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The City Wall of Hyderabad was a
The construction of the wall was started by
Much of the wall was destroyed during the Great Musi Flood of 1908, and later demolished by the government after independence in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today, only two gates still stand — the ''Purana Pul Darwaza'' and the ''Dabeerpura Darwaza'', and nothing except a few portions remains of the wall.
File:Hyderabad map 1914.jpg, Map of Hyderabad, 1911 showing a rough outline of the wall and some gates
The City Wall of Hyderabad was a city wall
A defensive wall is a fortification usually used to protect a city, town or other settlement from potential aggressors. The walls can range from simple palisades or earthworks to extensive military fortifications with towers, bastions and gates ...
surrounding Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India ...
, although the city has expanded significantly beyond the wall. The wall used to enclose the area of present Old City of Hyderabad. The wall was around long and covered an area of miles. made of large granite blocks which were abundantly available around the city.
Due to encroachment and neglect on part of the authorities, almost all of the wall has been destroyed, although portions still survive at Aliabad. Two of the original thirteen gateways still stand.
Construction
The construction of the wall was started by Abul Hasan Qutb Shah
Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, also known as Abul Hasan Tana Shah was the eighth and last ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, sovereign of the Kingdom of Golconda in South India. He ruled from 1672 to 1686. The last Sultan of this Shia Islamic dynasty, Tana ...
, the last Sultan of the Qutb Shahi
The Qutb Shahi dynasty also called as Golconda Sultanate (Persian: ''Qutb Shāhiyān'' or ''Sultanat-e Golkonde'') was a Persianate Shia Islam dynasty of Turkoman origin that ruled the sultanate of Golkonda in southern India. After the coll ...
dynasty. The construction continued under Mubariz Khan
Mubariz Khan was the Mughal governor of Gujarat and Hyderabad state. He was the governor of Golconda from 1713 to 1724 until he was killed during the Battle of Shakar Kheda where he fought against Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I. His is known to have ...
, the Mughal governor of the Deccan. The construction was completed by the first Nizam
The Nizams were the rulers of Hyderabad from the 18th through the 20th century. Nizam of Hyderabad (Niẓām ul-Mulk, also known as Asaf Jah) was the title of the monarch of the Hyderabad State ( divided between the state of Telangana, Mar ...
.
The wall was approximately high and wide at various parts. Historians say that the wall varied in thickness, as it crossed various locations. Some places were wide enough for sentries, while other places could even accommodate horses. At strategic points, where there could be threats, there was an opening for canons to be mounted.
The wall initially had 13 gates, known as ''Darwazas.'' In addition to the large gates, at certain points the walls also had smaller entrances known as ''khidkis'' or windows, through which one could enter the city. The thirteen gates were:
* ''Purana Pul Darwaza'' (surviving) at Purana Pul.
* ''Dabeerpura Darwaza'' (surviving) at Dabirpura
Dabeerpura is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the Old City area of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is surrounded by Yakutpura, Chanchalguda, Purani Haveli, Noorkhan Bazar, and Azampura.
Dabeerpura has one of the original thirteen gateways ca ...
.
* ''Chaderghat Darwaza'' at Chaderghat
Chaderghat is considered one of the busiest areas of Hyderabad city and is located on the banks of Musi River. Chaderghat Bridge was built during the time of the Nizams and connects major suburbs to the main city. The original name of Chadhergha ...
.
* ''Yakutpura Darwaza'' at Yakutpura
Yakutpura (Urdu - ''یاقوت پورہ''; Telugu - ''యాకుత్పురా'') is a traditional and district of the Old City, Hyderabad in Telangana state, India. With a population of 6,335 inhabitants, the size of the area is about 0. ...
.
* ''Aliabad Darwaza'' at Aliabad.
* ''Champa Darwaza''
* ''Lal Darwaza''
* ''Gowlipura Darwaza''
* ''Fateh Darwaza''
* ''Doodhbowli Darwaza''
* ''Dilli Darwaza''
* ''Mir Jumla Darwaza''
* ''Afzal Darwaza'', the last of the gates built in 1861 by Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V.''''
Remains
Much of the wall was destroyed during the Great Musi Flood of 1908, and later demolished by the government after independence in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today, only two gates still stand — the ''Purana Pul Darwaza'' and the ''Dabeerpura Darwaza'', and nothing except a few portions remains of the wall.
Gallery
References
Citations
Bibliography
* {{Hyderabad topics Culture of Hyderabad, IndiaHyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India ...
History of Hyderabad, India
Buildings and structures in Hyderabad, India
City walls in India