Seven Qutub Shahi tombs The complex is popularly known as seven tombs as it houses the tombs of the seven (out of the eight) sultans of the Qutub Shahi dynasty:
First sultan Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk (1518-1543) was the first sultan. His tomb, the style of which sets the example for the tombs of his descendants, is on an elevated terrace measuring in each direction. The tomb chamber proper is octagonal, with each side measuring approximately . The entire structure is crowned by a circular dome. There are three graves in this tomb chamber and twenty-one laid out on the surrounding terrace, all of which lack inscription except for the main tomb. The inscription on Sultan Quli's tomb is in three bands, in the Naskh and Tauq scripts. The inscription refers to Sultan Quli as
Bade Malik (Great Master) — the endearing term by which all people of the Deccan used for him. The tomb was built in 1543 CE by the Sultan, during his lifetime, as was the custom.
Second sultan Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah (1543-1550) was the second sultan. Near the tomb of Sultan Quli is that of his son, Jamsheed. Built in 1550 CE, this is the only Qutb Shahi tomb which has not been fashioned from shining black basalt. Its appearance, too, is quite unlike the other tombs in the garden — it rises gracefully in two stories, unlike the squat tombs of the other kings. Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah's is the only tomb of a Qutb Shahi ruler without any inscriptions; of course, Jamsheed's son, Subhan's tomb also does not have any inscriptions.
Third sultan Subhan Quli Qutb Shah (1550) was the third sultan and ruled for a short time. Subhan's tomb stands midway between the tombs of his father and grandfather. He was popularly called
Chhote Malik (Small Master). Subhan's tomb also does not have any inscriptions.
Fourth sultan Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali (1550-1580) was the fourth sultan. His tomb, built in 1580, after his death, is slightly larger than Sultan Quli's tomb. Traces of the enameled tiles, which once adorned this mausoleum, can still be seen on the southern wall. The tomb has two graves in the main chamber and 16 on the terrace; some of them probably are those of his six sons and three daughters. There are inscriptions in the
Thuluth script on all faces of the sarcophagus. The three famous calligraphists — Isphalan, Ismail, and Taqiuddin Muhammad Salih — who left a store of Naskh, Thuluth, and Nastaliq inscriptions on the many Qutb Shahi edifices in the city, were contemporaries of Ibrahim Shah.
Fifth sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580-1612) was the fifth sultan. His
mausoleum is considered the grandest of the Qutb Shahi tombs. Built in 1602 CE, the tomb is on a terrace of and high. A flight of steps leads to the mausoleum proper, which is on the outside and on the inside. There are entrances on the southern and eastern sides. The tomb is in a vault below the terrace. Inscriptions in
Persian and the Naskh scripts decorate it.
Sixth sultan Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah (1612-1626) was the sixth sultan. Another grand mausoleum, the facade of this tomb was once decorated with enameled tiles; only traces are now evident. There are six graves and inscriptions in Thuluth and Naskh. The mausoleum was built in 1626.
Seventh sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah (1626-1672) was the seventh sultan. His tomb is the last of the royal tombs, as
Abul Hasan Qutb Shah (Tana Shah), the last Qutb Shahi Sultan, was a prisoner in the fortress of Daulatabad, near Aurangabad, when he died. While the tombs of those who ruled dominate the area, interspersed are many other monuments, most of them tombs of other members of the royal family.
Other tombs and structures ;Mausoleum of Hayat Bakshi Begum
Hayat Bakshi Begum (died: 1667) was the only daughter of Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth sultan, and the wife of Sultan Muhammed Qutb Shah, the sixth sultan, and the mother of Abdullah Qutb Shah, the seventh sultan. She was affectionately known as "
Ma Saheba" (Revered Mother). The tomb-garden of the sultans of Golkonda was known as "
Lagar-e-Faiz Athar" (a place for bountiful entertainment) in the days of the Qutb Shahi rulers, for some item or song or dance or even an occasional play was staged here every evening, free of cost, to entertain the poor. ;Incomplete tomb of Mir Ahmed The last sultan of the dynasty,
Abul Hasan Qutb Shah (also known as
Tana Shah), was not buried alongside his ancestor. Instead, he was buried at
Khuldabad. The mausoleum which Abul Hasan, the last Qutb Shahi Sultan, began building for himself, actually houses the grave of Mir Ahmed, the son of Sultan Abdullah's son-in-law and the sister of Abbas II Safair, the Shah of Persia. The tomb of Fadma Khanum, one of Sultan Abdullah's daughters, stands near the mausoleum of her husband, Mir Ahmed. Hers is the only Qutb Shahi tomb not surmounted by a dome. ;Mausoleum of Fatima Sultana The tomb of Fatima Sultan, with its bulbous dome, is near the entrance to the tomb-garden. Fatima was the sister of Muhammed Qutb Shah. Her tomb houses several graves, two with inscriptions. Immediately to the south of Muhammed Quli's tomb are three uninscribed tombs. There are the mausoleums of Kulthoom, Muhammed Qutb Shahi's granddaughter born of the son of the sultan's favourite wife Khurshid Bibi, her (Kulthoom's) husband and daughter. Kulthoom's tomb is on the west of this cluster. ;Other tombs The twin-tombs of the two favourite
hakims (physicians) of Sultan Abdullah — Nizamuddin Ahmed Gilani and Abdul Jabbar Gilani — were built in 1651. They are among the few Qutb Shahi tombs that are not of royalty. Another pair are those of Premamati and Taramati, the favourite courtesans of Sultan Abdullah Shah, who were laid to rest beside his tomb. One other tomb which is not that of a Qutb Shahi family member is that of
Neknam Khan. Neknam Khan, who served in Abdullah's army, was the commander-in-chief of the Carnatic. His tomb is on a platform outside the mausoleum of Ibrahim Qutb Shah. It was built in 1672, two years after Nekam Khan's death. ;Dargah of Hussain Shah Wali To the west of the tombs lies the
dargah of
Hussain Shah Wali, the revered
Sufi saint. He is most affectionately remembered by people as the builder of Hussain Sagar in 1562. Among other monuments in the garden that are not tombs, the most important are the mortuary bath and the
Masjid of Hayat Bakshi Begum. ;Mortuary bath The mortuary bath, which stands opposite the tomb of Muhammad Quli, was built by Sultan Quli to facilitate the ritual washing of the bodies of the dead kings and others of the royal family before they were carried to their final resting place. The practice followed was to bring the body out of the fort, through the Banjara Gate, to this bath, before carrying it away for burial with the ritualistic pomp that was required to mark the occasion. A large number of people — relatives, officials, friends, and fond subjects — attended. The bath is one of the finest existing specimens of ancient Persian or Turkish baths. ;Mosques The Qutb Shahis built a number of masjids all over Golkonda and Hyderabad, and almost every tomb has a masjid adjacent. The biggest and the grandest such masjid is by the mausoleum of Hayat Bakshi Begum. Popularly known as the great masjid of the Golkonda tombs, it was built in 1666 CE Fifteen cupolas decorate the roof and the prayer-hall is flanked by two lofty minarets. The impression, as a whole, is one of majesty and splendour. The inscriptions in the masjid are in calligraphic art. ==Ropeway==