lionbikash

Hyderabad the city of Qutub Shahis, the city of the Nizams, the city of Koh-i-noor diamond, the city of Charminar, the city of folklore of Bhagmati, the city of Golkonda fort, the city of Salarjung Museum, the city of pearls, the city of Ramoji film city, the city of Hitek city………… the list is endless.

I am your guide to this beautiful city on the occasion of All India Lions Meet. From now on, till January 2006, I will take you to virtual trip to all corners of Hyderabad. We will make our journey through 400 years of history of Hyderabad, through the lanes and by lanes of Charminar, Ladbazar, koti, Husaaini Alam, commiserate, Kingsway. We will walk down memory lane, sometimes with real history, sometime with folklore.

From where should we start?
Let’s start with Golconda.
In telugu language Konda means hillock and Golla means shepherd. The story goes somethiong like this; a shepherd boy came across an idol on the hill. Hence Golkonda is a shepherd’s hill. The then Kakatiya rulers of Warangal constructed a mud fort around the hill. Nearly 200 years later in 1364 Bahmani rulers of Bidar took possession of the fort. In 1463, Sultan Mohammad Shah Bahmani dispatched Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Malik to the Hyderabad region to quell disturbances. Sultan Quli conquered Golconda. He strengthened and expanded it considerably and ruled from Golconda as the Subedar of Telangana. The early years of the 16th century brought the internal squabbles within the Bahmani Sultanate to the fore. Sultan Quli enjoyed virtual independence from Bahmani sultanate. In 1518, he declared formal independece from the Bahmani Sultanate and established the Golconda Sultanate under the title Sultan Quli Qutub Shah.
Over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi Kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5 Km. 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 10 km. outer wall enclosed the city. The Qutb Shahi sultanate lasted 171 years until its conquest by Mughal emperor Aurungzeb The fall of the fortess is a saga of bravery and treachery. Aurangzeb laid siege to Golconda in 1686. Golconda held fast under months of siege, and Aurangzeb had to retreat in frustration. Aurangzeb returned in 1687 and laid siege for 9 months camping in the Fateh Maidan (victory field). The fortress held on, but the gates were opened at night by a saboteur who was bribed by Aurangzeb. Sultan Abul Hassan Tana Shah, the seventh king of the dynasty, was taken prisoner. Thus ending the glorious chapter of Qutub Shahi dynasty.
Let’s get back from history and go to the present Golconda fort, which is in ruinous state. We are entering through the ‘Fateh Darwaza’(Victory gate – the gate through which Aurungzeb’s triumphant army marched in). Can you see them with studded spikes – they are to prevent elephants from battering them down.
Enter and encounter with the fantastic acoustical effects designed and constructed hendred of years back. Let me held up the details for your personal visit. Don’t forget to notice the engineering marvel of piped water supply for it’s residents in those day. Let me act villain again and keep the other details of the fort for your physical visit.
The fortress city of Golconda was famous for it’s diamond trade. The world famous diomnd koh-I-noor, the regent and the Hope are said to belong this fort.
A visit to Golconda is a must for a visitor to Hyderabad. Don’t forget to enjoy the light and sound show at Golconda fort, where you will get a more intimate taste of the history of the city of Hyderabad.

Let’s stop for today at Golconda. Do come back again to a guided tour to other places of this city. I will tell you the story of Bhagmati in the next episode.