NCERT Class 5 EVS Walls Tell Stories

10. Walls Tell Stories

Reached Golconda

At last we reached Golconda. We were glad that didi was with us. Didi studies history and we enjoy visiting different places with her.

Shailja: My goodness! This fort is so huge.

Shreedhar: And see at what a height it is built!

Kalyani: Just look! Have you ever seen such a huge gate?

Shailja: It must be very heavy. I wonder how many people would be needed to open and close this gate.

Kalyani: Look at these sharp iron spokes. I wonder why they were made?

Shailja: Look at these thick walls too.

Shreedhar: I have never seen such thick walls.

Kalyani: At some places, a part of the wall comes out in a round shape. I wonder why?

Didi:These are called bastions (burj). See these are even higher than the wall. The outer wall of this fort has 87 bastions. Thick walls, a huge gate and so many bastions! So many ways to ensure security!

Think

• Why were bastions made in the fort wall?
• Why were big holes made in them?
• What difference would be there if you were to look from a straight flat wall or a bastion at a height?
• How would the soldiers find peeping from the holes in the bastions useful while attacking?
• What did we find inside the fort?

Shailja: I wonder how old this fort would be? Do you think the king built the fort so that he could live here?

Kalyani: It was written outside that Qutubshahi Sultans ruled here one after another, from 1518-1687.

Didi: Much before that, in 1200, this fort was made of mud and different rulers lived here.

Shailja: Oh look! This board has a map of the fort.

Shreedhar: This map shows so many gardens, fields and factories. See, there are many palaces also inside the fort.

Shailja: That means that not only the Sultan, but many other people like farmers and workers must also have been living here.

Kalyani: It must have been a complete tow

Please refer to attached file for NCERT Class 5 EVS Walls Tell Stories