“In every sound, the hidden silence sleeps.”
Dejan Stojanovic, The Creator
Golconda Fort – Part 2, Hyderabad, India
Excited to be back with another breath-taking look into the Golconda Fort, this time climbing up to the higher levels. I started from the Nagina Bagh end since it’s a more comfortable walk up. The winding broad steps give a stunning view of the fort walls, making one marvel at this engineering feat.
Midway, there are the ruins of Ambar Khana, the granary. Just ahead is the Ibrahim mosque, attributed to the third Qutb Shahi ruler, Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah. It has three arcades and two minarets. The minarets have bulbous domes and small balconies, important features in early Qutb Shahi architecture.
Top of the fort
As we trudge along the rocky route upwards, the next stop is the Ramadas prison and the temple of Jagdamba Mahakali (Mother Goddess). Existing since the 11th century, the temple originally held the idol of Goddess Mangala, also called Tara.
One can see remnants of a reservoir near the temple. The fort had excellent water pumping systems that brought water to the higher levels through pipes.
The entrance to Bala Hissar Baradari is a well-protected one since this is where the King spent most of his time within the fort. The apartment is double-storeyed having a pavilion with twelve arches on an airy terrace overlooking the city. The Sultan’s Durbar was conducted in the lower storey of this pavilion.
The Baradari has two significant architectural elements. The first is that the sound of a clap from the Bala Hissar gate, the entrance, is heard here. Second, is the natural air conditioning created by the double walls with hollow spaces within.
Views from the Citadel
One significant pavilion visible from the Baradari is that of Taramati, a favoured courtesan of Ibrahim Qutb Shah. So are the Qutb Shahi tombs. From here, the sprawling expanse of the citadel with its ruins are a beautiful sight.
Steep steps connect the king’s apartment to the zenana (ladies’ quarters) at the lower level. On the way down, is the Zenana masjid (Ladies mosque) near Khilwat.
This is where I leave you to spend some time with this lived-in entity, with some images.
