High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748

The Glorifying History of

Dr.K.Karpagam, Assistant Professor, Department of History, D.G.Government Arts College for Women, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam District – 609001

Abstract

India is a vast country with a lot of diversity in her physical and social environment. We see people around us speaking different languages, having different religions and practising different rituals.

We can also see these diversities in their food habits and dress patterns. Besides, look at the myriad forms of dance and music in our country. But within all these diversities there is an underlying unity which acts as a cementing force. The intermingling of people has been steadily taking place in over centuries. A number of people of different racial stock, ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs have settled down here. Let us not forget that the composite and dynamic character of Indian culture is a result of the rich contributions of all these diverse cultural groups over a long period of time. The distinctive features of Indian culture and its uniqueness are the precious possession of all Indians.

Significance : The art and architecture of a nation is the cultural identity of the country towards the other countries and that's why the country which has a beach art and architecture is always prestigious to the other countries.

The architecture of India is rooted in its history, culture and religion. Among a number of architectural styles and traditions, the contrasting Hindu temple architecture and Indo- Islamic architecture are the best known historical styles. Both of these, but especially the former, have a number of regional styles within them.

Following the collapse of the Mughal , regional such as in Lucknow, and continued to commission and patronize the construction of Mughal-style architecture in the princely states.

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Indo-Islamic architecture has left a large impact on modern Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi architecture, as in the case of its influence on the Indo-Saracenic Revivalism of the late . Both secular and religious buildings are influenced by Indo-Islamic architecture.

KEYWORDS:

Glorifying history of Golconda Fort - Kohinoor - Ruling Dynasties of Golconda Fort- Architecture of Golconda Fort.

Golconda Fort

Golconda Fort, also known as Golkondais a fortified citadel and an early capital city of the QutbShahi dynasty (c.1512–1687), located in Hyderabad, . Because of the vicinity of diamond mines, especially , Golconda flourished as a trade centre of large , known as the . The region has produced some of the world's most famous diamonds, including the colourlessKoh-i-Noor (now owned by the United Kingdom), the blue Hope (United States), the pink Daria-i-Noor (), the white Regent (France), the Dresden Green (Germany), and the colourlessOrlov (Russia), Nizam and Jacob (India), as well as the now lost diamonds Florentine Yellow, Akbar and Great Mogul

HISTORY

Golconda was originally known as Mankal Golconda Fort was first built by the Kakatiyas as part of their western defenses along the lines of the Fort. The city and the fortress were built on a granite hill that is 120 meters (390 ft) high, surrounded by massive battlements. The fort was rebuilt and strengthened by Rani Rudrama Devi and her successor Prataparudra.

Later, the fort came under the control of the KammaNayakas, who defeated the Tughlaqi army occupying . It was ceded by king MusunuriKapayaNayaka to the as part of a treaty in 1364.

Under the Bahmani Sultanate, Golconda slowly rose to prominence. QuliQutb-ul-Mulk (r. 1487–1543), sent by the Bahmanids as a governor at Golconda, established the city as the seat of

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his government around 1501. Bahmani rule gradually weakened during this period, and Sultan Quli formally became independent in 1538, establishing the QutbShahi dynasty based in Golconda.

Over a period of 62 years, the mud fort was expanded by the first three QutbShahi into the present structure, a massive of granite extending around 5 kms in circumference. It remained the capital of the QutbShahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The QutbShahis expanded the fort, whose 7 km outer wall enclosed the city.

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 .

Diamonds

The Golconda Fort used to have a vault where the famous Koh-i-Noor and Hope diamonds were once stored along with other diamonds.

Golconda is renowned for the diamonds found on the south-east at Kollur Mine near Kollur, district, and Atkur in and cut in the city during the Kakatiya reign. At that time, India had the only known diamond mines in the world. Golkonda 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.

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 QutbShahis of , who ruled Golconda up to 1687, then to the , who ruled after the independence from the in 1724 until 1948, when the Indian integration of Hyderabad occurred.

