This is a flash back. Long time back, when I was in my 12th std.
It was our school trip to Hyderabad. And one of the most important structure or monument here is the Golconda Fort.
Golconda, as the name says in Telugu, is Sheperd’s Hill. For the idol, found by a shepherd, this hill has this name. This fort was built in the 16th century by the Qutub Shahi Rulers.
This place was known for its diamond rich mines in earlier times. The famous Kohinoor diamond was mined here at the Nagina Bagh.
Even the hugest modern day building with several hundred floors and facilities, would stand dumb against this. There are numerous specialties here. Pretty more than any present day comfortable building, but still a lot eco friendly and cost effective too.
Acoustics effects are great in this fort. I can give few examples now. One is that a clap at the Fateh Darwaza, an entrance, right below the central floral design on the ceiling would resonate perfectly at a point on the fort wall at 300 feet height atop the fort. See the pic, it’s those two points. This was a perfect idea to convey a message from the base to the fort within seconds, without wasting time or energy. If you got the point, this is the mother of the invention of the present day Cell phone…!!!
The second is in the acoustics room in here in the fort, the sounds made at one corner of the room are perfectly audible in the diagonally opposite corner. So, what’s new in this? Anywhere, this is possible. Ok, let me explain it more clearly. Even if you make a small sound, a whisper, even a flutter of a fabric, made facing the dead corner, would be perfectly audible in the wall in the absolutely diagonal corner. This helped them to share secrets even if the room is highly crowded, without anyone’s least suspicion. Now that is… simple, the mother of invention of a Wireless…!!!
The third example for sound engineering is, in another acoustics room here, the slightest disturbance causes vibrations all over the room. A whisper or even a scratch on the head...!!!
Is it only acoustics, that is great here? No… There is a room in here that is called the AC Room. Well, new names for layman understanding. Whatever... This room has 2 chairs of stones, one for the king and another for the king. All the air that reaches these chairs, are so cool, after taking all the twists and turns and becomes cool from even if its scorching heat outside.
The lavatory facility here is in par with any star hotel of today. There are provisions to transport hot water and cold water in 2 pipes separately, to the bathroom. Not just bathroom, but to many other rooms. This fort being at a height of 120 m from the ground, imagine water being carried to this height in two different temperatures.
The toilets here are just like the modern day Indian lavatory, with foot rests too. The pit is 30 feet deep. Our guide actually lighted a match stick and dropped it in to shop us the depth of it. Still, it was quite strange at the back out the mind which said, “You are awe inspired by the place where the nawabs shit”. Ahem… Forget it…
Apart from the technical marvel, there are other things of interest too, apart from the usual symbols of any fort – cannons, cannon balls, spears etc. etc. etc.
The 7 feet long rifle, at the armor hall display, is a piece of functional art.
In the period of the Qutub Shahi Dynasty, the soldiers were selected with great care. Their eligibility – 7 feet tall and ability to lift the 145 kg cubical rock here with a single hand. Well, we did try, 7/8 of us with both the hands. No… The rock did not even nudge a mm. Sobs!
Then is the St.Ramdoss Jail. St. Ramdoss was arrested here in this fort for religious reasons, coz he didn’t take the permission to construct a certain temple. Still, even being in this fort, he continued his prayers and hymns and not only that. He also started sculpting figurines on the wall with a stone.
Again, religious tolerance was skyhigh. Inspite of the several decades of Sultanate reign, the Jagadamba temple within the fort is left untouched, and it stands till date for us to take her blessings.
There were 3 routs to reach the top of the fort earlier they say, one of which is unused now. All these routes have rest houses for the palanquin bearers. Also, while employing them, the front bearers are shorter than the back bearers so as to keep the palanquin horizontal.
From right atop the fort, the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are a visual treat.
Just at 2 km from the Golconda Fort are the tombs of the Qutub Shahi Rulers. There are 7 tombs in all from Mohd. Quli followed by his heirs.
A specialty here is that from the tomb of Mohd. Quli, all the other tombs could be seen.
Well, then coming soon with the other places of interest in Pearl City.
TO GET THERE
Golconda Fort
From Hyderabad – 11 km
Nearest Bus Stop – Golconda Bus Stop
Routes – Via afzalgunj and Karvan or via Mallepally and Saftarjung
Mohd. Quli Tomb
From Golconda Fort – 2 km
Dedicated to my dearest, nearest, sweetest School pals and teachers...
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