The Golconda Fort is situated in the western sector of Hyderabad city, about 8.5 Kms from the Hussain Sagar Lake. The outer fort consists of three square kilometers area and is 4.8 kilometres in length encircling an old settlement. Originally known as Mankal, Goloconda was built on a hill in 1143. It was a mud fort under the control of the Rajah of Warangal. Later this fort was strengthened and enlarged during the 14th and 17th centuries by the Bahmani Sultans and the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Golconda was the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings. The inner fort has ruins of palaces, mosques, a hill top pavilion rising about 130 meters high from the surroundings and several other public buildings. The outer fort has two state protected monuments.Golconda fort is one of the most magnificent fortress complex in India which lies on the western outskirts around 11km from Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The history of Golconda Fort dates back to the early 13th century, when this south eastern part of the country was ruled by the Kakatiyas. The bulk of the ruins of this fort, date from the time of the Qutub Shahi kings, who had ruled this area in the 16th and 17th century. The fortress is built on a granite hill 120 metres high, surrounded by massive crenellated ramparts.

Shepherd’s Hill or ‘Golla Konda’, as it was known in Telugu, has an interesting story behind it. In 1143, on the rocky hill called ‘Mangalavaram’, a shepherd boy came across an idol. This was conveyed to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling at that time. The king got a mud fort constructed around the holy spot and nearly 200 years later Bahamini rulers (1364) took possession of the fort. From 1507 over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the the first three Qutub Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5km in circumference, which has been a silent witness to many historic events. The illustrious rule of the Qutub Shahis at Golconda ended in 1687, with the conquest of the fort by the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, who almost completely destroyed the fort and left it in a heap of pathetic ruins.

Golconda consists of four distinct forts with a 10km long outer wall having 87 semi circular bastions; some still mounted with cannons, eight gateways, four drawbridges and number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables etc, inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter by the ‘Fateh Darwaza’ (Victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb’s triumphant army marched in through this gate) studded with giant iron spikes ( to prevent elephants from battering them down) near the south-eastern corner. At Fateh Darwaza can be experienced the fantastic acoustical effects, characteristic of the engineering marvels at Golconda. A hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the ‘Bala Hisar’ pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometre away. This acted as the warning note to residents in case of danger though now it is a mere amusing diversion to visitors.

Ever travelled across the milky way ducking some wayward asteroids that threatened to bump right into you, steering your way in air-conditioned comfort around stars that blaze away at zillions of degrees centigrade, and in general “boldly going where no man has ever gone before”? Unless you’re in the select NASA team that will next tour outer space, this is the closest that you can get to being Captain James Kirk. Close to the Birla Temple stands the grand structure of the B M Birla Planetarium. It’s one of the few technically advanced and modern science planetariums in the country and a place of pride for the Hyderabadis. The shows give you the feeling of actually being ‘out there’. The place is slowly being developed into a fine center for the study of astronomy. The Birla Planetarium is open for visitors from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm. The Planetarium remains closed on the last Thursday of every month.Birla Planetarium is India’s most modern Planetarium and first of it’s kind in the country. It is equipped with the most advanced technology from Japan and built on Naubatpahad. The Birla Planetarium in Hyderabad is an accolade to the advances made in technology and science since the dawn of human civilization. Late Sri N.T.Rama Rao inaugurated this beautiful dome shaped architectural wonder, on 8th September 1985. The B.M. Birla Planetarium and Science Museum is an absolute visit during your trip to Hyderabad. Kids are sure to enjoy this planetarium and the variety of knowledge it has to offer. The Planetarium offers daily sky shows (in Telugu and English) reciting various aspects of the enigmatic Cosmos, the mind boggling mysteries of the Universe, the undying comets, the Hubble Space Telescope, Eclipses, the puzzling Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO’s) and the very recent clash of the Titans. As the sky show begins, the visitors are virtually transferred into the galaxy as they watch a large canopy of dark sky, full of shining stars looking down upon them. The convincing background sound effect multiplies the feel of being in outer space, which adds to the excitement and exhilaration. The most recent addition to the Planetarium is the Dinosorium – a new wing which houses, the fossil of 160 million years old “Kotasaurus Yamanpalliensis”, excavated in Adilabad district. Apart from this highlight, the Dinosaurium also has a collection of smaller fossils of dinosaur eggs, marine shells and fossilized tree trunks. The place always succeeds in enthralling people with its breathtaking sky shows of mysterious universe. It is the one place in the city, which should not be missed out by children. The Planetarium remains closed on the last Thursday of every month. CONTACT Address Adarsh Nagar, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad – 500063 Contact Information Telephone: 2324-1067, 2323-5081, 2329-8023 Fax: 2323-7266 Distance 1.2 km

