Golconda Fort located in the south Indian city of Hyderabad is a historic marvel. Originally known as Mankal, the majestic Golkonda Fort is built on top of a hill. It is one of the most magnificent fortress structures in India.
Golconda Fort is a delight to the eye for not just lovers of history but also the architects who are going to shape the future for us. The light & sound show is a must-attend event on your list of you are visiting the fort.
Golconda Fort: The historic marvel. Photography by Gao Iris
Golconda Fort: An Overview
The city of Nizams as Hyderabad is popularly called has always been in the limelight for its untouched architectural beauties. Located in the Deccan plateau of the Indian subcontinent lies the capital city of the newly formed state of Telangana.
The historic places of Hyderabad have been preserved by the Kakatiya dynasty. Be it the minarets of the Charminar or the remains of the Stone Fort, every monument in the city has a deep cultural backdrop that dates back to Indian history.
| Location
South India |
| State
Telangana |
| City
Hyderabad |
| Best months to Visit
October to February |
| Open between
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Entrance ticket
Indian nationals: INR 5 |
| Exclusive Feature
Light and Sound show during evenings |
| Traveller tip
While at Golconda Fort, hire a guide who will show you around the place and also elaborate on the historical significance of various aspects of the Golconda Fort. |
Golconda Fort adds to the grandeur of the city of Hyderabad. Photography by Venkatesh Reddy
History of Golconda Fort
Transformation of the Fort
Decades back the hill (where Golconda Fort is located) was owned by a shepherd boy. As years passed by a Warangal king belonging to the Kakatiya dynasty purchased it. He transformed the place by building a mud fort and a temple in 1143 and gave the name Golla Konda meaning “shepherd’s hill” in a way dedicating it to him.
Centuries down the lane
The Bahmani rulers conquered the place in the 13th century. The 15th century saw the emergence of three kings namely Sultan, Jamshed and Ibrahim from the Quli Qutub Shah dynasty who reconstructed the mud fort into a stone structure. Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah has been credited to have named the fort “Golconda”.
Loads of hard work went into Golconda’s Completion
Thousands of workers were employed in order to build the fort. It took nearly six decades for the completion of the entire monument. Several kings passed away in this process of restructuring. Yet the success was short-lived as the fort was soon captured by Aurangzeb.
Thousands of workers were employed to build the Golconda Fort. Photography by George Twizwell
How to Reach Golconda Fort?
Hyderabad is well-connected to all major cities and towns. Therefore one can travel by air, road or train and reach Hyderabad easily. The most nominal option for traveling to Golconda Fort within Hyderabad is by bus or a shared cab.
Architectural Excellence of Golconda Fort
Golconda Fort is a fine historic structure that adds to the magnificence of Nizami culture. It has been built on a Granite hill and has a very cleverly designed architecture. The architecture of the fort is such that a mere clap at the entrance can very easily be used as a distress signal thereby alerting of any possible danger.
The technique of advanced acoustics has been used. It is due to the clever architectural plan that allowed an uninterrupted supply of water throughout the year.
the Qutub Shahi Tomb at Golconda Fort. Photography by Satyajit Ghosh
Light and Sound Show at Golconda Fort
The Light and Sound Show at Golconda Fort is a speciality of the place and should not be missed by anyone. The duration of the show is almost an hour.
The complete history of the Fort is described in the show in a very interesting and engaging manner. The narrator’s throw of voice is impressive and creates a long-lasting effect.
| Show timings at Golconda Fort |
| First show- November to February- 6:30 pm, March to October- 7 pm
Second show November to February- 7:45 pm, March to October- 8:15 pm |
| Timings for Tickets |
| After 5:30 pm |
| Cost of Tickets
INR 140 for adults and INR 110 for children (executive class) INR 80 for adults and INR 60 for children (normal class) |
| Tip for first-time visitors |
| Apply mosquito repellent while at the show. |
At dusk, witness the light and sound show. Photography by Abhinay Pochiraju
Tips for First Time Visitors to Golconda Fort
1. Carry clean water and hygienic eatables along with you if you plan to visit Golconda Fort. The tour of the entire complex will take almost a day so there are high chance that you will feel hungry.
2. Use a dustbin to dispose of anything. Do not loiter around.
3. Wear comfortable clothes (cotton fabric recommended) and shoes while visiting the Golconda Fort. An entire day’s tour will make you tired easily if your attire is not comfortable.
4. Make sure to visit the Light and sound show.
5. Hire a Guide who can show you around and help you understand the Fort.
Frequently Asked Questions about Golconda Fort
Q1. Should a guide be hired on a visit to Golconda Fort? If yes, how much will be the cost?
A guide should most certainly be hired if you want to enjoy Golconda Fort to the fullest. It’ll cost a visitor around 1000INR and the duration will be 2 hours.
Q2.Is it safe to visit Golconda Fort for solo women travelers ?
Yes, it is absolutely safe.
Q3.How far is Golconda Fort from Charminar ?
It takes roughly an hour from Golconda Fort to Charminar.
Golconda Fort is a spectacular place to visit for any traveler. Photography by Sridhar Siddhu
5 Interesting Facts About Golconda Fort
The Golconda Fort in Hyderabad was first built when a Shepherd lad came across a religious idol at the site.
The Golconda Fort has been constructed in such a way that it creates an excellent acoustic effect.
A tree which is almost 700 years old is present inside the premises of the Golconda Fort.
The Fort has a lot of secret tunnels and escape routes.
The Fort has a Mahakali temple on its top.
There are a lot of secret facts about Golconda Fort that surprise a traveler. Photography by Kamal Raj
Best Budget Places to Eat Near Golconda Fort
Taher Fast Food and Bakery
| Speciality | Chinese food |
| Average Cost per person | 200 INR |
Maggie Noodles the Indianized way. Photography by Krishna Enachan
Imran Bakery
| Speciality | Chicken Puff/Vegetable Puff |
| Average Cost per person | 50 INR |
Chicken Puff. Photography by Rheza
FYK Golconda Ice Cream
| Speciality | Chocolate Ice Cream |
| Average Cost per person | 100 INR |
Chocolate Ice Cream. Photography by Tracy Hikey
Must see places in Hyderabad Beside Golconda Fort
Charminar
Charminar is one of Hyderabad’s oldest structures and is synonymous with the culture of Hyderabad. It has four minarets which many believe stand for the first four khalifas of Islam. It is situated on the banks of the Musi River and stands tall amidst the busy Laad Bazaar in the old Hyderabad.
Charminar. Photography by Shamanth Kumar
Hussain Sagar Lake
Hussain Sagar is Asia’s largest artificial lake and is one of the most popular tourist hotspots situated in Hyderabad. Although the Hussain Sagar Lake is popular for activities like fish culture, water sports etc., its major attraction is the Buddha statue situated right at the heart of the lake.
Buddha statue was lit at night in Hussain Sagar. Photography by Abhimanyu Shrivastav
Ramoji Film City
The Ramoji Film City in India is spread across 2000 acres and is the largest integrated film city in Telangana and the largest studio complex in the world. It has also been placed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
A film set at Ramoji Film City. Photography by Shravan Kumar Kasagoni
Golconda Fort Photo Gallery
Photography by Varshini Suresh
Photography by Varshini Suresh
Photography by Varshini Suresh
Photography by Varshini Suresh
Golconda Fort is a must-see location if you are in the city of Pearl. I have revealed a lot about the fort and I think it’s time for you to go and check out this amazing place for yourself.
Happy wayfaring 🙂