Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
Sultanate
Level 2
1518 – 1687
Diamond-trading sultanate that founded Hyderabad and the Charminar.
- Capital
- Golconda / Hyderabad
- Region
- Deccan
- Duration
- 169 years
- Main period
- Bahmani & Deccan Sultanates
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk Sultan1518 – 1543Founder.
- Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah Sultan1580 – 1612Founded Hyderabad; Charminar.
- Abul Hasan Qutb Shah (Tana Shah) Sultan1672 – 1687Last ruler, captured by Aurangzeb.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1591 | Charminar built | Hyderabad |
Sites & monuments
Golconda Fort
Capital / fort · 1518
Personalities
📚 Recommended reading on the Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
Textbook
History of Medieval India
The go-to single volume on the Sultanate, Mughals and regional kingdoms.
We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See all recommended books →
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi) for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 169 years
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Overlap: 169 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 169 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 169 years
Vijayanagara Empire ★
South · 1336 – 1646
Overlap: 128 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 169 years
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Overlap: 169 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 169 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 161 years
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Overlap: 87 years
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Overlap: 169 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 169 years
Jaffna Kingdom
Sri Lanka · c. 1215 – 1619
Overlap: 101 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 169 years
Kashmir Sultanate
North · 1339 – 1586
Overlap: 68 years
Bengal Sultanate
East · 1352 – 1576
Overlap: 58 years
Malwa Sultanate
Central · 1392 – 1562
Overlap: 44 years
Gujarat Sultanate
West · 1407 – 1573
Overlap: 55 years
Kingdom of Kotte
Sri Lanka · 1412 – 1597
Overlap: 79 years
Ahmadnagar Sultanate (Nizam Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1636
Overlap: 118 years
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Overlap: 168 years
Berar Sultanate (Imad Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1574
Overlap: 56 years
Bidar Sultanate (Barid Shahi)
Deccan · 1492 – 1619
Overlap: 101 years
Portuguese Cochin
Coastal · 1503 – 1663
Overlap: 145 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 169 years
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Overlap: 158 years
Portuguese Bassein & Bombay
Coastal · 1534 – 1739
Overlap: 153 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 152 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 128 years
Gorkha Kingdom
Himalaya · 1559 – 1768
Overlap: 128 years
Portuguese Hooghly
Coastal · 1579 – 1632
Overlap: 53 years
Portuguese Ceylon
Sri Lanka · 1597 – 1658
Overlap: 61 years
Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
Coastal · 1605 – 1825
Overlap: 82 years
Dutch Coromandel (Pulicat)
Coastal · 1610 – 1825
Overlap: 77 years
Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Himalaya · 1616 – 1907
Overlap: 71 years
Danish India
Coastal · 1620 – 1869
Overlap: 67 years
Danish Tranquebar
Coastal · 1620 – 1845
Overlap: 67 years
Fort St George, Madras
Coastal · 1639 – 1858
Overlap: 48 years
Dutch Chinsurah
Coastal · 1656 – 1825
Overlap: 31 years
Dutch Ceylon
Sri Lanka · 1658 – 1796
Overlap: 29 years