The Charminar is situated in the southern sector of Hyderabad city and south of the Musi river in the center of the erstwhile walled city. The walls do not exist any more, barring ruins and small stretches at a few palaces. It was declared a protected monument in 1886. This eloquent structure is the most important landmark of the city.A charming blend of the ancient and the modern, Hyderabad, also known as the Istanbul of India, is a vital centre of Islamic culture, and central India’s answer to the Mughal grandeur of the northern cities of Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. Consisting of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, it is the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. It boasts of some fine examples of Qutab Shahi architecture – the Jami Masjid, the Mecca Masjid, Toli Masjid, and of course, the impressive symbol of Hyderabad, the Charminar. Standing majestically in the midst of the crowded old city, is the Charminar-the huge but elegant arch, a masterpiece of Qutub Shahi architecture. It is located amidst the colourful shops of Lad Bazaar (Choodi Bazaar) with its glittering traditional bangles, pearls and bridal ware in the old city. Unique to Hyderabad, this square structure has delicate stucco ornamentation, four tall minarets and a mosque on its top floor.

This imposing monument was built, as the legend goes, by Sultan Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah in honour of his Hindu Wife, Bhagmati, between 1591AD and 1612 AD, soon after he shifted his capital from Golconda to Hyderabad. Built upon four grand arches facing the four directions with its high slender minarets and spiral staircases, the structure reflects the glory of the Qutub Shahi dynasty.

Often called “The Arc de triomphe of the East”, Charminar gets its name from its four gracefully carved minarets literally meaning ‘Four (char) Pillars (minars)’. The design is said to be based on Shia “tazias” erected in honor of Hussain, the son in law of Prophet Mohammad. The massive square structure, built entirely of granite and lime mortar stands on a square base and opens up to four directions through grand arches. Each arch is 11 metres wide and rises 20 metres to the pinnacle from the plinth. The clocks above each of the four archways were added in 1889. These arches support two floors of rooms and a gallery of archways. The structure stands in a junction and the arches overlook four major thoroughfares.

There are four minarets in the four corners which soar upwards about 22 metres from the roof of the square structure. Each minaret stand on a lotus-leaf base that is a recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings and has four floors, each looking like a skillfully carved ring around the minaret. In between the floors of each minaret, there are spiral staircases of 149 steps which ascend to triple tiers of balconies from where one can have beautiful views of the old city. From the ground to the apex, the minarets cover a length of 56 meters and on top they taper off to a bulbous dome crowned by a brass spire. The dome is decorated with petal like motifs.

The upper levels of the Charminar were used as a madrasa and mosque, from where royal proclamations were read out to the assembled public. The beautiful mosque is situated on the western section of the top floor facing the holy city of Mecca. The rear wall of the mosque is indicated by blank niches framed by petalled ornament. There are 45 open air prayer spaces without roof, to accommodate more people in Friday prayers. To the east of this space is a spacious verandah with large open arches in the center, flanked by smaller ones on both sides . There is a water tank in the middle. The first floor has beautiful balconies from where one has a fantastic view of the historic city.

Mixture Architecture:

Rajagopuram built in the South Indian style greets the visitors. The tower over the main shrine of Venkateswara called the “Jagadananda Vimanam” is built in the Orissan style, while the towers over the shrines of the consorts are built in the South Indian style. Thus Birla Mandir displays a mixture of architectural styles. The granite image of the presiding deity is about 11ft tall and a carved lotus forms an umbrella for this image. There are several carvings in marble, in the adjoining ‘Mukha Mandapam’ – depicting scenes from Indian mythology. The brass flagstaff rises to a height of 42ft. The consorts of Venkateswara, ‘Padmavati’ and ‘Andal’ are housed in separate shrines. This white marble temple of Lord Venkateshwara floats on the city skyline, on Kala Pahad. The idol in the temple is a replica of the one at Tirupati. The Birla Mandir presents an arresting sight when illuminated in the evening. The temple is open for visitors from 7.00 am to 12.00 am and 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm on all days of the week.

About Birla Mandir
An enchanting modern Birla Mandir located in south end of Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad, stands atop the Kala Pahad, the twin hillock of the Naubat Pahad. The Birlas (industrialists who have also built several temples in India in this century) built this temple in 1976. This modern enchanting temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (Vishnu), constructed with white marbles from Rajasthan. Kausalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravartate.. the chanting mantra to arouse the Lord can be heard every morning at around 5.30 am. And as for the evenings, they are a treat to your ears at this hilltop temple.Sweet melodies of cuckoos and the kirtans of Annamayya, Tyagaraja and Ramadas at the backdrop of the orangish-red sky pleasantly soothe your soul.

Birla Mandir combines the architectural styles of Orissan and South Indian temples. A Rajagopuram built in the South Indian style greets the visitors. The tower over the main shrine of Lord Venkateswara called the “Jagadananda Vimanam” is built in the Orissan style, while the towers over the shrines of the consorts are built in the South Indian style. An exotic scenes from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharatha are finely sculpted in marble, the inner shrine of the temple is a replica of the Venkateswara temple at Tirupati. The brass flagstaff rises to a height of 42 feet.

