Golconda Fort

• The Ministry of Culture celebrated the Telangana Formation Day (June 2^nd, 2014) at Golconda Fort.

ABOUT GOLCONDA FORT

• It is located in the western part of Hyderabad city.
• It was originally known as Mankal, and built on a hilltop in the year 1143.
• It was originally a mud fort under the reign of Raja of Warangal.
• Later it was fortified between 14th and 17th centuries by the Bahmani Sultans and then by the Qutub Shahi dynasty.
• Golconda was the principal capital of the Qutub Shahi kings (who ruled the region in 16th and 17th century).
• The fort finally fell into ruin in 1687, after an eight-month-long siege led to its fall at the hands of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
• Qutb Shahi Sultans developed the present architecture, a gigantic granite stronghold.
• The inner fort contains ruins of palaces, mosques and a hilltop pavilion, which rises about 130 meters high and gives a bird’s eye view of other buildings.
• Acoustical effects at Fateh Darwaza (Victory gate) are one among the many famous engineering marvels at Golconda.