Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, India.   The external walls of the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, India and my “tour guide” (aka Jake) waiting patiently for me to snap a picture.

Jake and I were able to spend one Saturday and see several places in Hyderabad.  Thankfully we had a great driver that got us from place to place, there was only one spot he wouldn’t let us go by ourselves.  The Golconda fort is over 400 years old and was once famous for its diamond mines.  It is said that the world-renowned “Kohinoor” diamond came from this fort.

A map of the Golconda Fort, the girls are fascinated with maps!

We had many people offer to give us a tour of the Fort (some were quite persistent too) but since Jake had gone with a guide previously he knew enough of the details and history to show me around.  The Golconda fort is built on a granite hill and has 8 gates (or Darwazas as they are called in local language).

Inside the main gate (called Fateh Darwaza )at Golconda Fort

In the 16th century the Qutub Shahi kings built the Golconda Fort.  The fort was originally called “Golla Konda” in Telegu which is the official state language of Hyderabad.

Place where they set up a farmer’s market in the fort

The area next to the market was the gardens where they would grow fruit trees and other vegetation.  When we were there it looked like they had replanted several trees in the gardens.

The view as we were hiking up Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, India

The story regarding the fort has been told many different ways and has variations like any piece of history…..  Around 1143 a shepherd boy found an idol in the rocky hill called ‘Mangalavaram’ which was given to the king, Kakatiya,  who built a mud fort. Over the next 60 plus years the Qutub Shahi rulers transformed the original mud fort into a beautiful granite wonder. Golconda Fort remained a marvelous granite fortress until the Mughals invaded and plundered the fort.

The “Queen’s Pool” at Golconda Fort. 

Pretty massive pool, not sure if it was used as a pool or a water retention for the rainy season or both.  We went to the first in the early morning because while we were in Hyderabad the temperatures were getting over 100 degrees with humidity and not always any breeze.  Thankfully they had trees planted along the way so we could enjoy a little bit of shade as we hiked up the fort.

Looking through the fort to the city of Hyderabad below us

It was pretty amazing thinking about how much time and energy it must have taken to build this huge fort.  The fort overlooks the old city of Hyderabad.

There are stray dogs everywhere and since one of Jake’s co-workers got bit by a wild stray dog (and had to go to the hospital) I decide it was safer to give the dogs a pretty wide path….you never know! 

This dog was actually looked pretty healthy but I wasn’t taken any chances.

Entrance to the Sri Jagadamba Mahankali Temple inside Fort Golconda

The sign lists the people on the “trust board” for this particular temple.  The temples were one spot that I didn’t notice any litter and seemed to have people in the area watching the activity going on in the temple.

Jagadamba Temple inside Fort Golconda

We had to take off our shoes to go up to see this temple.   The guy is currently lighting the candles and preparing the area for the next worship.  It broke my heart seeing people praying, worshiping, and giving to this idol (and to many other idols throughout our trip)…..they have to work hard to “earn favor” and good standing from this idol made out of rock.

An altar where they burn incense and hang items to bring good luck before entering the Jagadamba Temple. 

Seeing this brings tears to my eyes.  The people I met were amazing, kind, and generous yet this altar is a reminder of how traditional Indian religion affects many generations.

I was amazed at all the liter inside the Fort which is a historical monument. 

This made me appreciate those who work hard to keep our national parks and monuments clean.  On the flip side there were not a lot of places to dispose of your trash.  Many of the local people will go completely barefoot even on the hot stones or rocky ground.  I lost count of the number of shoe soles I found laying along the paths like the person literally walked in their shoes until they fell off their feet.

Entering the royalty chambers of Fort Golconda.

I bet it was pretty amazing during its height season, wouldn’t it be neat to get a glimpse of what it looked like during that time!

India wild “squirrel” oh how Skipper would have loved to chase this one scurrying around looking for food in Fort Golconda

Aw….we found a trash can with the words “Use Me” written on it….funny part is there is trash all around it but not much in it!

Hyderabad has several official languages, one of them being English. Thankfully almost everyone we met could speak English so it was fairly easy to have a conversation with people and they were eager to talk with us too.  I did notice that the men and boys would walk right up to us shake our hand and talk.  The women and girls were much more reserved, often times I would feel someone looking at us or hear giggles, if I made eye contact or extended the invitation to start the conversation only then would the majority of women speak to us.

The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!