Gates of Golconda : the darwaza at the fort

Gates of Golconda : the  darwaza at the fort

       The darwaza or the doors or gates of any fort  or palace have played an important role in its history. Besides being functional, they add character and mystique to the appearance of the structure they are a part of; sometimes with its own unique architecture.They seem to entice the visitor to enter through them and find a new experience or sight within.

        There are eight important gates at the Golconda Fort. Bala Hissar Darwaza, Fateh Darwaza, Banjara Darwaza,Moti Darwaza, Patancheru Darwaza, Mecca Darwaza,Yali Darwaza, etc.   Through these gates an elephant with its mahout would easily pass. The doors are made of teakwood. The entrance doors of the gateways have large iron studs and iron spikes in order to prevent elephants from damaging the fort; relevant at the time they were built. The gates are tall and colossal.

      The Bala Hissar Gate depicted below shows Indo-Islamic design in stucco between the arch and lintel with a heraldic lion and some mythical animals. The peacock motif had been used  decoratively above the door. This gate leads to the second level of fortification.

Bala Hissar Darwaza,Golconda Fort.


By Karthik Uppaladhadiam (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons



Entrance door, Golconda Fort.

By Pravina (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Fortifications, Golconda Fort.

By Pranav Kumar (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons




 Gateways inside the Golconda Fort.

By Karthik Uppaladhadiam (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

  The Fateh Darwaza is the gate through which Emperor Aurangzeb's forces entered the fort. it was opened by bribing a Qutub Shahi official Abdullah Khan Panni.The gate is on the south through which one can enter the fort. This gateway is 13 feet wide and 25 feet high It has iron sheets with spikes stuck on its teak doors. A strong wooden bar was sued to secure the door , with two sockets on each side. An open space between the first entrance and second entrance; where guards used to be posted. Makka Darwaza has an covered space between its outer and inner entrance. The Moti, Patancheru and Banjara Darwaza too have a covered space between its entrances. Link roads connect all the gates to the Bala Hissar Darwaza.

                                                                

Door, Fateh darwaza,Golconda Fort.

Pics Source : Vartika Singh

Doors, Moti darwaza,Golconda Fort.

Pics Source : Vartika Singh

Doors, Banjara darwaza, Golconda Fort.

Pics Source : Vartika Singh

Door, Makka Darwaza,Golconda Fort.

Pic Source : Vartika Singh

  
      Below is depicted the Yali darwaza. It pierces the middle fortification and has an interesting broad lintel which has a lotus medallion with mythical animals on it's side, probably yalis.  Swans with worms in their beaks are also seen. On top is a pointed space surrounded by animal and bird motifs.



Yali Darwaza,Golconda Fort.

By Bernard Gagnon (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons




References :

1. wikipedia.org
2. The heritage of the Qutb Shahis of Golconda and Hyderabad/Nayeem,M.A,Hyderabad : Hyderabad Publishers,2006.
3.  Marg, Vol XXXVII No:3, Bombay : Marg Publications.

Posted by :


Soma Ghosh


Ⓒauthor