ANDHRA PRADESH

GOLCONDA FORT

•  Once abandoned by Qutub Shahis, Golconda Fort is one of the most magnificent fortress complexes in India. Seated on a hill on one side and spiraling fort on the other, its location and internal design made it one of the strongest forts in India.

• Originally a mud fort founded by the Kakatiya Kings of Warangal during the 13th century, Golconda attained glory under the Qutub Shahi dynasty (1518 to 1687). This is where the priceless Kohinoor diamond was found.

• The most important builder of Golkonda was Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah Wali, the fourth Qutub king. Ibrahim was following in the spirit of his ancestors, the Qutub Shahi kings, a great family of builders who had ruled the kingdom of Golkonda from 1512.

• Their first capital, the fortress citadel of Golkonda, was rebuilt for defense from invading Mughals from the north. They laid out Golkonda's splendid monuments, now in ruins, and designed a perfect acoustical system by which a hand clap sounded at the fort's main gates, the grand portico, was heard at the top of the citadel, situated on a 300-foot (91 m)-high granite hill. This is one of the fascinating features of the fort.