Article Written By EIH Researcher And Writer
Rayana Rose Sabu
The Golconda fort, located away from the bustle of Hyderabad, stands in solitude as a memorial to Telanaga’s past and present. Golla Konda, or Shepherd’s Hill, has an intriguing backstory. In 1143, a shepherd boy discovered the idol of the goddess Mangala Devi, and he conveyed it to the then Kakatiya king, who built a mud structure around the idol, originally known as Mankal.From the Kakatiyas to the Qutb Shahis, many dynasties and emperors have come and gone through Golconda’s fortifications.
Rani Rudramma Devi and her successor Prataprudra restored the fort. Later, this splendid fort came under the control of the Kamma Nayaks and was ceded by Kamma King Musunuri Kapaya Nayak to the Bahmani Sultans. In Golconda, the Bahamian Sultans gained power, and Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk (1487–1543) was appointed governor and established the seat of government in 1501. Later on, Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk took advantage of the weakening of the Bahamani Sultans to establish the Qutb Shahi Dynasty. The fort was built into the formidable structure it is now by the first three kings of the dynasty. Over 62 years, they erected a massive granite fortification that covered a distance of 5 kilometres.
The fort employs the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. It boasts eight darwazas, namely the Fatah Darwaza, Bahamani Darwaza, Mecca Darwaza, Bodli Darwaza, Patancheru Darwaza, Banjara Darwaza, Jamali Darwaza, and Moti Darwaza, which are all between 15 and 18 metres tall. The gates are enormous and lofty, with sinuous approaches, outer and inner entrances, and enough nooks for the guards to stand in. Inside the fort are numerous illustrious rooms and hallways, sanctuaries, mosques, libraries, corrals, and other structures. An exterior wall that is 10 km long and has 87 semi-circular fortresses, some armed with cannons, eight tunnels, and four drawbridges. The two most significant buildings in the Golconda fort are the Bala Hisar and the Baradari. The walls and gates of the fort are engraved with various emblems. The architecture features engravings of dogs, horses, fish, peacocks, sparrows, flowers, and other animals. Bricks, mortar, and ashlars were used to build the building. Hyderabad’s Golconda and other surrounding buildings were constructed with lime masonry and covered with a thick layer of fine plaster, and some of the world’s top engineers worked for the Sultans.
Perhaps, the most distinctive element of the fort is its acoustics, a feat of marvel by Iranian architects. The fort and Baradari have provided evidence of acoustic operation. There are three spots within the fort where you can appreciate the acoustics. The first is the portico near the Bala Hisar gate, which served as the focal point and allowed for the announcement of guests, which could be heard at the Baradari at the fort’s end. This structure at the end of the fort, which stood immediately after the Taramati mosque and served as a boundary between the fort’s public and private spheres, is the second point of acoustics. Taramati Baradari, located in the southwest, also developed a system for acoustics, which was constructed by Abdullah Qutb-Shah. The ceiling of the entrance inside the fort has a concave design that absorbs sound and then reflects it. It is built using lime mortar and plaster. Reverberation is a result of the nature of the surface as well. The Taramati mosque sits next to a building that used to be a cool chamber before it was changed into an acoustic chamber. Because it is 5 degrees cooler, the neighbouring chamber’s acoustics must have benefited from this. Any sound emitted within the four concave corner walls of the chamber can be heard diagonally in the opposite corner wall.The sound from the Taramathi Baradari travelled to the Baradari at the Golconda Fort, and the aerial distance between the two was 1000 metres.Two interfaces are necessary to guarantee that the sound reaches the Baradari in the Golconda fort. With the use of pitchers in the floor and the concave curvature of the roof, the sound created at the Taramati Baradari was amplified, focused, and taken up by the Baradari’s dome-shaped ceiling.As a result of the interfaces, reverted sound was made available at the Baradari in the Golconda fort, enhanced by the concave ceiling, which is quite a feat of engineering.
This beautiful fort has stood the test of time, and like all ancient counterparts, the Golconda fort has its share of myths, legends, and secrets surrounding it. People have reported their share of eerie experiences within the fort. One of the most famous legends contributing to the hauntings is the story of the courtesan Taramati. The stories are part fable, part fact, and a whole lot of spookiness. The Sultan’s court was entertained by sisters Taramathi and Premmathi, and the ruler took a liking to Taramathi, a singer and dancer par excellence. He used to hear Taramati’s voice as she sang to the travellers in the Serai while, he sat two kilometres away at the fort. The love between them blossomed, but alas, due to the jealousy and conspiracy of the court, it was ill-fated, and it is said that Taramathi mysteriously passed away in 1672. The Sultan launched an inquiry, but it was futile, and he was heartbroken. Thus, Taramathi was buried in the royal cemetery of the Qutb Shahis. Fast forward to decades later, and the Qutb Shahi dynasty and Taramathi are histories. The fort is the lone survivor and has throngs of visitors, and during twilight, it stands as a massive structure, eerie and foreboding. Nothing is amiss, but visitors often report hearing the tinkle of anklets, ghostly voices, and long shadows on the walls, which are said to be the spectres of long-forgotten Qutb Shahi soldiers. Many have reported seeing the ghost of Taramathi dancing in the courtroom.
The stories are many, but the proof is scarce. So, is there any truth to this? Are there really spectres and voices, or is it just the excellent acoustics of the fort at work?
Perhaps this will forever remain a secret protected by the walls of the fortress.
Bibliography :
IJRESM. (2022). Fort of Golconda – The Historical Study in South Asia. International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management, 5(6), 2581–5792
BooksFact. (2017, May 31). Golconda Fort, Originally Mangaladevi Temple, discovered in 1080 CE – History. BooksFact – Ancient Knowledge & Wisdom. https://www.booksfact.com/history/golconda-fort-originally-mangaladevi-temple-discovered-1080-ce.html
Subodh, S., & Bhattacharyya, S. (2009). Professor Sudhir Ranjan Das Memorial Prize: ACOUSTICS IN MEDIEVAL BUILDINGS: A CASE STUDY OF GOLCONDA. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 70, 987–993. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44147744
Do You Like Spooky Tales? This Story of Golconda Fort will Give You Chills | Flynote Blog. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2023, from https://www.flynote.com/blog/this-story-of-golconda-fort-will-give-you-chills/
O’Connell, R. (2018, October 24). Golconda: The Eerie Acoustics of a Hyderabad Fort. Travelogues from Remote Lands. https://www.remotelands.com/travelogues/golconda-the-eerie-acoustics-of-a-hyderabad-fort/
