Photographing the Golconda Fort, Hyderabad, India

Golconda Fort should be on your list to photograph if you are in the state of Andra Pradesh or the city of Hyderabad in India. Golconda Fort has many ruins that make good subjects for photography. There is also a light and sound show in the evenings.

Goldconda Fort is located about 11 kilometers west of Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh, India. The fort was built between the 12^th and 16^th centuries on a 400 foot high granite hill. The fort wall is over 7 kilometers in diameter. There is a lot of walking and stairs to climb at the fort. Also, make sure to bring plenty of water as it can be very hot in Hyderabad especially in the summer.

Golconda Fort also has an amazing system of acoustics. The sound of clapped hands can be heard at the top of the fort which is a kilometer away; yet you cannot hear the sounds of honking horns from the traffic on the street below the fort.

The fort includes a palace, parade ground, armory, mosque and well as many other buildings. There are also stairs and ruins that can be terrific photo ops. Golconda Fort also has many interesting carvings in the walls for good close in compositions.

Equipment

I did not attempt to bring a tripod into the fort, which was probably a good idea due to the stairs, uneven surfaces, and crowds. There is conflicting information online as to whether tripods are allowed inside the fort and for the light show.

I used a Canon 6d and a Canon 24 – 105mm f/4 lens. An ultra wide angle lens such as a Canon 17-40mm would have also been useful at the fort. I also used a graduated neutral density filter that helped with the contrast between the sky and the fort.

Hours and Cost

The Golconda Fort is open from 9 am – 5 pm except Mondays when it is closed. The time for the light show varies by season. The entry Fee is 10 rupees for Indian nationals and 100 rupees for foreigners.

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