Bijapur is the district
located in Karnataka state southern India. The state stands 9th
biggest city in Karnataka. Bijapur is about 530kms far from Bangalore, 550kms
from Mumbai and 384 kms from Hyderabad. Bijapur district comes under Belgaum
division along with Bagalkote, Belgaum, Dharward, Gadag, and Haveri and karwar district.
Bijapur is divided into 5 taluks namely Bijapur, Basavana Bagewadi, Sindagi,
Indi, Muddebihal.
Bijapur lies on the Deccan
plateaus; Bijapur is bounded on the east by Gulbarga district on the southeast by Raichur district, on the
southwest by Bagalkote district, on the west by Belgam district, on northwest
by Maharashtra of Sangli, Sholapur on the north.
Bijapur is rich in
historical attractions. Many historical Monuments were built by Adil shah
dynasty.
The city was established in the 10th – 11th
centuries by Kalyani Chalukyas and it was well known as Vijaypura (city of
victory). The city was passed to Yadavas after Chalukyas dynasty. The city came
under the influence of KHIJI SULTANTA IN Delhi by late 13century the area was
conquered by Bahamani Sultanate of Gulbarga. Bijapur means as replete with
seeds in Sanskrit meaning pomegranate.
The river system: Two rivers flows are Krishna and Bhīma.
Climatic conditions:
Summer: 40°C to 46°C, Monsoon: 27°C to 34°C, Winter:
10°C to 26°C.
Best time to visit: Between
the months of October and February (during winter)
How to Reach:
By Air: The nearest airport is at Belgaum 205 km.
By Rail: There
are frequent rail from Bangalore, Mumbai, Hubli, Sholapur.
By Road: There
are frequent numbers of government and private buses from Bangalore, Badami,
Gulbarga, Hubli, and Belgaum.
Place nearby:
Aihole 110 kms( 2 hours ) Badami 120(2hours), Belgaum, 210kms (approx. 3 hours) Gulbarga 96 kms (2hours),
Bidar 280kms (4kms approx.), Hubli 197 kms (approx. 3 hours), Sholapur 99kms (2
hours approx.).
Places
to see in Bijapur:
Gol
Gumbaz:
The second largest dome in
the world and was built by Yaqut of Dabul. It has tomb of Mohammed Adhil Shah
and some members of his family. The vast dome is set to be second largest Dome
in the world after St Peters in the Vatican City Rome.
A particular attraction here is the whispering Gallery here a minute sounds
can be heard clearly 37 meters away. The place also includes a mosque, Naqqar
Khana (it was a hall for trumpeters then now it’s a museum.
The
Archaeological Museum:
This museum is located near
Gol Gumbaz. In the museum exhibits a rich collection of antiquities as armory,
porcelain, china ware, coins, miniature paintings, carpets, inscriptions in
languages like Kannada, Devnagari, Arabic, and Persian and stone sculptures.
Jamai Masjid :
Jamai Masjid is one of the finest mosque in India, and a
largest mosque in Bijapur. It was built
by Ali Adil Shah (1557-80). The masjid is not fully complete. The large
courtyard also has a water tank.
Ibrahim
Rauza:
Ibrahim Rauza here rauza means tomb also known as Ali
rauza built in 1627 the sixth sultan of Adil shah Dynasty. Here from east to
west there are graves.
There are Persian inscripition in the outer of the east
wall structure informs that it was built under the superintendence of the Adil
shahi state architect, malik sandal at the cost of 150900huns(an Adil shah gold
coin).
The Malik-i-Maidan means master of Battle field, also
called asBurj-E-Sherz was erected by Ibrahim Adil Shah.. The monarch of the plains is the largest medieval cannon in the world.
Its 4m long, 1.5 m in diameter and weighs about 55 tones.
Rock Hill Garden:
Rock Hill Garden is a picnic spot located In
Bijapur, the seven hill garden is built in the premises of Almatti dam and a
railway station is located a place where nature and a man skills blends
perfectly to form a scenic beauty.
It’s one of the must visit spot the add ons are
Boating, musical fountains, stagnant fountains, there is an artificial forest
with ceramic statues wild animals, birds, village style in India.
Alamatti
Dam:
Almatti dam is the main reservoir of Krishna project, it’s
an irrigation project. KPCL took up the project at an estimated cost of 674
crores and completed the project at 520 crores the period of 40 months by
completed in July 2005. The annual design energy is 713 million units.
Kudala Sangama:
Kudala Sangama is a famous and important pilgrimage for
the Lingayats. Its located 15 kms from Alamatti dam in Bagalkot district of
Karnataka. River Krishna and Ghataprabha River merge here and flows east
towards srisailam (A.P).
