Location
The gates of Golconda are located on the periphery of the fort wall and is connected to localities like Tolichowki, Langar Houz, Shaikpet and Ramdevguda.
Description
The Fort of Golconda has eight gateways, majority of which were built in the year 1565 in the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah. The details of the gateways are as follows:
Fateh Darwaza: Meaning Victory Gate, this is the gate through which the Imperial Mughal army of Aurangzeb marched in after the Siege of Golconda in 1687.
Moti Darwaza: Meaning the Pearl Gate, named after the pearl trade which took place in the fort.
Jamali Darwaza: Named after Jamali Begum, daughter of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah.
Banjari Darwaza: Named after the Banjara tribes as the openings faced their settlements.
Patancheru Darwaza: Named after the village of Patancheru, towards which the gate opens.
Makki Darwaza: Named after the city of Mecca, towards which the gate opens.
Bodli Darwaza: Named after Bood Ali Shah, a Sufi saint buried within the fort.
Bala Hisar Darwaza: Meaning the High Citadel Gate, as it guards the innermost palace area of the fort.
Existing Condition
Five of the eight gateways are the only points of access within the fort precinct and are controlled by traffic signals.
In the remaining gates, access through the wooden paneled doors has been obstructed by raised earth levels.
References
- Guide to Architecture in Hyderabad, Omar Khalidi.
- MIT Dome
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