Naya Qila

Panoramic view over the southern side of Naya Qila, bright morning, from the top of the Golconda.

Naya Qila also spelled as Naya Quila (English: New Fort ) is an extended portion of Golconda Fort, in Hyderabad, India.^[1][2] Built in 1656 A.D by Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah as further defence for the Mughal armies. This Integral part of fort contains many historic structures.There are strange figures and animals worked out of stone and stucco on the walls of the outer fort facing the Naya Qila. It is one of the least explored heritage sites of India.^[2][3]

History

During the rule of Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah (1625–1672), Mughal governor of Deccan, Aurangzeb aimed the fusillade against Golconda fort in January 1656, the mighty Mughal army kept up the cannon fire but the fort stood firm. After a four-month siege, the Mughal army withdrew in April 1656 AD.^[4] Due to heavy fusillade by Mughals the Golconda fort became weak and Fort walls started leaning, thus to avoid future attacks and loss Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah ordered for the repair of fort walls and the extension of Golconda fort, thus the construction of Naya Qila was started in the year 1656 AD and was completed with more additions by Sultan Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.^[5] and nearly, 30 years later when Aurangzeb become the emperor, again he set his sights on the Golconda he completely avoided the place because the place from where he aimed the fusillade, stood the Naya Qila. A rock masonry structure with moats, it made the Golconda all the more impregnable.^[4] any how in 1687 AD the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb annexed the kingdom of Golconda.^[6]

The fort was designed and constructed by Mustafa Khan the royal architect of Qutb Shah Sultans, Mecca Masjid and Toli Masjid was designed and constructed by him.^[7]

Attraction

• The Persian garden : Bagh-E-Qutb, built by the seventh ruler Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah (1625–1672).^[8]

• The African Baobab tree: The famous Baobab tree also known to local residents as Hatiyan ka Jhad means ( Elephant Size Tree ) located in the Naya Qila premises is more than 400 years old.^[9] The Arabian traders introduced this tree in Hyderabad, India^[10] and it was given to Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah by the Arab traders. This tree have the girth of 27.40 meters (89 feet). The cave formed in between the branches of this tree. There are various stories centred on this Baobab tree and one of the famous stories is related to its cave which helped some 40 notorious thieves to hide themselves^[11] some 400 years ago.^[12]

• Two Mosques

• Mosque of Mustafa Khan the mosque in memory of royal architect of Qutb Shah Sultans.^[13]
• Mosque Mullah Khiyali the mosque constructed in memory of the royal poet of Qutb Shah Sultans.^[4]

Both the mosques are critical examples of the early architecture of Golconda.^[5][8][10]

• Naya Qila Talab: Is a water body situated within the Naya Qila area, constitutes part of the irrigation systems that connected the water bodies inside and outside the Naya Qila area. Currently, this water body is in a badly neglected state.^[14] Ruins of Naya Qila in Golconda contain 350 years old fragments of earthen pipes used for water supply during Qutb Shahi rule in Hyderabad.^[3]

• Shah Hatem Talab: This is a lake situated next to the Naya Qila wall, alongside the road. It was intrinsically connected to various irrigation systems inside Naya Qila as evidenced by various connecting tunnels, water pools, and irrigation channels. It has about 52 acres of water spread out of 76 acres of Shah Hatem talab.^[14][15]

The Hindu Writes on 22 Feb 2009 : The vast expanse of land abutting the Mustafa Khan Masjid in Naya Qila, Golconda, is the scene of hectic activity. Men and machines are busy levelling the land allegedly at the behest of the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA).^[13]

The Hindu writes on 12 Dec 2009 : Naya Qila: The Persian garden, the African Balboa tree, two mosques that back to the sunset days of Qutb Shahi regime are now threatened by a golf course of all things. A few gold coins unearthed at the site were on display at the State Museum during the heritage week, but the work is apace at the golf course. If tokenism is the norm, then this was it.^[8]

The News International Writes on 30 December 2008 : Earlier, the Hathiyan tree had the Naya Qila, historic mosques, Masjid-e-Mila Khayali and Masjid Mustafa Khan, for company. Now, there’s a half-built golf course too! And, that has blocked the entry of enthusiasts towards the Jamali Darwaza. It was in May this year that the route to the infamous elephant tree was obstructed, after construction was initiated by the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA). Incidentally, the state government allotted nearly 100 acres at the Naya Qila to the HGA of which 50 acres was acquired from farmers.^[10]

