Places to visit in the city Bijapur
GOL GUMBAZ - Bijapur
 The most important attraction in Bijapur, Gol Gumbaz is
an architectural wonder and the largest dome in the world.
The dome dominates miles of area by its sheer size and it
is difficult to suppress the urge to see the dome once you
are there. With a height of 51 metres and diameter of 37
metres, the entire structure has been raised on a wall whose
thickness is 3 metres. The cenotaph of Muhammad Adil Shah
(1627-56) lies under the dome. Unsupported by any pillar,
the dome is an engineering marvel. The acoustical system
is fantastic and your slightest whisper would be echoed
seven times. Apart from the dome, there are supporting structures
including a mosque, a drum house and guesthouses.
IBRAHIM ROZA - Bijapur
 Though Gol Gumbaz is a better-known structure, the most
splendid structure in Bijapur is, however, the Ibrahim Roza
and the accompanying mosque. The tomb of the illustrious
Adil Shahi Sultan Ibrahim II (1580-1627), the structure
has been lavishly praised by the art historians as well
as the common tourists alike. Cousens called the Roza /”the
Taj Mahal of the Deccan,/” while for Ferguson it was /”far
excelling than anything of the sort on this side of the
globe/”. The tomb is built to perfection and is an example
of unstinting technical care and skilled artistry without
any equals. The tomb has remarkable proportions, with elegant
cupolas and slender minarets, parapets cornices adding the
necessary decorative touches.
JAMA MASJID - Bijapur
Built in 1686, during the rule of Adil Shah I, the Jami
Masjid of Bijapur is a stately structure that is sober and
massive. The huge dome of the Masjid is onion-shaped and
rests on the beams of a grand hall divided into 45 compartments.
The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb made some additions to the
original corridors on the northern and southern sides and
put a gateway on the eastern side.
GAGAN MAHAL - Bijapur
Gagan Mahal was built by Adil Shah I (1561) as a part of
the palace-cum-audience hall. The central arch of Gagan
Mahal is the widest and tallest in entire Bijapur. Most
of the structure is now in ruins, but even the remnants
are magnificent and impressive. The ruins of the Mahal are
now part of a beautiful park.
SAT MANZIL - Bijapur
Sat Manzil or the seven-storeyed tower near the Gagan Mahal
is now mostly in ruins. Originally the structure was a watchtower
overlooking the bastions, the moat girdling, and the ramparts
of the citadel.
JALA MANZIL - Bijapur
Close to the Sat Manzil is a small structure called Jal
Manzil (water palace). It is set in a tank and a part of
the zenana enclosure.
TAJ BAWDI - Bijapur
Close to the Roza lies Taj Bawdi, built by Ibrahim II in
memory of his wife. Two octagonal towers flank the giant
gateway leading to the water tank which is still in use,
a great relief during summer months.
MEHTAR MAHAL - Bijapur
Mehtar Mahal is a small but exquisite structure that you
just can/’t miss while going to the old city. Built in the
Indo-Saracenic style, this is an extremely ornate structure
with brackets supporting the balconies and trelliswork so
impressive that it recalls the splendour of the Italian
Quattrocento.
MALIK-E-MAIDAN - Bijapur
One unusual attraction in the city is the Malik-e-Maidan
(monarch of the plains) canon, placed on the city walls
and one of the largest surviving bell-metal canons in the
world. The cannon weighs 5,500 kilograms and is 4.5 metres
in length. Cool to touch even under scorching sun, it was
mounted by Muhammad Adil Shah on its present position.
ASAR MAHAL - Bijapur
Asar Mahal was also built by Muhammad Adil Shah where he
kept two hairs of Prophet Muhammad for devout Muslims. It
is a five-arched façade—a grand building in Bijapur.
BIJAPUR CASTLE - Bijapur
The 16th-century Bijaipur Castle entices tourists with
its location right next to a wildlife sanctuary where leopards
and wild boar, blue bulls and spotted deer roam free. Built
by Rao Shakti Singh, the younger brother of Maharana Pratap
Singh in the 16th century, the castle is being run as a
heritage hotel by the Bijaipur royal family now. The castle
provides excellent lodging facility with an option of jeep
safari in the nearby villages and opportunity to enjoy the
traditional Mewar hospitality. A must visit site of Bijaipur.
VILLAGES - Bijapur
The villages near Bijaipur are also worth a visit. The
provision of jeep safari from the Bijaipur castle makes
them easily accessible. The villages are characterised by
the surrounding of the green hills and the hospitable people.
They are inhabited by tribal communities like Bhils, Gadia
Lohar (Rajasthani blacksmiths), Kalbeliyas (snake charmers),
and Banjara (gypsies). The people wear colourful costumes
and live in houses made of clay, stones and wood.
PANGARH FORT AND LOTUS LAKE - Bijapur
Around 25 kilometres from Bijaipur is the picturesque 12th-century
Pangarh Fort. The fort overlooks the beautiful Lotus Lake
where the local tribal population harpoons fish in their
traditional way. |
