Golconda is a fortified citadel and ruined city situated on the western outskirts of Hyderabad in the state of Telangana, India. Originally constructed in the 11th century by the Kakatiya ruler Pratāparudra using mud walls, the site was later ceded to the Bahmani Kings during the first Bahmani–Vijayanagara War. Following the disintegration of the Sultanate after the death of Sultan Mahmood Shah, Sultan Quli fortified the city and established it as the capital of the Sultanate of Golconda.
The city flourished significantly as a major trade center due to its proximity to diamond mines, most notably the Kollur Mine. It became renowned for the production of large diamonds known as Golconda diamonds. In 2014, the complex was placed on UNESCO's tentative list to become a World Heritage Site under the designation "Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate."