Golconda#Diamonds

File:Golconda fort 15032012.jpg

File:Golconda Fort 013.jpg

The origins of the Golconda fort can be traced back to the 11th century. It was originally a small mud fort built by Pratāparudra of the Kakatiya Empire. The name Golconda is thought to originate from the Telugu {{lang|te|గొల్లకొండ}} {{Transliteration|te|ISO|Gollakoṇḍa}} for "Shepherd's hill".{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/kids/enjoy-a-slice-of-history/article3412035.ece|title=Enjoy a slice of history|author=Harin Chandra|work=The Hindu|date=2012-05-14}}{{Cite web |last=Lasania |first=Yunus |date=2022-02-19 |title=Hyderabad: How rumours of a secret tunnel are ruining the Charminar |url=https://www.siasat.com/hyderabad-how-rumours-of-a-secret-tunnel-are-ruining-the-charminar-2278080/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en-US}} It is also thought that Kakatiya ruler Ganapatideva 1199–1262 built a stone hilltop outpost — later known as Golconda fort — to defend their western region.{{cite book |title=An African Indian community in Hyderabad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DigPvwHTqJ4C|last=Yimene |first=Ababu Minda |year=2004|publisher=Cuvillier Verlag |page=2|isbn=978-3-86537-206-2|access-date=19 September 2021}} The fort was later developed into a fortified citadel in 1518 by Sultan Quli of the Qutb Shahi Empire and the city was declared the capital of the Golconda Sultanate.

The Bahmani kings took possession of the fort after it was made over to them by means of a sanad by the Rajah of Warangal. Under the Bahmani Sultanate, Golconda slowly rose to prominence. Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk (r. 1487–1543), sent by the Bahmanids as a governor at Golconda, established the city as the seat of his governance around 1501. Bahmani rule gradually weakened during this period, and Sultan Quli (Quli Qutub Shah period) formally became independent in 1518, establishing the Qutb Shahi dynasty based in Golconda.{{Cite book |last=Sherwani |first=H.K. |title=The History of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. |year=1974 |isbn=9788121503396 |location=India |language=English}}{{cite thesis |last=Sardar |first=Marika |year=2007 |title=Golconda Through Time: A Mirror of the Evolving Deccan |type=PhD thesis |publisher=New York University |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q8zERtJWtSUC |isbn=978-0-549-10119-2|pages=66–67}}{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra |title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History |publisher=Primus Books |year=2013 |isbn=978-9-38060-734-4|page=118}} Over a period of 62 years, the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi sultans into the present structure: a massive fortification of granite extending around {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} in circumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose {{convert|7|km|abbr=on}} outer wall enclosed the city.

During the early seventeenth century a strong cotton-weaving industry existed in Golconda. Large quantities of cotton were produced for domestic and exports consumption. High quality plain or patterned cloth made of muslin and calico was produced. Plain cloth was available as white or brown colour, in bleached or dyed variety. Exports of this cloth was to Persia and European countries. Patterned cloth was made of prints which were made indigenously with indigo for blue, chay-root for red coloured prints and vegetable yellow. Patterned cloth exports were mainly to Java, Sumatra and other eastern countries.{{Cite book|last=Moreland|first=W.H|title=Relation of Golconda in the Early Seventeenth Century|publisher=Halyukt Society|year=1931}}

The fort finally fell into ruin in 1687 after an eight-month-long siege led to its fall at the hands of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who ended the Qutb Shahi reign and took the last Golconda king, Abul Hassan Tana Shah, captive.{{cite book|title=India through the ages|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= 178|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}

The Golconda fort used to have a vault where the famous Koh-i-Noor and Hope diamonds were once stored along with other diamonds.{{cite book |title=Footprint India |first=Roma |last=Bradnock |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-906098-05-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/footprintindia0000dare/page/1035 1035] |publisher=Footprint |url=https://archive.org/details/footprintindia0000dare/page/1035 }}

Golconda is renowned for the diamonds found on the south-east at Kollur Mine near Kollur, Guntur district, Paritala and Atkur in Krishna district and cut in the city during the Kakatiya reign. At that time, India had the only known diamond mines in the world. Golconda was the market city of the diamond trade, and gems sold there came from a number of mines. The fortress-city within the walls was famous for diamond trade.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

Its name has taken a generic meaning and has come to be associated with great wealth. Some gemologists use this classification to denote the extremely rare Type IIa diamond, a crystal that essentially lacks nitrogen impurities and is therefore colorless; Many Type IIa diamonds, as identified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), have come from the mines in and around the Golconda region.