Some sources note that the first references to the diamond, which later became known as the Koh-i-noor, appeared in Sanskrit and possibly even Mesopotamian texts as early as 3200 BCE, but this claim is controversial. In contrast, some experts claim that Sultan AlauddinKhalji took the jewel in 1304 from the of Malwa, India, whose family had owned it for many

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generations. Other writers have identified the Koh-i-noor with the diamond given to the son of Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India, by the raja of Gwalior after the battle of Panipat in 1526. Still others have contended that it came originally from the Kollur mine of the and was presented to the Mughal emperor in 1656. Some claim that the stone was cut from the Great Mogul diamond described by the French jewel trader Jean- Baptiste Tavernier in 1665, but the Koh-i-noor’s original lack of fire and shape make that unlikely.

In any case, it most likely formed part of the loot of of Iran when he sacked Delhi in 1739. After his death it fell into the hands of his general, Aḥmad Shah, founder of the Durrani dynasty of Afghans. His descendant Shah Shoja, when a fugitive in India, was forced to surrender the stone to Ranjit Singh, the Sikh ruler. On the annexation of the Punjab in 1849, the Koh-i-noor was acquired by the British and was placed among the crown jewels of Queen Victoria. It was incorporated as the central stone in the queen’s state crown fashioned for use by Queen Elizabeth, consort of George VI, at her coronation in 1937. The Koh-i-noor remains part of this crown.

The Fort

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”.

Golconda actually consists of four distinct forts with a 10 km 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 into which we enter by the "FatehDarwaza" (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 FatehDarwazaan, characteristic of the engineering marvels at Golconda.

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A hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the 'BalaHisar' pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometer away. This worked as a warning note to the Royals in case of an attack.

The fort of Golconda is known for its magical acoustic system. The highest point of the fort is the "BalaHissar", which is located a kilometer away. The palaces, factories, water supply system and the famous "Rahban" cannon, within the fort are some of the major attractions.

It is believed that there is a secret tunnel that leads from the " Hall" and ends in one of the palaces at the foot of the hill. The fort also contains the tombs of the QutubShahi kings. These tombs have Islamic architecture and are located about 1 km north of the outer wall of Golconda. They are encircled by beautiful gardens and numerous exquisitely carved stones. It is also believed that there was a secret tunnel to .

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.

This majestic structure has beautiful palaces and an ingenious water supply system. Sadly, the unique architecture of the fort is now losing its charm.

The ventilation of the fort is absolutely fabulous having exotic designs. They were so intricately designed that cool breeze could reach the interiors of the fort, providing a respite from the heat of summer.

The Huge gates of the fort are decorated with large pointed iron spikes. These spikes prevented elephants from damaging the fort. The fort of Golconda is encircled by an 11 km (6.8 mi) outer wall. This was built in order to fortify the fort.

Golconda Ruling Dynasties

Several dynasties ruled Golconda over years.

 Kakatiya Kings  KammaNayakas

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 Bahamani Sultans  QutbShahi dynasty  Mughal Empire

NayaQila (New Fort)

NayaQila 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 HatiyankaJhad "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.

QutubShahi Tombs

The tombs of the QutubShahi sultans lie about one kilometer north of Golconda's outer wall. These structures are made of beautifully carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped gardens. They are open to public and receive many visitors

UNESCO World Heritage

The Golconda fort, and other QutbShahi dynasty Monuments of Hyderabad (the Charminar, and the QutbShahi 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

Reference

1. A L Bhasham: A Cultural , 3rd Edition,1998 2. Harle, J.C., The Art and Architecture of the , 2nd edition 1994, Yale University Press Pelican History of Art 3. Encyclopaedia Britannica (2018) 4.Prasad, G. Durga (1988), History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D., Guntur: P. G. Publishers 5.Sardar, Marika (2007), Golconda through Time: A Mirror of the Evolving Deccan

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