Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
The Sri Jagadamba Mahankali Temple stands near the summit of the hill inside the historic Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, close to the Ibrahim Mosque and the ruins of the royal palace. The Goddess is worshipped as Jagadamba – Mother of the Universe – and is affectionately known to local devotees as Jagadambika Yellamma Talli. Every year, the city's great Ashada Bonalu festival begins here, before moving on to Secunderabad and the Old City.
History
The temple is believed to be about 900–1,000 years old, dating back to the early Kakatiya period, when the hill was first fortified. Golconda later became the capital of the Qutb Shahi kingdom, and the fort grew into one of the great citadels of the Deccan. Through all these centuries the shrine of the Mother on the hilltop has remained a living place of worship; today the fort is a protected monument of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Golconda Bonalu
- First of the city's Bonalu: Hyderabad's Ashada Bonalu traditionally opens at the Golconda temple at the start of Ashada masam (usually June–July), before the celebrations at Ujjaini Mahakali, Balkampet and Lal Darwaza.
- The whole month: Golconda is unique in celebrating Bonalu through the entire month of Ashada – special pujas and bonam offerings are held on Thursdays and Sundays, nine in all.
- Procession from Langar Houz: on the opening day, the utsava image of the Goddess is brought from the priest's house and a grand procession – with thottela (decorated cradles), bonam pots, Pothuraju dancers and drums – winds from Langar Houz up to the fort. The image stays in the temple till the end of Ashada.
- Bonam offerings: women carry decorated pots of rice cooked with jaggery and milk or curd up the hill as an offering of thanks to the Mother.
- Government silk robes: the Telangana government presents silk robes (pattu vastralu) to the Goddess at the start of the festival.
Other Festivals
- Dasara / Devi Navaratri – worship of the Mother during the nine nights (usually September–October).
Visitor Information
- Access: the temple is inside Golconda Fort. The fort is usually open from morning to evening, with an ASI entry ticket; please check current timings and Bonalu-day arrangements before visiting.
- The climb: the temple is reached by a steep walk up the stone steps of the fort – wear comfortable footwear up to the shrine and carry water, especially in summer.
- Bonalu days: on Thursdays and Sundays in Ashada, very large crowds climb the hill; elderly visitors should plan for the climb and the crowd.
- Etiquette: traditional dress is recommended; remove footwear before entering the shrine.
How to Reach
- By Road: Golconda Fort is about 3 km from Langar Houz and about 11 km from Nampally; city buses run to Golconda, and the MGBS bus station is about 12 km away.
- By Train: Hyderabad (Nampally) railway station is about 11 km away and Secunderabad about 17 km.
- By Air: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad (HYD), is about 28 km away by road.
Other Bonalu Temples in Hyderabad
After Golconda, the Bonalu festival moves on to Sri Ujjaini Mahakali Temple, Secunderabad, Balkampet Yellamma Temple (about 13 km) and the Old City temples, led by Sri Simhavahini Mahankali Temple, Lal Darwaza (about 12 km) and Sri Mahankali Temple, Gowliguda. Sri Peddamma Talli Temple, Jubilee Hills is about 8 km away.