The granite image of the presiding deity is about 11ft tall and a carved lotus forms an umbrella for this image. There are several carvings in marble, in the adjoining ‘Mukha Mandapam’ – depicting scenes from Indian mythology.

Other Shrines in the Temple
The consorts of Venkateswara, ‘Padmavati’ and ‘Andal’ are housed in separate shrines. There is also a temple dedicated to Buddha in this complex with fresco paintings describing his life and work   .

Birla Mandir offers a spectacular sight when illuminated at night. A tour to Hyderabad is considered incomplete without a visit to the enchanting Birla Mandir.

HISTORY OF HYDERABAD

BUDDA IDOL

Hyderabad the capital of Andhra Pradesh, founded in the year 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, the fifth sultan of Qutb Shahi dynasty, offers a fascinating panorama of the past, with richly mixed cultural and historical tradition spanning over 400 years. It is one of the fastest growing cities of India and has emerged as a strong industrial, commercial, technology center, gives a picture of glimpses of past splenders and the legacy of its old history.The history of Hyderabad begins with the establishment of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Quli Qutb Shah seized the reins of power from the Bahamani kingdom in 1512 and established the fortress city of Golconda. Inadequacy of water, and frequent epidemics of plague and cholera persuaded Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah to venture outward to establish new city with the Charminar at its centre and with four great roads fanning out four cardinal directions. Hyderabad’s fame, strategic location and Golconda’s legendary wealth attracted Aurangazeb who captured Golconda after a long seize in 1687.

After this defeat the importance of Hyderabad declined and the city fell into partial ruins. As the Moghul empire decayed and began to disintegrate, the viceroy, Asaf Jah I proclaimed himself the Nizam and established independence rule of the Deccan. Hyderabad once again became a major capital city, ruled by successive Nizams of the Asaf Jahi dynasty until the state was merged into Indian Union in 1948.

SECUNDERABAD: In 1798, a subsidiary alliance for military and political cooperation was signed between the Nizam and the British East India company.

There after an area north of what is now the Hussain Sagar was established as a cantonment. The area was named Secunderabad after the then Nizam, Sikander Jah.

CHARMINAR

From nawabs and pearls to the world’s hi-tech happening point, the city’s journey is fascinating. The sprawling metropolis is coming to terms with itself at the start of the new millenium. The Qutb Shahi dynasty founded the Kingdom of Golconda, one of the five kingdoms that emerged after the break up of the Bahamani Kingdom. The Qutb Shahis ruled the Deccan for almost 171 years.All the seven rulers were patrons of learning and were great builders. They contributed to the growth and development of Indo-Persian and Indo-Islamic literature and culture in Hyderabad. During the Qutb Shahi reign Golconda became one of the leading markets in the world of diamonds, pearls, steel for arms, and also printed fabric. The glory of the Golconda kingdom ended in 1687, after a valiant struggle. Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal ruler, captured Golconda after a siege that lasted eight months.

Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last king of Golconda, was imprisoned at Daulatabad, where he died after twelve years in captivity. With the conquest of the Deccan and the South, Aurangzeb succeeded in expanding the Mughal Empire to cover the entire sub-continent. However, after his death in 1707, the Empire rapidly declined. At that time , the Deccan was administered by a Subedar or viceroy of the Mughal Emperor. Mir Quamaruddin, the Governor of the Deccan, who bore the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk Feroze Jung Asif Jah, declared his independence from Mughal rule in 1724.

He thus became the first Nizam and the founder of the Asif Jahi dynasty. Asif Jah I continued to maintain Aruangabad, which had been founded by the Mughal rulers as the capital of his new state. In 1769, Nizam Ali Khan Asif Jah II, shifted the capital to Hyderabad. The seven Nizam’s of the Asif Jahi dynasty ruled the Deccan for nearly 224 years, right up to 1948. During the Asif Jahi period, Persian, Urdu, Telugu and Marathi developed simultaneously. The highest official positions were given to deserving persons irrespective of their religion.

Persian was the official language up to 1893 and then Urdu up to 1948. When the British and the French spread their hold over the country, the Nizam soon won their friendship without bequeathing his power. The title “Faithful. Ally of the British Government” was bestowed on Nizam VII. The British stationed a Resident at Hyderabad, but the state continued to be ruled by the Nizam.

The rule of the seven Nizam’s saw the growth of Hyderabad both culturally and economically. Huge reservoirs, like the Nizam Sagar, Tungabadra, Osman Sagar, Himayath Sagar, and others were built. Survey work on Nagarjuna Sagar had also begun during this time. Hyderabad, under the Nizam’s, was the largest princely state in India. Area wise it was as big as England and Scotland put together. The State had its own currency, mint, railways, and postal system. There was no income tax. Soon after India gained independence, Hyderabad State merged with the Union of India. On November 1, 1956 the map of India was redrawn into linguistic states, and Hyderabad became the capital of Andhra Pradesh.