the light baggage

  To Read Part-1, Please click here Overview: We started our second day with a visit to the Golkonda fort. The fort was built by the Hindu Kakatiya kings, which was taken by Qutub Shahi kings in the 16th century with Golkonda as the capital. The city and fortress built on a granite hill that is 120 meters (400 ft) high and is surrounded by massive crenulated ramparts. The beginnings of the fort date to 1143, when the Hindu Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area. The fort finally fell into ruins after a siege and its fall to Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. Golkonda consists of four distinct forts with a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semicircular bastions, eight gateways, and four drawbridges, with a number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables, etc. inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter by the "Fateh Darwaza" (Victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb’s triumphant army marched in through this gate) studded with giant i

  To Read Part-2, please click here Overview: My friend in Hyderabad was requesting me to visit Hyderabad since long. And the time had come when he himself was shifting his base to Bangalore. So finally we decided to visit his house and do some touristy in Hyderabad. Though this was not my first visit to Hyderabad and definitely not my last either, my wife was visiting Hyderabad for the first time. My friend had purchased a new Ford Figo so a comfy ride around the city was assured. We reached Hyderabad on Saturday morning. It was a rainy morning but didn't dampen our spirits. We went to the Buddha Vihar which was close to my friend's place. From there we picked up his wife on the way and then went to the necklace road and went to have some chats beside the Hussainsagar Lake. It was nice and cool and was drizzling a bit. We got a chance to catch up with one more friend at the food court. We headed towards Gandipet which is around 20 kms from there. Gandipet, or Osman Saga

  This Post is a part of the Hoysala Diary. Please Click here to read the main post Overview: The Stamp of the Hoysalas, the sculptor Jakanachari began his artwork for the Hoysalas from Somanathpura. Based on his learning from here, he went on to create magic wherever he went, including Belur and Halebid. The temple is delicately carved and various deities are depicted in different scenes and some scenes from the great epics. Also are the carvings of various dances, animals, birds. A huge complex, full of exquisite carvings, reflects the age of perfect craftsmanship. The temple was destroyed following invasions but not as much as the temples in Belur and Halebid. It would be good if tourists visit Somanathpur before heading to Belur- Halebid. This temple is non-functional and is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Somanathpura usually falls in the circuit of Shivanasamudra and Talakadu by the tourists. Many inscriptions have been found here written in old Kannada litera