The Aikya Mantapa is a place where the holy Samadhi of
Basavanna the founder of lingayat faith along with linga which is to be self-born(
Swayamprabhu) is situated here.
Basanta vana is an 85ft tall idol of Lord shiva made up
of cement and steel at Rambapur Village 3kms from city of Bijapur. A small idol
of shivalinga is installed beneath the big statue “Shiva Charite” (Lord’s
story) for educating devotes on the mythological stories related to Lord Shiva.
Bara Kaman:
Bara Kaman is the unfinished mausoleum of Ali Adhil shah II. The king wanted to build a mausoleum of unmatched
quality of the architecture.
As per plan 12 arches will be placed vertically as
well as horizontally surrounding the tomb of Ali Adhil shah. Due to some
unknown reasons the work on the structure was left incomplete and only two
arches were raised vertically, today the twelve arches placed horizontally can
be seen.
Gajanan Temple:
Gajanana temple is dedicated to elephant headed God-Ganesha. This manor was
constructed by Ali Adil Shah I in 1561. It was served as a royal palace for some
time. There are three splendid arches, the central one is widest.
The ground
floor was the Durbar hall and the first floor, now in ruins, was a private
residence for the Royal Family.
Uppali Burz:
Upalli
burj is a tall tower situated to the north of Dakhani ldgah it was built by
Hyder khan in 1584. It’s an 80ft high tower.
A flight of steps carved in the
tower that goes on top where the two cannons shall be seen.
Sangeeth Mahal:
Sangeeth
Mahal is also called as Nari Mahal is located in Toravi about 3kms away from
bijapur and was built by Navaraspur; it was a royal court for music and dance,
also the venue for the annual classical music concert as Navaraspur Music
Festival.
Torvi
Narashima temple:
Torvi Narashima Temple is located 5kms away from
bijapur. There is Devi Lakshmi temple is located nearby.
The temple is very
close to sangeeth Mahal the temple is built underground.
Taj Bawadi:
Taj
Bawadi was a great tank was built to commemorate Ibrahim’s II first wife Taj
sultan. Its front is a majestic arch by 2 octagonal towers, the east and west
wings is a spacious rest houses.
One
of the mythologies says that once a stone is thrown from one end it doesn’t reach
the other end. It’s stated that the well depth is more than 100feets.
Gagan Mahal:
Gagan
Mahal it’s also known as heavenly palace was
built by Ali Adil shah in the year 1561. The building was then used as a royal
residence and as Durbar Hall is located in the ground floor the first floor was
built as the private residence for the royal family.
Today
but are now in ruins and from down there is no roof. Earlier the place was used
for music the building was built in such a way the sounds were hitting back as
echoes.
Hazarat Khaja Ameenodeen Ali
Ala Shere Khunda
Chishti:
Hazarat
khaja Ameenodeen Ali Ala Shere Khuda Chishti is a darga were women are not
allowed Inside darga .it was the kingdom of the Bahamians (1348-1527) and Adil Shahis
(1489-1686) in the north of Karnataka and period of Hyder Ali and Tippu
Sultan1761-1799.
In Mysore were the main Islamic kingdoms in Karnataka bijapur thrived
alongside the Mugals glory in the north and small appeared in the newly conquered
territories as if to match those built by the aesthete Mugals.
Asar Mahal:
Asar
Mahal is known as Asar-E-Sharif it’s constructed by Mohammad Adil Shah in 1646.
The purpose was as ‘Hall of Justice’. There are three graces the Mahal. The centre
square tank 165 feet in depth is fed by conduits from Begum Tank.
Two smaller
and less deep tanks are on the either sides. It’s believed that prophet
Muhammad. Two stands of the hair are also kept here.
Mehtar Mahal:
Mehter
Mahal means a sweeper’s palace. Its located a kilometer away from bijapur, this
Mahal was built by sweeper Ibrahim Adil shah.
The
Mahal has carvings in the form of stone brackets supporting the balconies and
stone trellis work in Hindu style. The stones brackets are exquisitely garnished
with carved lotus, birds, and row of swans.
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Jod Gumbad:
The jod- gumbaaz it’s a twin
domes were built in the memory of Abdul Razaq quadiri.
These two were considered to be the general and
the spiritual advisor of the Adil shahi family were considered as traitors as
they helped Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, defeat the Adil shah ruler sikandar.
The structure
was built in 1687 and also known as Abdul Razaq Quadirione can find smaller
tombs inside.
Ali Adil shah built this tank a capacity of tank
is 20million liters. This was the tank which stood as a model for other tanks
in the city over the period.
The history is when the vijaynagara rule came to
an end people there were large number of people and new settlements came up
hence the city needed a better infrastructure and water supply the tank was
named as Chand Bibi was named after his wife name, this place was a recreation
for the royal family.
Stays at Bijapur:
