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City in Karnataka, India
Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bijapur, now known officially as Vijayapura (Kannada: ವಿಜಯಪುರ), is the district headquarters of Bijapur District in a city in Northwestern Karnataka. It was once the capital of the Bijapur Sultanate, ruled by the Adil Shahi dynasty. Tombs, palaces, mosques, darghas and a portion of the fortified citadel still stand; this includes the Gol Gumbaz. The Gol Gumbaz houses the second largest dome in the world.
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Gol Gummat
It is the second-largest dome and largest unsupported dome in the world. It is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah and his family. It houses 5 cenotaphs (the original graves are located in the crypt below). Apart from Mohammed Adil Shah the cenotaphs belong to two of his wives, a mistress, a daughter and a grandson. It was built in 1659. At the top, the whispering gallery is a wonder where a tick of a watch can be heard from the opposite side of the dome over 200 feet away. It has a clock room for storing luggage.
The mosque is located on the western end of the Gol Gumbaz complex. The mosque is best viewed from the top of Gol Gumbaz. It is not accessible to visitors.
The Gol Gumbaz Site Museum is housed inside the Maqar Khana (drum house). It houses 8 galleries spread over two floors.
Jamiya Masjid
A Mosque built by Ali Adil Shah I over 300 years ago for the entire city (jumma = public gathering). The Kuran inscriptions in gold is the main attraction. It can contain 2250 devotees. The intricately carved mihrab (the niche that points the direction to Mecca) is absolutely brilliant and is in stark contrast to the generally simple and bare architecture of the mosque itself (which is quite typical for the Deccan monuments)
A stepwell built by Ibrahim Adil Shah II in honour of his wife, Queen Taj Sultana, in the year 1620. The stepwell complex is approached through a large arched gateway. The complex also houses a hammam.
Twin Tombs
The tombs date back to the late Adil Shahi period and house the mortal remains of Khan Muhammad (octagonal tomb) and his spiritual advisor, Abdul Razzaq Qadiri (square tomb). Khan Muhammad was a commander of the Adil Shahi army. He betrayed them and favoured the Mughals. He was executed. The tomb was founded by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The tomb complex also houses another smaller tomb. The complex is an active dargah and is visited by a large number of devotees.
Ali Adil Shah II began building a beautiful structure in 1627 with 12 arches in 12 rows, 12 columns, and 12 storeys tall, so that its shadow would fall on Golgumbaz in the evening. He died before it got completed. Nowadays, the unfinished monument can be visited.
Upli Burz
This is a large structure around 80 feet tall built in 1584. Approachable by a long flight of stairs. Has 2 cannons at the top. You can get a 360-degree view of Bijapur town from the top.
Translated as the king of the field, this is a huge cannon made of "Panchaloha" or five metals. It weighs 55 tons. This cannon helped Bijapur to defeat mighty the Vijayanagar empire in the battle of Rakkasatangadi (Talikot) in 1565. Today, it stands atop a bastion on the western wall of Bijapur Fort. It is located just north of the Mecca gate.
Ibrahim Rauza mausoleum is located outside the citadel walls but within the city limits. It houses the mausoleum of Ibrahim Adil Shah II. The complex is accessible via a gateway in the north. It houses the mausoleum on the east and a mosque on the west. Both the mosque and the mausoleum stand on an elevated platform with a water cistern in the middle. The mausoleum houses several graves. It was constructed in 1626.
This building was constructed in 1646 by Sultan Mohammed. It served as a justice hall. On the eastern side lies a large water body. There are several ruined structures in the complex. The Asar Mahal functions as a mosque.
Palace of happiness
This was private residence of the king with the queen, used for relaxing and pleasure, hence the name Anand Mahal. Today it houses several state government offices.
Palace of the skies
Built by Ali Adil Shah I, the fifth ruler of Adil Shahi dynasty, in 1561. Gagan Mahal has two floors. The ground floor of Gagan Mahal was the place for the audience hall or durbar hall. The second floor of Gagan Mahal was used as a residence for the royal family. The front facade consists of a wide arch flanked by smaller arches. Today, the Gagan Mahal is beautifully restored with a large open space, which serves as a socializing place for locals and tourists.
