- Golconda Fort - Golkonda was the capital city of the Qutb Shahi kingdom, which ruled this area in the 16th and 17th centuries. Explore life in the kingdom that was famed the world over for its diamonds. Walk through the stone bazaars which once buzzed with trade and commerce, being the world’s source for diamonds, as well as a crossroads for trade between Arabia, China, Europe and the different parts of India.
Find out how the strong fortifications helped make this city a center of trade. Stand in the ‘killbox’ and experience what it would have been like to attack the fort - which has never been taken in a military action!
Climb up to the top and stand in the Diamond Keep - the cool and breezy house called home by arguably the richest kings of their time.
- Qutb Shahi Tombs - The Qutb Shahi tombs are one of the best-preserved necropolises in the world and give us a peek into the lives and deaths of the Qutb Shahi rulers.
Explore the lives of the kings and their families, and find out the price of becoming a king in the 16th century. Marvel at the story of a woman who was more powerful than all the kings of Golkonda.
The complex also has the most complete and best-preserved example of a Persian-style hamam (a public bath) from that era in India.
Learn about the architecture of the tombs, and their economic and political role in strengthening the power of the kings.
And finally, as you wander through these monuments to the power and might of the kings, figure out if they were mere men, or did they ascend to the position of something bigger!
- Snacks
- Bottled water
- Tea and coffee
Our exploration of the Kingdom of Diamonds offers a deeper perspective on the Golkonda Fort (actually not a fort at all) and the Qutb Shahi tombs (which redefine our concept of a cemetery). We journey through these two sites - one serving as a metropolis for the living, the other as a city for the departed. Each location contributes its own unique significance to the other within the prosperous realm of the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
We situate the kingdom within its particular and international settings, providing a clearer grasp of its essential role as a trade hub bridging the East and the West. We also relate the physical remnants we encounter today to distinct historical events and tales dating back to a well-chronicled era.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