Many famed diamonds are believed to have been excavated from the mines of Golconda, such as:

{{stack|

Darya-e Noor Diamond of Iran.png|Daria-i-Noor

Hope Diamond.jpg|Hope Diamond

Koh-i-Noor old version copy.jpg|Koh-i-Noor

Wittelsbach Graff Diamond.JPG|Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond

}}

• Daria-i-Noor
• Noor-ul-Ain
• Koh-i-Noor
• Hope Diamond
• Princie Diamond
• Regent Diamond
• Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond

By the 1880s, "Golconda" was being used generically by English speakers to refer to any particularly rich mine, and later to any source of great wealth.

During the Renaissance and the early modern eras, the name "Golconda" acquired a legendary aura and became synonymous for vast wealth. The mines brought riches to the Qutb Shahis of Hyderabad State, who ruled Golconda up to 1687, then to the Nizam of Hyderabad, who ruled after the independence from the Mughal Empire in 1724 until 1948, when the Indian integration of Hyderabad occurred. The siege of Golconda occurred in January 1687, when Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led his forces to besiege the Qutb Shahi dynasty at Golconda fort (also known as the Diamond Capitol of its time) and was home to the Kollur Mine. The ruler of Golconda was the well entrenched Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/Delving-into-the-rich-and-often-bloody-history-of-Golconda-Fort/article16437577.ece|title=Delving into the rich and often bloody history of Golconda Fort|website=The Hindu |date=5 November 2016 }}

File:Guide map of Golkonda fort.jpg

Golconda fort is listed as an archaeological treasure on the official "List of Monuments" prepared by the Archaeological Survey of India under The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.{{Cite web |title=Alphabetical List of Monuments – Andhra Pradesh |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_andhra.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625052615/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_andhra.asp |archive-date=25 June 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=27 August 2015 }} Golconda consists of four distinct forts with a {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} long outer wall with 87 semicircular bastions (some still mounted with cannons), eight gateways, and four drawbridges, with a number of royal apartments and halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables, etc. inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure entered 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. An acoustic effect can be experienced at Fateh Darwazaan, 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 kilometer away. This worked as a warning in case of an attack.

The "Bala Hisar" gate is the main entrance to the fort located on the eastern side. It has a pointed arch bordered by rows of scroll work. The spandrels have yalis and decorated roundels. The area above the door has peacocks with ornate tails flanking an ornamental arched niche. The granite block lintel below has sculpted yalis flanking a disc. The design of peacocks and lions is typical of Hindu architecture and underlies this fort's Hindu origins.

The Jagadamba temple, located next to the mosque of Ibrahim and the king's palace, is visited by hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees during Bonalu festival every year.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/historic-jagadamba-temple-sees-many-devotees-but-few-facilities/articleshow/61332780.cms|title=Historic Jagadamba temple sees many devotees, but few facilities|website=The Times of India |date=30 October 2017 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/golconda-bonalu-begins-with-religous-fervour/article65586272.ece|title=Golconda Bonalu begins with {{as written|reli|gous [sic]}} fervour|website=The Hindu |date=30 June 2022 }} Jagadamba temple is about 900 to 1,000 years old, dating back to early Kakatiya period.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/130622/with-pandemic-on-ebb-state-gears-up-for-grand-bonalu.html|title=With pandemic on ebb, state gears up for grand Bonalu|date=13 June 2022 }} A Mahankali temple is located in the vicinity, within Golconda fort.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/150622/golconda-mahankali-temple-set-for-grand-bonalu-fete.html|title=Golconda Mahankali temple set for grand Bonalu fete|date=15 June 2022 }}

The fort also contains the tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings. These tombs display features of Indo-Islamic architecture and are located about {{convert|1|km|abbr=on}} north of the outer wall of Golconda. They are encircled by gardens and numerous carved stones.

The two individual pavilions on the outer side of Golconda are built on a point which is quite rocky. The "Kala Mandir" is also located in the fort. It can be seen from the king's durbar (king's court) which was on top of the Golconda fort.

