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The Golconda Fort, located 11 kilometers west of the Hyderabad city, is one of the must-visit places because of its mind-blowing architectural, design and engineering. The region is also famous because it has produced some of the world’s famous gems like the Kohinoor Diamond, the Hope Diamond, etc.

The name Golconda represents a Telugu Word i.e. Golla Konda which means Shepherd’s Hill (Golla means Shepherd and Kolla means Hill) because it is believed that a shepherd boy has found an Idol where the fort is situated. The fort perimeters are of around 11 Kilometers which makes it a huge fort.

The Golconda Fort was built by the Kakatiya Dynasty, but later it came under Qutub Shahi Dynasty where they have declared it as their capital. The fort was looted and destroyed by Aurangzeb’s army in 1687 and left it in a heap of ruins. Currently, the fort is a protected monument under the Archeological Survey of India. The fort usually remains crowded every day, whether its Weekdays or Weekends.

The main entrance of the fort is also known as Bala Hissar Gate and it’s nicely decorated which gives you an idea of the grandeur of the fort.

The fort is a perfect example of architectural excellence. The acoustics of the fort was built in such a manner that if you clap from the main entrance, the person standing at the top of the fort could easily hear that clap sound. It is their way to communicate with each other just like Morse Code which was invented centuries later. After crossing the main entrance we will get the view of this mighty fort thus giving an amazing look.

When we continue walking, we will pass through the beautiful Nagin Bagh (the jewel among the gardens) and then we need to climb the steps which will lead us to the top of the fort. The steps require us to have the good physical stamina to reach on the top in hot weather.

We have come across Ramdas Bandigarh i.e. prison, Qutub Shahi Mosque, Jagdamba Mahakali Temple and Sister Rocks as we were climbing up. On the top, there is a two-story building which is known as Baradari and it also has an open terrace. The king used to enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

After spending some time at the top we came down and then reached the main entrance. It took us nearly 3 hours to look around the whole area of the fort.

Golconda Fort Map

If you are travelling for the first time and if you do not want to hire a guard, you can go through the below Map and then go through the fort by yourself.

Best Time to Visit Golconda Fort

It’s preferable to visit Golconda Fort in the Winter season (most probably from September to March) because the place gets too hot in the Summer season. Since to explore the fort fully you need to walk a lot as well as climb stairs.

How To Reach Golconda Fort

The nearest metro station is Peddamma Temple Metro Station and Jubliee Hills Check Post Metro Station on the blue line. If you are coming from Secunderabad Railway station then take Bus Routes 5 or 5C to Mehdipatnam from there you can board 119 or 66G to Golconda Fort.

Golconda Fort Entry Fee and Timings

The entry fee for Indians is Rs 15 and it’s Rs 200 for foreign tourists. The ticket cost of the Light and Sound show is Rs. 140 per person for executive class and Rs 80 per person for a normal class. Golconda fort remains open from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM and it is open all the days of the week throughout the year. The timings of Light and Sound at Golconda Fort is from 6 PM to 9:15 PM throughout the year except on Mondays.