Tomb of Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah IV Qutb Shahi Tombs, Golconda (map)

The Qutb Shahi tombs are located in a pleasant, park-like, setting, near Golconda Fort. They are constructed of local granite and plaster, and were originally decorated with green and turquoise tiles. The tombs contain the burials of seven rulers of the dynasty (two additional rulers died in exile), and other persons associated with the royal family.

Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah IV was the fourth ruler (1580-1612) of Golconda, a poet-king who founded the city of Hyderabad. His tomb (the north face is seen here) is 200 feet high, including its 60-foot dome. The structure's impressive 200-foot height is exactly balanced by the 200-foot wide double terrace on which it rests.

The lower terrace, 20 feet high, is supported by an arcade of 28 arches per side. Above, each side of the cubical building is elaborated with five recessed porticoes and a thick cornice, on top of which runs a battlemented parapet that is squared off by minarets. The dome rests on a lotus base that descends in transitions of 32-, 16-, and 8-sided figures to a square support. Mohammad Quli's cenotaph (see next page) is located at the upper floor level, underneath the dome; the actual crypt is located at ground level, within the lower terrace.