-sized tree")—an ancient [[Adansonia|baobab]] tree with an enormous girth. It also includes a war mosque. These sites are under restrictive access to the public because of the Golf Course.

== Qutub Shahi Tombs ==
{{Main|Qutb Shahi tombs}}
[[File:The Do-Minar.jpg|thumb|The Do-Minar, Golconda]]

The tombs of the Qutub Shahi sultans lie about one kilometre north of Golconda's outer wall. These structures are made of beautifully carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped [[garden]]s. They are open to the public and receive many visitors. It is one of the famous sight seeing places in Hyderabad.

==UNESCO World Heritage==
The Golconda fort, and other Qutb Shahi dynasty Monuments of Hyderabad (the [[Charminar]], and the Qutb Shahi Tombs) were submitted by the Permanent Delegation of India to [[UNESCO]] in 2010 for consideration as [[World Heritage Sites]]. They are currently included on India's "[[List of World Heritage Sites in India#Tentative list of Heritage sites|tentative list]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5573/|title=The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar - UNESCO World Heritage Centre|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=whc.unesco.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/EDU/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=EDU&BaseHref=TOIM%2F2012%2F06%2F24&ViewMode=HTML&PageLabel=22&EntityId=Ar02201&AppName=1 |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622005212/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/EDU/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=EDU&BaseHref=TOIM%2F2012%2F06%2F24&ViewMode=HTML&PageLabel=22&EntityId=Ar02201&AppName=1 |archive-date=22 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Influences==
=== In popular culture ===
* [[Russell Conwell]]'s book ''Acres of Diamonds'' tells a story of the discovery of the Golconda mines.
* [[René Magritte]]'s painting [[Golconda (painting)|Golconda]] was named after the city.
* [[John Keats]]' early poem "On receiving a curious Shell" opens with the lines: "Hast thou from the caves of Golkonda, a gem / pure as the ice-drop that froze on the mountain?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bartleby.com/126/6.html |title=6. On receiving a curious Shell. Keats, John. 1884. The Poetical Works of John Keats |publisher=Bartleby.com |access-date=2013-05-01}}</ref>
* Referenced in the classical Russian ballet, [[La Bayadère]]
* [[Anthony Doerr]]'s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel ''[[All the Light We Cannot See]]'' references the Golconda Mines as the discovery place of the "Sea of Flames" diamond
* In [[Patrick O'Brian]]'s novel ''[[The Surgeon's Mate]]'', a character describes a particularly valuable diamond as being worth "half Golconda".

===Places named after Golconda===
* A [[Golconda, Illinois|city]] in [[Illinois]], United States is named after Golconda.
* A [[Golconda, Nevada|city]] in [[Nevada]], United States is named after Golconda.
* A village located in the southern part of [[Trinidad]] had given the name in the 19th century to a rich tract of land which was once a sugar-cane estate. Currently, mostly descendants of [[Indo-Trinidadian|East Indian]] indentured servants occupy the village of Golconda.

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
Golkonda Fort Large View.jpg<center>Golconda Fort—Large View</center>
Golconda Fort no 1.jpg|<center>Golconda Fort seen from a road</center>
Golconda 102.JPG|<center>Stone Arch Ruins</center>
Golconda 057.JPG|<center>Fort overlooking the city</center>
Golconda 033.JPG|<center>Staircase leading to the top of the Fort</center>
Golconda Fort 012 - Ambar Khana.jpg|<center>Ambar Khana</center>
Golconda Fort - Rani Mahal 03.jpg|<center>Rani Mahal</center>
Golconda Fort - Taramati Mosque 02.jpg|<center>Taramati Mosque</center>
Golkonda Fort Hyderabad, India.jpg|<center>Golconda Fort inside view</center>
Balahissar entrance top.JPG|<center>Architecture inside Golconda Fort</center>
Golconda fort from inside.jpg|<center>Golconda Fort from inside</center>
Golconda, fortress wall in foreground and fort at a distance.JPG|<center>View of the Golconda Fort</center>
</gallery>

== See also ==

* [[Afanasiy Nikitin]] – the first European to visit Golconda
* [[History of Hyderabad, India|History of Hyderabad]]
* [[Naya Qila]]
* [[Taramati Baradari]]

== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}

== General bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last=Prasad |first=G. Durga |title=History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D. |publisher=P. G. Publishers |location=Guntur |year=1988 |url=http://www.katragadda.com/articles/HistoryOfTheAndhras.pdf |ref={{sfnref|Prasad, History of the Andhras|1988}}}}
* {{Cite book |last=Nanisetti |first=Serish |date=2019 |title=Golconda Bagnagar Hyderabad, Rise and Fall of a Global Metropolis in Medieval India |url=https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08291BCP9/ |publisher=Generic |edition=1st |isbn=9789353518813}}
* {{cite thesis |last=Sardar |first=Marika |year=2007 |title=Golconda Through Time: A Mirror of the Evolving Deccan |type=PhD thesis |publisher=New York University |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q8zERtJWtSUC |isbn=978-0-549-10119-2 |ref={{sfnref|Sardar, Golconda through Time|2007}}}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Golconda}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150518084754/http://www.kaladarshana.com/sites/golconda/ Qutb Shahi Architecture at Golkonda]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Golconda|short=x}}

{{Hyderabad topics}}
{{Forts in Telangana}}
{{Forts in India}}
{{Qutb Shahi Monuments}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Telangana]]
[[Category:History of Telangana]]
[[Category:Forts in Telangana]]
[[Category:Medieval India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Hyderabad State]]
[[Category:Cultural heritage of India]]
[[Category:Qutb Shahi architecture]]
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Telangana]]
[[Category:Former capital cities in India]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 10th century]]
[[Category:Buildings on the Indian Archaeological Register]]

[[hi:गोलकोण्डा]]
[[mr:गोवळकोंडा]]
[[sa:गोल्कोण्डदुर्गम्]]

Golconda Fort - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 23:21, 13 August 2023