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               BIJAPUR TRAVEL GUIDE

Bijapur city is well known for the great architectures of histrorical importance built
during the Adil Shahi dynasty. Bijapur City is the head quarters of the district and is
located 530 km northwest of Bangalore. The city is about 550 km from Mumbai

The city established in the 10th-11th centuries by the Chalukyas of Kalyani was
referred as Vijayapura (City of victory). The city came under the influence of the Khilji
Sultanate in Delhi by the late 13th century. In 1347, the area was conquered by the
Bahmani Sultanate of Gulbarga. By this time the city was being referred as Vijapur or
Bijapur.

In 1518, the Bahmani Sultanate split into five splinter states known as the Deccan
sultanates, one of which was Bijapur, ruled by the kings of the Adil Shahi dynasty
(1490-1686). The city of Bijapur owes much of its greatness to Yusuf Adil Shah, the
founder of the independent state of Bijapur. The rule of this dynasty ended in 1686,
when Bijapur was conquered during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. In
1724 the Nizam of Hyderabad established his independence in the Deccan, and
included Bijapur within his dominions. In 1760, the Nizam suffered a defeat by the
Marathas, and ceded the region of Bijapur to the Maratha Peshwa. After the 1818
defeat of the Peshwa by the British in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Bijapur passed
into the hands of the British East India Company, and was assigned to the princely
state of Satara.


GENERAL INFORMATION

Time zone           IST (UTC+5:30)
Area                     10,541 km² (4,070 sq mi)
Elevation            770 m (2,526 ft)
District(s)            Bijapur District
Population          1,808,863 (2001)
Density                172/km² (445/sq mi)


PLACE TO VISIT

Gol Gumbaz -  This is the most famous monument in Bijapur. It is the tomb of
Mohammed Adil Shah (ruled 1627-1657). It is the second largest dome ever built,
next in size only to St Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Ibrahim Rauza -  This is the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II (ruled 1580-1627), the
fifth king of the dynasty and, like the Mughal emperor Akbar, known for religious
tolerance. Built on a single rock bed, it is noted for the symmetry of its features. It is
said that the design for the Ibrahim Rauza served as an inspiration for that of the
famous Taj Mahal.

Malik-e-Maidan - (The Monarch of the Plains) the largest medieval cannon in
the world. Being 4 m long, 1,5 m in diameter and weighing 55 tons, this gun was
brought back from Ahmadnagar in the 17th century as a trophy of war by 400 oxen,
10 elephants and tens of men. It was placed on the Sherza Burj (Lion Gate) on a
platform especially built for it. The cannon's nozzle is fashioned into the shape of a
lion's head with open jaws & between the carved fangs is depicted an elephant
being crushed to death. It is said that after igniting the cannon, the gunner would
remain underwater in a tank of water on the platform to avoid the deafening
explosion. The cannon remains cool even in strong sunlight and if tapped, tinkles
like a bell. In 1854 the cannon was auctioned for Rs. 150 but the sale was cancelled
in the end.

Upri Buruj -  Built around 1584 by Hyder Khan, is an 80 ft high tower standing to
the north of Dakhani Idgah in Bijapur. This is a spherical structure with stone steps
winding round the outside. Top of the tower offers a commanding view of the city.
This is also known as ;Hyder Burj", "Upli Burj". On top of Upli Burj there are two guns
of huge size. The parafeet this tower which was used for monitoring purposes has
been fenced now. One needs to climb the circular stairs to reach the top. However
except for this tower there is very little evidence of the citadel wall in this area due to
rampant construction.

Chand Bawdi -  Ali Adil Shah (1557-1580) built this tank near eastern boundary
of Bijapur. When there was large influx of people into Bijapur after the fall of the
Vijayanagar empire, and new settlements came up within the walled city raising the
need for better infrastructure and providing water supply. This has a storage capacity
of 20 million litres. Later it became a model for many other tanks constructed in the
city. A grandeur complex came up around it, which was mainly used to house the
maintenance staff though members of the royal family occasionally used it for
recreation. He named this after his wife "Chand Bibi".

Asar Mahal -  The Asar Mahal was built by Mohammed Adil Shah in about 1646,
which was used to serve as a Hall of Justice. The building was also used to house
hairs from the Prophet's beard. The rooms on the upper storey are decorated with
frescoes and the front is graced with a square tank. Here women are not allowed
inside. Every year there is urs (festival) held at this place. In front of the hall, one can
see three tanks the bigger tank, which is at the centre is about 15 feet deep however
the other two are comparatively smaller in size as well as depth. Behind Asar Mahal
one can still see the remain of the citadel. Just a kilometer away behind Asar Mahal,
one can still find the old mosque which is on top of the citadel wall. There is a big
entrance with arc below this mosque. Many stones have inscriptions.

Gagan Mahal -  Which means Sky Palace, is built with a 21- meter façade and
four wooden massive pillars, has a majestic central arch. Sikandar Adil Shah, in
silver chains, surrendered to Aurangzeb in 1681 here.

Barakaman -  (Ali Roza-II) A mausoleum of Ali Roza built in 1672. It was
previously named as Ali Roza, but Shah Nawab Khan changed its name to Bara
Kaman as this was the 12th monument during his reign. It has now seven arches
and the tomb containing the graves of Ali, his queens and eleven other ladies
possibly belonging to the Zenana of the queens.