Golconda Fort and Qutb Shahi tombs
Duration: 4 hours including drive time
All days of the week
This is a private half-day car tour of Golconda Fort and Qutb Shahi tombs. You may lengthen the tour to a full day with an optional extension described below.
Historical background: The Qutb Shahi dynasty ruled the region around Hyderabad for most of the 16th and 17th centuries. The Qutb Shahi kings were prolific builders and undertook the construction of various iconic structures, two of which you will visit today: Golconda Fort and the Qutb Shahi tombs.
Golconda Fort: The Golconda Fort was the capital of several generations of Qutb Shahi rulers. The fort is a massive structure with impressive engineering. An exploration of the ruined fort reveals barracks, armories, mosques, camel stables, Turkish baths, water reservoirs, bazaar areas and residential quarters. The sheer size and majesty of the fort, and the ingenuity that must have been involved in its planning and construction, make the fort one of Hyderabad's stellar attractions.
Qutb Shahi tombs: As the Golconda fort is vast and imposing, so are the Qutb Shahi tombs intricate, graceful, and tranquil. Apart from seven Qutb Shahi rulers, other members of the royal family as well as several respected citizens are also buried here. Walk through the serene, breezy landscaped gardens and visit the many mausoleums, listening to the stories of intrigues, plots and romances behind each colourful personality.
We will pick you up and drop you at your hotel.
Cost:
Includes:
AC transport, driver with cell phone, fuel, parking charges, tolls, knowledgeable guide, bottled water and all taxes.
Excludes:
Entrances, meals, tips.
Tour notes: Please ensure you have adequate sun protection. Some parts of Golconda Fort require climbing, but large parts are accessible on flat ground. Ramps have been provided for wheelchair accessibility. There are cobbled paths and stone steps; sensible footwear is recommended.
Prior reservation is mandatory. Email deepa@magictoursofindia.com or WhatsApp wa.me/+919867707414.
Optional extension: You can choose to extend the duration of the tour to a full day with a greater coverage of Golconda Fort, a visit to the Taramati Baradari pavillion, and a visit to a lovely handloom workshop. The workshop is run by a distinguished and talented woman who has been training widows in weaving and is reviving the dying arts of weaving himroo, mashru, paithani and jamavar (which show Persian influence), apart from ikat and kalamkari work. Please contact us for costs.