Bijapur Sightseeing : Places to visit in destination Bijapur

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.

Photo Gallery

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