The other buildings found inside the fort are: Habshi Kamans (Abyssian arches), Ashlah Khana, Taramati mosque, Ramadas Bandikhana, Camel stable, private chambers (kilwat), Mortuary bath, Nagina bagh, Ramasasa's kotha, Durbar hall, Ambar khana etc.

Golconda Fort - Rani Mahal 04.jpg|Rani Mahal

File:Golconda 091.JPG|Fort overlooking the city of Hyderabad

File:Golkonda 05.jpg|Mosque of Ibrahim at Golconda, Hyderabad

File:Golconda Fort 002 - Baradari.jpg|Baradari located at the top of the citadel

File:Jagdamba Temple, Golkonda Fort.jpg|Jagadamba temple at the top of the Golconda fortifications

File:Bala Hissar Darwaza in Golconda Fort.jpg|Bala Hissar Darwaza

File:Golcondamahankaali.JPG|Mahankali temple at Golconda, Hyderabad

File:Golconda Fort 017.jpg|View from the Baradari

File:Architect in golconda fort.jpg|Design inside the Golconda fort

File:Aerial view of Golconda fort.jpg|Aerial view of Golconda fort

File:Canon at Golconda.jpg|Cannon of the Golconda fort

File:Streets in golconda.jpg|Pathway in Golconda fort

File:The Baradari.jpg|Baradari fort

• Kakatiya dynasty
• Musunuri Nayakas
• Bahmani Sultans
• Qutb Shahi dynasty
• Mughal Empire
• Asaf Jahi dynasty

{{Main|Naya Qila}}

Naya Qila is an extension of Golconda fort which was turned into the Hyderabad Golf Club despite resistance from farmers who owned the land and various NGOs within the city. The ramparts of the new fort start after the residential area with many towers and the Hatiyan ka Jhad ("Elephant-sized tree")—an ancient baobab tree with an enormous girth. It also includes a war mosque. These sites are under restrictive access to the public because of the Golf Course.

{{Main|Qutb Shahi tombs}}

File:The Do-Minar.jpg

The tombs of the Qutub Shahi sultans lie about one kilometre north of Golconda's outer wall. These structures are made of beautifully carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped gardens. They are open to the public and receive many visitors. It is one of the famous sight-seeing places in Hyderabad.

File:Arty Centre Hyderabad.jpg

Golconda Artillery Centre, Hyderabad, was raised on 15 August 1962 as the Second Recruit Training Centre for the Regiment of Artillery.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/830-new-recruits-pass-out-from-artillery-centre/articleshow/81728200.cms|title=830 new recruits pass out from Artillery Centre|website=The Times of India |date=28 March 2021 }}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/first-batch-of-agniveers-start-training-at-golconda-artillery-in-hyderabad/articleshow/96865925.cms|title=First batch of Agniveers start training at Golconda Artillery in Hyderabad|website=The Times of India |date=10 January 2023 }} Golconda Artillery Centre is located in and around the Golconda fort. The Golconda centre has three training regiments and presently trains 2900 recruits at a time.{{cite web|url= https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=vtW/oKql9jXObOz1gaW/Bg==&ParentID=yJE4wJBdSlVFFGzvOtJPIA==&flag=8CKP966uzg96kLov0aWdfQ==|title= Arty Centre, Hyderabad|date=|access-date=2021-05-25}}

The Golconda fort and other Qutb Shahi dynasty Monuments of Hyderabad (the Charminar, and the Qutb Shahi Tombs) were submitted by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO in 2010 for consideration as World Heritage Sites. They are currently included on India's "tentative list".{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5573/|title=The Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Charminar – UNESCO World Heritage Centre|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=whc.unesco.org}}{{Cite web|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/EDU/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=EDU&BaseHref=TOIM%2F2012%2F06%2F24&ViewMode=HTML&PageLabel=22&EntityId=Ar02201&AppName=1|title=Prestige or Preservation?|author=Archana Khare Ghose|work=The Times of India|access-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622005212/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/EDU/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=EDU&BaseHref=TOIM%2F2012%2F06%2F24&ViewMode=HTML&PageLabel=22&EntityId=Ar02201&AppName=1|archive-date=22 June 2018|url-status=dead }}

