A citadel of romance and intrigue
   
   The historic Golconda fort lies 11km west of Hyderabad which found its
   way to legend and literature, prose and poetry. Once famous for its
   diamond market, it is believed that the Koh-i-noor which now adorns
   the imperial British crown in London, was quarried here. The name
   originates from the Telugu words 'Golla Konda', meaning 'Shepherd's
   Hill'. The Fort stands on an isolated hill about 128m., high
   surrounded by three tiers of battlemented ramparts. The fort
   originally belonged to the Kakatiyas who ruled from Warangal. They
   ceded to the Bahamanis and from them the Qutub Shahis acquired it.
   Built and renovated, over a period of 62 years by the first three
   Qutub Shahi kings it grew into an impregnable fort. The impressive
   Fateh Darwaza, the bastions, the intricately carved walls of the
   Zanana and the fascinating accoustic system whereby a handclap sounded
   at the entry gate is heard at the highest point in the fort some 120
   m., high. Equally ingenious is the system of water supply to the roof
   gardens and palaces through laminated clay pipes and Persian wheels.
   Another famous feature is the Rahban Cannon, one of those used during
   the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to whom the fort ultimately
   fell. 
   

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