* MECCA MASJID
A great archaeological monument, its construction began by Sultan Mohammed Qutub Shah and was completed by emporer Aurangazeb. Adjacent to Charminar is the Mecca Masjid, one of the world's largest mosque accommodating up to 10,000 worshippers. Construction began in 1614, during the reign of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, but was not finished until 1687, by which time the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had annexed the Golconda kingdom. The Minarets were originally intended to be much higher but, as he did with the Bibi-ka-Maqbara in Aurangabad, Aurangzeb sacrificed aesthetics to economics. Several bricks embedded above the gate are said to be made with soil from Mecca and the colonnades and door arches are made from single slabs of Granite.
These massive stone blocks were quarried 11km away and dragged to the site by a team of 1400 bullocks!To the left of the mosque is an enclosure containing the tombs of Nizam Ali khan who died in 1803, and his successors.
* GOLCONDA FORT
Golconda Fort is one of the most magnificent fortress complexes in India. It is located on the outskirts of the city of Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The history of Golconda Fort dates back to the early 13th century, when this south eastern part of the country was ruled by the Kakatiyas. The bulk of the ruins of this fort, date from the time of the Qutab Shahi kings, who had ruled this area in the 16th and 17th century. Golconda city remained the capital of the Qutab Shahis from 1512 to 1590, from where they later shifted it to Hyderabad. Golconda Fort is itself built on a granite hill 120 metres high, and is surrounded by walls of solid stone. The fortress had held out for eight long months, when in 1687, the fort was besieged by the Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb. It finally fell to the Mughals, after it was treacherously betrayed. The outer wall surrounding the entire township of Golconda, is about 11 kilometres long, and is strongly fortified. In its heyday, the 10 kilometre long road from Golconda to outer Hyderabad, was a fabulous market selling jewelry, diamonds, pearls and other gems, which were famous all over the world.
One of the most remarkable features of Golconda is its system of acoustics. The sounds of hands clapped in the grand portico can be heard in the Durbar Hall, at the very top of the hill. The tombs of the Qutab Shahi kings, lie about one kilometre north of the outer wall of Golconda. These graceful structures are surrounded by landscaped gardens, with beautifully carved stonework.
| Know Your City | |||
|
|
|||
| Shopping | |||
|
|||