• Aline, reine de Golconde (1760), story by Stanislas de Boufflers
• Aline, reine de Golconde (1766), opera by Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny
• Aline, reine de Golconde (1803), opera by Henri-Montan Berton
• Aline, reine de Golconde (1804), opera by François-Adrien Boieldieu
• Alina, regina di Golconda (1828), opera by Gaetano Donizetti
• The poem {{ws|The Tombs of The Kings of Golconda}} by Letitia Elizabeth Landon was published in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1838.{{cite book|last =Landon|first=Letitia Elizabeth|title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1834|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=49BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA6-IA20|section=poetical illustration|pages=12–14|year=1837|publisher=Fisher, Son & Co.}}{{cite book|last =Landon|first=Letitia Elizabeth|title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1838|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=49BbAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA6-IA22|section=picture|year=1837|publisher=Fisher, Son & Co.}}
• Drottningen av Golconda (The Queen of Golconda, 1863), Swedish-language opera by Franz Berwald
• Russell Conwell's book Acres of Diamonds tells a story of the discovery of the Golconda mines.
• René Magritte's painting Golconda was named after the city.
• John Keats' early poem "On receiving a curious Shell" opens with the lines: "Hast thou from the caves of Golconda, a gem / pure as the ice-drop that froze on the mountain?"{{cite web|url=http://www.bartleby.com/126/6.html |title=6. On receiving a curious Shell. Keats, John. 1884. The Poetical Works of John Keats |publisher=Bartleby.com |access-date=2013-05-01}}
• Golconda is referenced in the classical Russian ballet, La Bayadère (1877).
• Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize–winning novel All the Light We Cannot See references the Golconda mines as the discovery place of the "Sea of Flames" diamond
• In Patrick O'Brian's novel The Surgeon's Mate, a character describes a particularly valuable diamond as being worth "half Golconda".
• The term 'Golconda' is used in White Wolf's Vampire: the Masquerade table-top role-playing game to refer to a mystical state of enlightenment. Pursuit of Golconda is usually the ultimate aim of a campaign, although what this might entail is largely left to the storyteller's discretion.

• A city in Illinois, United States is named after Golconda.
• A city in Nevada, United States is named after Golconda.
• A village located in the southern part of Trinidad had given the name in the 19th century to a rich tract of land which was once a sugar-cane estate. Currently, mostly descendants of East Indian indentured servants occupy the village of Golconda.

Golkonda Fort Large View.jpg|Golconda Fort—Large View

Golconda Fort no 1.jpg|Golconda Fort seen from a road

Golconda 102.JPG|Stone Arch Ruins

File:Golkonda during light show at night.jpg|Golkonda during light show at night

Golconda 057.JPG|Fort overlooking the city

Golconda 033.JPG|Staircase leading to the top of the Fort

Golconda Fort 012 - Ambar Khana.jpg|Ambar Khana

Golconda Fort - Rani Mahal 03.jpg|Rani Mahal

Golconda Fort - Taramati Mosque 02.jpg|Taramati Mosque

Golkonda Fort Hyderabad, India.jpg|Golconda fort inside view

Balahissar entrance top.JPG|Architecture inside Golconda fort

Golconda fort from inside.jpg|Golconda fort from inside

Golconda, fortress wall in foreground and fort at a distance.JPG|View of the Golconda fort

Golkunda_fort_(from_backside).jpg|Golconda fort from outside

{{Portal|Hyderabad|India}}

• Afanasiy Nikitin – the first European to visit Golconda
• History of Hyderabad
• Naya Qila
• Taramati Baradari

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Prasad |first=G. Durga |title=History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D. |publisher=P. G. Publishers |location=Guntur |year=1988 |url=http://www.katragadda.com/articles/HistoryOfTheAndhras.pdf|ref=none}}
• {{Cite book |last=Nanisetti |first=Serish |date=2019 |title=Golconda Bagnagar Hyderabad, Rise and Fall of a Global Metropolis in Medieval India |url=https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08291BCP9/ |publisher=Generic |edition=1st |isbn=9789353518813|ref=none}}

{{Commons category|Golconda}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150518084754/http://www.kaladarshana.com/sites/golconda/ Qutb Shahi Architecture at Golconda]}} (archived 18 May 2015)
• {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Golconda|short=x}}

{{Hyderabad topics}}

{{Forts in Telangana}}

{{Forts in India}}

{{Qutb Shahi Monuments}}

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