Fortress and ruined city, Andhra Pradesh state, southern India.
Located 5 mi (8 km) west of modern Hyderabad , it was the capital (1512–1687) of one of the five Muslim sultanates of the Deccan . It was conquered in 1687 by the emperor Aurangzeb and was annexed to the Mughal empire. The fortress, with palaces and mosques, remains intact. Historically, Golconda was famous for its diamonds, mined in the nearby hills.