Sat Manjil
A seven-storeyed palace. It is built by Ibrahim Adil Shah II around 1583 as a corner structure within the citadel, which also served as a watchtower. It is in ruins and only 5 of the seven stories survive.
Water Palace
The slender domed structure stands in the middle of a small water tank, which has dried up
Anda Masjid
The mosque was built in 1608/09 CE by I'tibar Khan, a noble in the court of Ibrahim Adil Shah II. It is a two-story building following the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The mosque occupies the first floor and part of the ground floor. The remaining part of the first floor probably served as a sarai. The first floor contains an open terrace surrounded by low parapet. The structure is topped with a central ribbed dome and is flanked by four minarates.
Mehtar Mahal is a three-storied palace located on the southern side of the Bijapur citadel. It was constructed in the early 17th century under the rule of Ibrahim Adil Shah II. It follows the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture and is complete with slender minarates and ornate oriel windows. The palace is accessible through a giant, decorative teakwood door. The complex also houses an active mosque dating back to the sultanate period.
Mongoli Base
Southern gateway. Complete with bastions and guardhouses. Today traffic passes through this gateway.
Western Gateway. Totally encroached and not accessible.
North-western Gate
Located near Gol Gumbaz next to the railway line. The gate is encroached.
Northern Gate
Jahan Begum was the wife of Muhammad Adil Shah. The tomb is unfinished and lies in ruins. The tomb, made of black, polished granite, is enclosed inside an arched pavilion, whose roof has long since collapsed. The four ruined minars stand at the corner of the enclosure. The entire area is a walled complex with a mosque on the southern side.
Chota Gol Gumbaj
The tomb contains the mortal remains of Ain-ul-Mulk, a nobleman in the court of Ibrahim I. He rebelled against the sultan and was killed in 1556. The structure stands on a square base and is topped with a hemispherical dome. Each of the four corners is provided with a domed pavilion. The outer walls are decorated with intricate stucco work. The facade has two tiers of three recessed arches on all its sides. The huge complex also houses a mosque and several other ruined structures.
The palace consists of a single-storied structure. It is in ruins. A few arches and jalis are all that remains of the grand palace.
80 ft tall statue of Shiva
This is a new structure. At 80 ft tall, it is the largest statue of Lord Shiva in the world.
Navarasapura
It is a mystery how this great theater of music remained undiscovered until 1990, but when it was found the scientists were amazed about the acoustics used. In the memory of this find, Bijapur celebrates "Navarasapur Utsav" every 5 years where renowned musicians from across India come to perform
Saat Kabar (Literally meaning 60 graves) is believed to house the 63 graves of the wives of Afzal Khan, a general under Adil Shah II. According to legend, Khan had his wives murdered out of jealousy to prevent them from remarrying after he died in battle with Shivaji. The graves are arranged in a rectangular formation, with a mosque on the western side. To the west of the grave complex lies a small step well.
You can wander around this crowded and noisy market and see the vegetables and spices which are sold there.
Excellent veg Indian food.
A nice vegetarian restaurant which is usually crowded for lunch. At the last floor, it offers a nice view of the market.
A decent hotel, more suited for the business traveller. The restaurant on the ground floor is pure vegetarian while the bar-restaurant on the top floor serves non-vegetarian. They have an excellent biriyani.
Simple and well located hotel in the center of the town. A/C and non A/C rooms are available.
Clean a quiet hotel. At the top you could appreciate a nice view to the Golgumbaz. There is a TV and hot water in every room. The hotel has its own restaurant.
Auto Rickshaw
There are a lot of rickshaws in town. Their drivers know all the major attractions of the town. Since no rickshaw has a meter, you need to negotiate their prices and bargain very hard.
Tonga (Horse carriage)
A very quaint way to get around, especially for tourists, is by tonga or horse buggy as it's called. There is a horse buggy stand at MG Square.
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