Hyderabad: The Ruins of Golkanda

Renowned for its diamond mines which have given the world the famous Kohinoor and Darya-i-noor diamonds, Golconda is also known for the famous Golconda fort. The ancient fort complex of Golconda will charm you with its history, tinged with legends and anecdotes. The construction of this regal structure is believed to have started in 1143 as a mud fort, during the rule of the Kakatiya dynasty. Today, the granite fort stands on a 400 feet hill, and seems to emit a kind of ancient aura from each and every part.

The fort complex is made up of four separate forts surrounded by an outer wall whose perimeter is around 10 km. Apart from that, there are semi-circular bastions, some of them still sporting cannons on top, drawbridges, eight gateways, stables, mosques and temples. The forts still have the remnants of the palatial rooms and halls. Standing inside one of these will give you an idea of the kind of grandeur this place must have had during its golden days. An ingenious example of acoustical engineering can be experienced at the iron spiked Fateh Darwaza (one of the fort entrances), spiked so as to prevent elephants from breaking open the gates. A hard clap made under the dome can be heard as far as the highest pavilion (Balsa hill) almost a kilometre away. This arrangement worked as a warning to alert the forces in the fort in case of an incoming attack.