Monuments
Bhongir Fort, Bhongir

This
fort is located upon a single hill at Bhongir. More than 500 feet high and spread
over an area of 40 acres, the fort was considered practically impregnable by
invading armies. Built in the 12th century by western Chalukya ruler Tribhuvanamalla
Vikramaditya it has a unique egg-shaped construction with two entry points protected
by huge rocks. A moat that encircles the fort, a vast underground chamber, trap
doors, an armoury, stables, ponds, wells etc., make for fascinating viewing.
The view from top of the surrounding countryside is simply breathtaking.
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Chandragiri Fort, Chandragiri
Chandragiri was the later capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. The forts and
Mahals at the place are attractions for tourists. The fort is said to have been
built in AD 1,000 by Immadi Narasimha Yadavaraya and has been improved in later
time by the Vijayanagara Kings.
The fort stands on a huge hill 183m high. The southern side of the hill is enclosed
by strong walls, surrounded by a ditch. The remains of the lower fort contain
the two Mahals, the lower portion of which is built in stone and the upper in
brick. The main building known as the 'Raj (Chandragiri) Mahal' is majestic
in appearance. The modern town of Chandragiri lies to the east of the hill on
which the fort stands.
Sound & LightShow.
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Asman Garh Palace, Hyderabad
The palace was designed and built by Sir Osman Jah, a noble belonging to the
Paigah family and one time Prime Minister of Hyderabad State.
The granite turrets and arched windows of Asman Garh stand atop a hill some
distance ahead of the Hyderabad TV tower. The palace now houses an archaeological
museum.
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Charminar, Hyderabad

The
Charminar is as much the signature of Hyderabad as the Taj Mahal is of Agra
or the Eiffel Tower is of Paris.
It is a magnificent square edifice of granite, built upon four grand arches
facing North, South, East and West. These arches support two floors of rooms
and gallery of archways. At each corner of the square structure is a minaret
rising to a height of 24 meters, making the building nearly 54 meters tall.
It is these four (char) minarets (minar) that give the building, its name Charminar.
Each minar stands on a lotus-leaf base, a special recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi
buildings.
The first floor was used as a madarasa (college) during the Qutub Shahi period.
The second floor has a mosque on the western side, the dome of which is visible
from the road, if one stands some distance away. A spectacular view of the city
may be had from the roof of the Charminar, although, due to severe overcrowding
of the minarets, only visitors with special permission from the Archaeological
Survey of India, Hyderabad Circle are allowed to go to the top of the minarets.
The clocks above each of the four archways were added in 1889.
Walking around the Charminar area, one is constantly surprised by vestiges of
the past intermingling with the present. Towards the Southeast of the Charminar
is located imposing edifice of the Nizamia Unani Hospital. About 50m to the
West, the line of shops in Lad Bazaar is interupted by an old, crumbling brown
wall, which marks the entrance to the old Nizama?s Jilau Khana (parade ground).
The grounds are now being used for the development of a large commercial complex.
Further down, a road to the left leads to the Khilawat Complex (Chowmahalla
Palace). The Lad Bazaar road terminates in a square called Mahaboob Chowk where
a large 19th century clock-tower looms over a delicate white mosque of the same
period.
Timings people are allowed (only in the cellar of the monument) all
the day and during night times till 100 clock.
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Golconda Fort, Hyderabad
Golconda is one of the famous forts of India. The name originates from the Telugu
words "Golla Konda" meaning "Shepherd's Hill". The origins of the fort can be
traced back to the Kakatiyas period Golconda was originally a mud fort, which
passed to the Bahmani dynasty and later to the Qutb Shahis, who held it from
1518 to 1687 A.D. The first three Qutb Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a
span of 62 years.
The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces, factories, ingenious water supply
system and the famous Fateh Rahben gun, one of the cannons used in the last
siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell.
Sound & Light Show at Golconda Fort
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