The Times of India Writes on 19 Apr 2011 : Golconda garden vanishes from ASI files, A ten-acre garden in Golconda fort, dating back to the 17th century and described in the chapters of history as `Bagh-i-Qutub' has disappeared from the government files, literally. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the caretaker of this `Deccani Garden' which many moons ago comprised cascading waterfalls and lakes but is now covered with creepers, has handed over this area to the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA) claiming the `Bagh' never existed. The elite club, in turn, has planned four of its golf holes (5, 6, 14 and 15) in this area.^[16]

The Times of India Writes on 31 May 2011 : Naya Qila played down in UNESCO list. The Naya Qila has become history in Hyderabad's heritage map. The 600-page glossy dossier prepared by the state tourism department to bag the much-awaited world heritage tag for the 'Qutb Shahi Monuments of Hyderabad', just makes a namesake mention of this historical structure. The impressive dossier with pictures, maps and elaborate text has buried the Qila in a corner and even dangerously termed it as `buffer zone' (and not `core' area) around the 400-year-old Golconda Fort. Not only does the Naya Qila and its structures find no mention on the list of `nominated property of Golconda' (the 22 structures), the descriptive sections of the report, which trace the history of each property in intricate detail, has little to say about the Qila.^[2]

References

See also

• Golconda,
• Mecca Masjid
• Qutb Shahi dynasty
• Charminar

Forts in India Vijayanagara Gingee Fort Bangalore Fort Udayagiri Fort Vellore Fort Deccan sultanates Ahmednagar Fort Gawilghur Narnala Panhala Fort Gujarat Sultanate Mahim Fort Bhadra Fort Delhi Sultanate Aligarh Fort Bandhavgarh Fort Hathras Fort Qila Mubarak Siri Fort Tughlaqabad Salimgarh Fort Daulatabad Various Nayaks Chitradurga Fort Bekal Fort Dindigul Fort Gingee Fort Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort Chandragiri Fort Hosdurg Fort Malwa Sultanate Mandsaur Fort Faruqi dynasty Asirgarh Laling Thalner Rajput Achalgarh Amber Fort Chittorgarh Fort Jaigarh Fort Jaisalmer Fort Jalore Fort Junagarh Fort Kankwadi Kumbhalgarh Nahargarh Fort Taragarh Fort Lal Kot Gwalior Fort Kalinjar Hinglajgarh Mehrangarh Fort Narwar Fort Senapati fortress Bahu Fort Kangra Fort Ranthambore Fort Maratha Dongri Fort Harishchandragad Kolaba Fort Lohagad Sudhagad Sinhagad Tikona Panhala Fort Pratapgad Vishalgad Rajgad Sindhudurg Vijaydurg Shivneri Raigad Gajendragarh Gingee Fort Shaniwar Wada Jhansi Fort Hinglajgarh Manora Visapur Fort Sadashivgad Mughal Empire Purana Qila Qila Rai Pithora Chanderi fort Agra Fort Allahabad Fort Fatehpur Sikri Red Fort Akola Fort Jat Gohad Fort Lohagarh Fort Nahar Singh Mahal Mysore kingdom Devanahalli Fort Palakkad Fort Bekal Fort Sankagiri Fort Siddi Murud-Janjira Belapur Fort Underi Travancore Vattakottai Fort Udayagiri Fort East Fort Portuguese Bassein Fort Bombay Castle Fort Arnala Castella de Aguada Fort Emmanuel Korlai Fort Madh Fort St Thomas Fort St. Angelo Fort Pallipuram Fort Fort Aguada Fort Anjediva Cranganore Fort Ghodbunder fort Diu Fort Terekhol Fort British Raj Fort St. George Fort William Bombay Fort Riwa Fort Worli Fort Mazagon Fort Sion Hillock Fort Sewri Fort Mahim Fort Tellicherry Fort Fort St. David Durrani Empire Hari Parbat Sur Empire Rohtasgarh Munger Fort Ahom Dynasty Talatal Ghar Kareng Ghar Rang Ghar Garchuk Lachit Garh Kakatiya Dynasty Golkonda Warangal Fort