RoamBharat: September 2020

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Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the South Indian state of Telangana. It was ruled by the Qutub Shahis, Mughals and the Nizams which shaped its history. The city is noted for its monuments which includes the masterpiece of Charminar and the fort of Golconda. A major center for the technology industry, it's home to many upscale restaurants and shops. Its historic sites include Golconda Fort, a former diamond-trading center that was once the Qutb Shahi dynastic capital. The Charminar, a 16th-century mosque whose 4 arches support towering minarets, is an old city landmark near the long-standing Laad Bazaar.

Famous Places To Visit

CHARMINAR

History of Charminar

Charminar was built by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in the year 1951. It is said that this square shaped structure with four pillars and intricate carvings was built in honour of his wife, Bhagmati. However, the actual reason behind building Charminar is still not clear.

As per a popular belief, Charminar was built to acknowledge the elimination of the plague which had affected the entire city immensely during that era. It is believed that Sultan had prayed for the end of this plague with which his people were suffering. Hence, as the plague ended, he built the charminar as a tribute to Allah. The four pillars are also said to be dedicated to the first four caliphs of Islam.

The construction began in 1589 and was completed in two years with a cost of Rs. 9 lakhs, which was around 2 lakhs huns/gold coins in those times. It is said to weigh around 14000 tones with a minimum of 30 feet deep foundation. In 1670, a minaret had fallen down after being struck by lightning. It was then repaired at a cost of around Rs.58000 then. In 1820, some part of it was renovated by Sikandar Jah at a cost of Rs. 2 lakhs.

There is another legend associated with the Charminar according to which, there is a secret underground tunnel that connects Charminar to the Golconda Fort. It was built for the royal family, to escape in case of any kind of emergencies. However, till date no tunnel could be found.

How to reach Charminar

Charminar is one of the most prominent landmarks of Hyderabad city hence reaching here is extremely easy even for first time visitors. Located on the Charminar road, Char Kaman in the Ghansi Bazaar, it can be reached via auto rickshaws and taxis.

There are many TSRTC buses that operate from major bus stands and railway stations of the city to Charminar. The distance between Charminar and Hyderabad bus stand is 5 km.

Entry Fee and Timings of Charminar

The entry fee for charminar is minimal for Indian visitors, i.e. Rs.5 per Indian tourist while for tourists belonging to other countries, the Charminar entry fee is Rs.100 per person.

The Charminar timings are from 9.30 AM to 5.30 PM. it is open to visitors on all days of the week.

Golconda Fort

Golconda Fort Hyderabad is an outstanding example of brilliant engineering and magical architecture. Located at a distance of 11km from the city, it is the most famous of all Hyderabad tourist places. The name of the fort has been derived from the Telugu words "Golla" and "Konda" which together means 'Shepherd's Hill'.

However, do keep in mind the Golconda Fort timings and entry fee before planning a visit to this regal symbol of history. For instance, Golconda fort timings are from 9 am to 5.30 pm. After that, visitors are not allowed to enter the fort, unless they are going for the light and show at night. Hence, to explore the beauty of this place at leisure, plan you visit early in the day.

History of Golconda Fort

Founded in the approximately 12th Century by the Kakatiya Kings, this massive Golconda Fort with eight gates and 87 bastions was later built by Qutub Shahi Kings.

The name Golconda Fort has a legend behind it. As per the story, a shepherd boy was once walking on this hill when he had come across a God idol. The news about the shepherd boy and his findings reached the then ruler of Kakatiya Dynasty. The King then decided to built a fort on the hill, which then came to be known as Golconda (Shepherd’s Hill) Fort.

However, almost 200 years later, the fort came under Bahamani rulers. Later Qutub Shahi Kings took the fort under their control and extended it further. The fort was fortified and expanded during the reign of Bahamani rulers and Qutub Shahi Dynasty. Later in 1687, this fort came under the rule of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. It was then the fort was left unattended.

At present, the Golconda Fort constitutes a complex layout of palaces, mosques and pavilion, all of which unfortunately are in ruins now.

It is said that Golconda used to be a famous diamond market attracting merchants from all over the world. It was at Golconda that the famous Kohinoor and Hope diamonds along with others such as The Regent Diamond, Darya-e Nur, Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond were stored.

How to reach Golconda Fort

Reaching Golconda fort is quite an easy task as it is well connected by road to the rest of the city. It is around 11 km away from the center of Hyderabad.

One can also travel by metro. The nearest metro station to Golconda fort is Peddamma Temple Metro Station and the Jubilee Hills Check Post Metro Station on the Blue line. Travelers are required to take an auto rickshaw or taxi to reach the fort from these metro stations, which will take around 20 minutes of time.

If travelling by bus, then you can Bus-119 and Bus 66G and 65G from the Nampally station and Charminar via GPO Abids respectively. Although there are upteem number of public transportatiom, one of the best ways would be to hire a taxi and explore these tourists places.

Entry Fee and Timings of Golconda Fort

To enter the fort you are required to pay a minimal Golconda fort entry fee of Rs.15; it is Rs. 200 foreign tourists. You have to pay extra if you are planning to take your camera inside. For sound and light show, you are required to buy a separate ticket. The timings for Golconda Fort is 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM and it is open on all days of the week.