5 views
Taramati
Taramati
From the moment I stepped inside the Golconda Fort I knew that I was Taramati. Believe me, I really did. Don't ask me how I got inside a time machine, travelled at jet speed and landed into the year 1628 CE, but somehow it happened. Peculiarly, in spite of being in 1628, I did not lose my connectivity with 2018. Oh, what a pandemonium it created! My husband, who got no air of the change in me, behaved normally as he always did.
"Coffee?" he asked.
"Sharbat," I replied.
Ultimately we settled for tea.
Our guide was trying his best to hold the attention of his tourists, but his lengthy, historic narrative made them distinctly bored. To put that history in a nutshell, the Golconda fort was built by the kings of the Kakatiya dynasty. Then it passed on to the Bahmani kings, followed by the Sultans of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, who turned the original mud fort into a massive fortification of granite with a circumference of around 5 miles. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb led a eight-month-long seige in 1687, after which the fort fell into ruins. Famous diamonds like Koh-i-noor, Hope, Noor-ul-Ain, Regent, etc were found in the diamond mines of Golconda.
The diamond part of the narrative was followed by several "wow"s and sighs from the ladies.
My eyes were searching for Taramati Baradari beside the Musi river. My beloved Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah built the beautiful mansion especially for me. The twelve doors allowed cross ventilation and the surrounding garden of Ibrahim Bagh burst into a plethora of colours in spring. It indeed was a sight to behold. And in the exquisite dancing pavilion I used to sing and dance exclusively for my Sultan.
"Let's not waste time here any longer."
I jumped back to 2018 CE.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right Ani," said I.
"Who needs a guide? We can explore the fort by ourselves," said Ani.
"Of course," I replied.
We entered into a disintegrated monument. Ani started exploring the ruins while I explored the past.
"Oh dear! Look at those hundreds of bats hanging from the beams!" cried Ani.
I saw colourful chandeliers tintinnabulating from the ceilings.
"It smells so bad inside," complained Ani.
I got the faint fragrance of jasmine attar.
"This damn place is rat infested" said Ani. "Just listen to their sqeaks!"
I heard the tinkling sound of the court dancers' payels as they danced to the rhythm of tabla and sarengi.
"Oh my God!" cried Ani. "I swear I saw moving shadows on those walls!"
I saw men and women moving about in colourful dresses playing Holi.
"What's the matter with you?" asked Ani. "Why are you so silent today?"
Not at all! I was chatting with my friends from the past.
"I hate this place. Let's get out of here," said Ani.
I love this place. Let's stay here forever.
"Thank God, finally we got out of that hell hole." Ani sounded relieved.
Bright sunlight fell on my face and brought me back into the present.
"Oh no! It's almost two!" exclaimed Ani. "Guess what? We spent almost two hours inside that spooky ruin."
"Really?" replied I.
I thought we spent very little time there.
"I feel so hungry," said Ani. "Let's go and have our lunch."
Ani wanted Chinese, but I chose Biryani. Ani was surprised.
"But you love Chinese food darling." ...
From the moment I stepped inside the Golconda Fort I knew that I was Taramati. Believe me, I really did. Don't ask me how I got inside a time machine, travelled at jet speed and landed into the year 1628 CE, but somehow it happened. Peculiarly, in spite of being in 1628, I did not lose my connectivity with 2018. Oh, what a pandemonium it created! My husband, who got no air of the change in me, behaved normally as he always did.
"Coffee?" he asked.
"Sharbat," I replied.
Ultimately we settled for tea.
Our guide was trying his best to hold the attention of his tourists, but his lengthy, historic narrative made them distinctly bored. To put that history in a nutshell, the Golconda fort was built by the kings of the Kakatiya dynasty. Then it passed on to the Bahmani kings, followed by the Sultans of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, who turned the original mud fort into a massive fortification of granite with a circumference of around 5 miles. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb led a eight-month-long seige in 1687, after which the fort fell into ruins. Famous diamonds like Koh-i-noor, Hope, Noor-ul-Ain, Regent, etc were found in the diamond mines of Golconda.
The diamond part of the narrative was followed by several "wow"s and sighs from the ladies.
My eyes were searching for Taramati Baradari beside the Musi river. My beloved Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah built the beautiful mansion especially for me. The twelve doors allowed cross ventilation and the surrounding garden of Ibrahim Bagh burst into a plethora of colours in spring. It indeed was a sight to behold. And in the exquisite dancing pavilion I used to sing and dance exclusively for my Sultan.
"Let's not waste time here any longer."
I jumped back to 2018 CE.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right Ani," said I.
"Who needs a guide? We can explore the fort by ourselves," said Ani.
"Of course," I replied.
We entered into a disintegrated monument. Ani started exploring the ruins while I explored the past.
"Oh dear! Look at those hundreds of bats hanging from the beams!" cried Ani.
I saw colourful chandeliers tintinnabulating from the ceilings.
"It smells so bad inside," complained Ani.
I got the faint fragrance of jasmine attar.
"This damn place is rat infested" said Ani. "Just listen to their sqeaks!"
I heard the tinkling sound of the court dancers' payels as they danced to the rhythm of tabla and sarengi.
"Oh my God!" cried Ani. "I swear I saw moving shadows on those walls!"
I saw men and women moving about in colourful dresses playing Holi.
"What's the matter with you?" asked Ani. "Why are you so silent today?"
Not at all! I was chatting with my friends from the past.
"I hate this place. Let's get out of here," said Ani.
I love this place. Let's stay here forever.
"Thank God, finally we got out of that hell hole." Ani sounded relieved.
Bright sunlight fell on my face and brought me back into the present.
"Oh no! It's almost two!" exclaimed Ani. "Guess what? We spent almost two hours inside that spooky ruin."
"Really?" replied I.
I thought we spent very little time there.
"I feel so hungry," said Ani. "Let's go and have our lunch."
Ani wanted Chinese, but I chose Biryani. Ani was surprised.
"But you love Chinese food darling." ...
