7 Tombs of Qutub Shahi Emperors Hyderabad

7 Qutub Shahi Tombs: The Resting Place of Golconda Emperors

This weekend I once again visited the 7 Qutub Shahi Tombs, where 7 generations of the Qutub Shahi Emperors are resting. The tombs are on the way to Golconda fort but are normally given a miss by most of the visitors, who are happy to visit only Golconda Fort.

But once you visit the Qutub Shahi Tombs you will realize what you have missed. I think it won’t be wrong to say that Qutub Shahi tombs form the Golden Triangle of Hyderabad along with Golconda Fort and Taramati Baradari from the era of  Qutub Shahi Kings. I don’t think your visit to Hyderabad is complete without paying a tribute to the Emperors of Golconda, who ruled the Deccan and built one of the most beautiful cities in the country – Hyderabad. In those days ( the 1600s ) architects and town planners from as far as Persia was invited to design and build the new city ( What we now call the Old City of Hyderabad, was, in fact, one of the first planned  New city developed in medieval India as the earlier capital around the fort  was not big enough for the growing needs. That the Emperor was in love with a girl from a nearby village is another story 🙂  )

The tombs were built by successive generations of the Qutub Shahi kings as their final resting place.  There is even an unfinished tomb which could not be built due to political disturbances. This time when I visited the tomb my aim once again was to catch some action during the sunset. Hopefully, I have been successful.

The tombs are surrounded by a densely populated residential area with the green coverage slowly being gobbled up by growing concrete jungle. You will find a lot of families from nearby areas coming there for a picnic and playing in the shadow of the majestic tombs which stand taller than a multi-story building.

Each tomb is unique and though look similar once you start looking at them closely you realize that each one has finer details different from the other. Besides the tombs of the kings, you will also find tombs of other members of royal family and some ministers also.

While looking at the tombs I was wondering looking at all the people playing around, enjoying their snacks if any one of them realizes that we are actually inside a Graveyard, a Royal one but still a graveyard. Such is the beauty of the majestic Qutub Shahi Tombs that you forget you are surrounded by graves, and you simply start enjoying the moment.

Besides the tombs, there are 2 mosques inside the complex and true to the multicultural heritage of Hyderabad a small temple dedicated to mother goddess is situated right in the middle. Last time I found some Bonalu offerings on the temple, but this time the step well and the temples were closed for some maintenance work.

 

I also tried taking some pictures of light entering through the vents inside one of the tombs have a look at this picture below. Not a very good one, but I was still happy as it was shot blind without using a tripod or looking through the viewfinder. I just kept my camera on a small shelf in wall praying that I will get a good shot. Not a very good shot but still sharing here for your inputs.

How to Reach Qutub Shahi Tombs: While going to Golconda fort take the Qutub Shahi tomb road from the CR Road,  the tombs are just after the Masjid E Abdullah Qutub Shah. They are visible from a distance though I am sure in a few year will be dwarfed by all the high-rises coming around. If you are asking locals for directions also say you want to go to 7 Tombs Toli Chowki as the area nearby called by old timers.

Follow this Google Map to reach Qutub Shahi Tombs

Timings to visit 7 Qutub Shahi Tombs: From  10 am to 6 pm

Entry Fee to Qutub Shahi Tombs:  INR 10 for Adult

Car Parking: Ample parking is available for INR 20 per car

Photography is allowed by paying a camera fee of INR 20.

Best time to visit  7 Qutub Shahi Tombs:

Around 3 pm in afternoon, this way you can explore the tombs and then click some good sunset pictures of Qutub Shahi Tombs. This post is based on my second visit to Qutub Shahi Tombs, the first one appeared on Ghumakkar, some pics may have been used again.   All pictures for this post taken using Nikon D7000, 18-105 lens.

Also, check this list of places to see in Hyderabad and nearby.

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