Archive for the ‘States of South India’ Category
The town reflects an old world charm and is famous for undulating hills, garrulous rivers and is home to some of the finest tourist attractions. Some of the major tourist attractions in Coorg are historic Madikeri Fort, the Omkareshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu, and some stunning viewpoints such as Raja’s Seat. Around Madikeri, there are lots of recreational and pilgrimage sites such as Abbey and Irupu Falls.
Mysore was the capital of Wodeyar rulers, who were Governors of southern Karnataka under the Vijayanagar kings. Modern Mysore is the creation of Tipu Sultan who in 1793, revamped the old city and built the present day Mysore. It is the cultural epicenter of Karnataka retaining the old world charm.
A very important pilgrim centre of the Indians. Rameshwaram is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge across the sea to rescue his consort Sita, from her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to cleanse away the sin of killing Ravana. Both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites visit this pilgrimage which is known as the Varanasi the south. The temple comprises of twenty-two wells where the taste of the water of each well is different from the other. Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is incomplete without a Pilgrimage to Rameshwaram.
Munnar is a small hill station set amongst the Kannan Devan hills. It is famous for its lush green surroundings, lakes, reservoirs, forests, and tea estates. The quiet environs of Munnar attract the traveler to relax in the lap of Mother Nature. Munnar is one of the highest tea estates in the world.
Kollam is situated about 71 Kms. north of Thiruvavanathapuram and is linked by rail, road and backwater transport. The town edges with the famous Ashtamudi lake. Many a foreign traveler has visited Kollam in early medieval period. It was one of the early centres of Christian activity in Kerala. It is said that the present town of Kollam was built by the Syrian Merchant; Sapir Iso, in the 9th Century A.D. The popularity of Kollam has been established by the time honoured proverb once you see Kollam, you will not need home any more. Kollam is an important commercial, industrial and trading centre.
Thangasseri Lighthouse is open to visitors from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. There are buses at 15 minute intervals from Kollam town.
A visit to Visakhapatnam is surely incomplete without a visit to the Beach. The Rama Krishna Beach, or RK Beach as it is commonly called is the closest beach park you can reach from the heart of the city. Of course, the beach is one of the best tourist spot in Vizag.
About Golconda Fort :
Golconda fort of Andhra pradesh, is a majestic monument, which lies on the western outskirts of Hyderabad city. It speaks of a great cultural heritage of 400 years and is regarded as a place worth visiting. Built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in 1525, it stands as the epitome of Nawabi culture and grandeur.
A Well Planned Architecture :
The magnificent architecture of the Golconda fort is manifest in its acoustic system, the structural grandeur of the palaces and ingenious water supply system. The fort was famous for its diamond trade and the ‘Kohinoor’ diamond is said to have come from here. One is perplexed to see the meticulous details of the architecture and the fading gardens, which were once upon a time replete with sprawling lawns and playing fountains.
Golconda is built on a granite hill 120m high, and is surrounded by crenulated ramparts constructed of large masonry blocks weighing several tonnes. The design of the ventilation reveals the brilliant planning of the architects; they are designed to let in a flow of fresh cool breeze, which is a respite from the heat of summer.
The massive gates are studded with large pointed iron spikes to prevent elephants from battering them down. The outer wall surrounding the entire township of Golconda, is about 11-km long, and is strongly fortified. In its heyday, the 10-km long road from Golconda to outer Hyderabad was a fabulous market selling jewellery, diamonds, pearls and other gems, which were famous all over the world.
History Of Golconda :
Before the city of Hyderabad was founded the Deccan was ruled from Golconda fort. Founded originally by the Kakatiya’s in the 13th century the existing structure was expanded by the Qutub Shahi kings into a massive fort with granite walls and ramparts extending some 5-km in circumference. The first three Qutub Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a span of 62 years.
Shepherd’s Hill” or “Golla Konda”, as it was popularly known in Telugu, has an interesting story behind it. One fine day, on the rocky hill called ‘Mangalavaram’, a shepherd boy came across an idol. This was conveyed to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling at that time. The king got a mud fort constructed around the holy spot. Over a period of time this lowly construction was expanded by the Qutub Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite, which has been a silent witness to many historic events.

Attractions Within The Fort :
One of the most remarkable features of Golconda is its system of acoustics- a hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the ‘Bala Hissar’, the highest point almost a kilometre away, palaces, factories, water supply system and the famous ‘Rahban’ cannon, that was used during the last seize of Golconda by Aurangazeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell.
There is also supposed to be secret underground tunnel leading from the ‘Durbar Hall’ to one of the palaces at the foot of the hill. The tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings, built with Islamic architecture lie about 1-km north of the outer wall of Golconda. These graceful structures are surrounded by landscaped gardens, and a number of them have beautifully carved stonework. Not be missed is the Sound and Light show conducted by Andhra Pradesh Tourism.
Outside the Golconda Fort are two separate pavilions built on a rocky eminence – the ‘Taramathi Gana Mandir’ and the ‘Premathi Nritya Mandir’ from where the legendary sisters ‘Taramathi’ and ‘Premamathi’ resided. They gave their performance on a circular dais atop a two-storied structure, the ‘Kala Mandir’, which was visible from the king’s durbar (king’s court) on top of the Golconda Fort.
A new attraction at the fort is a sound and light show that brings the legend of Golconda to life. With a spectacular interplay of audio and visual effects, the story of Golconda unfolds over centuries of splendour. The show livens up the glorious past and it is an experience worth watching. The show is presented in English, Hindi and Telugu.
In Hindi – Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
In Telugu – Thursday
Closed on – Mondays
Advance Booking – Available at Yatra Nivas, Secunderabad. Coach leaves Yatranivas at 5:00pm and returns from Golconda Fort at 8:15pm.
How to get there ?
Air – Hyderabad can be reached by air, from all the major cities of the country.
Rail – Hyderabad is well connected by rail to all parts of the country.
Road – There is a regular bus service to Hyderabad from many cities in southern, central and southeastern parts of the country.

