Vijayapura Trip: Gol Gumbaz

Date: 14th Aug 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: Rs 15 per Adult and Rs 25 camera.

Timing: 6 AM to 6 PM. Closed on Friday. Museum - 9 AM to 5 PM.

Parking: Available.

Food: Available.

Photography: Allowed in Gol gumbaz and not inside Museum.

Other attractions nearby: Jama Mosque, Asar Mahal.

Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of the 7th Adil Shahi ruler Muhammad Adil Shah. Completed in 1659 after 20 years of craftsmanship is an architectural wonder. The central dome which is the main attraction of the monument is the largest unsupported dome. Muhammad Adil Shah surely over took his fathers work, Ibrahim Roza, by size but is no match in ornamental beauty. The complex also houses a museum and a mosque.

The top chamber can be reached by climbing narrow winding steps of the octagonal structure at the corner.

Tombs of the members of royal family.

The dome supported by 8 intersecting arches. The structure was designed by the architect Yaqut from Dabul.

One of the interesting stories about the place is the stone hanging from a chain above the entrance. Its said the king got this meteorite chunk which fell in Bijapur. He believed this will bring good luck to the kingdom.

Another attraction is the whispering gallery where the slightest of the sound can be heard on the other side 40m away.

Everyone including us turned the whispering gallery into a screaming gallery. We couldn't really hear the sound echoing 7 or 11 times.

View of the Bijapur town.

The mosque on the right side.

The museum in trumpet house of Gol gumbaz has collections of stone inscriptions in various languages, coins from medieval period, chinaware, weapons, paintings, carpets etc.

View from the lofty garden.

We were here.

Rightly called as Pride of Bijapur is one the interesting places to see in Vijayapura.

Vijayapura Trip: Ibrahim Rouza

Date: 13th Aug 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: Rs 15 per Adult and Rs 25 camera.

Timing: 6 AM to 6 PM

Parking: Available.

Food: Available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Jama Mosque, Mehtar Mahal.

Ibrahim Roza is the mausoleum of Ibrahim Adil Shah II. The building was completed in 1626 after 12 years of construction. The 6th Adil Shahi king was the longest ruler of the dynasty who ruled for 46 years. The tomb and the mosque was designed by the Persian artist Malik Sandal. The mosque and the tomb face each other in the walled garden. The mausoleum houses the tomb of the king, his wife Taj Sultana and daughter Malika Jahan. Gol gumbaz is famous for its size while Ibrahim Roza is the most ornate structure in Bijapur.

View of tomb and the garden from north entrance.

The mosque on the west side facing the tomb.

Mausoleum on the east side.

The main entrance on the north with slender minarets on all four corner.

The tank with fountain between tomb and the mosque.

Brackets of the mausoleum.

The doorway to the main chamber with Arabic inscriptions on all sides.

The tombs of the king, queen, his mother, daughter and sons. The graves are in the crypt below the tombs.

View of the mosque from the tomb.

The wooden windows and Arabic inscriptions around them. The lattice work above the window broken.

The ornamental front of the mosque.

The arches inside the mosque.

View of the tomb from the mosque.

We were here.

The beautiful structure which is said to have inspired Taj Mahal is a must visit place in Bijapur.

Vijayapura Trip: Jod Gumbaz

Date: 13th Aug 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Parking: Available.

Food: Available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Jama Mosque, Mehtar Mahal.

Jod gumbaz is the twin tombs of Khan Muhammad and his religious teacher Abdul razzaq quadir.  The eight sided structure with turrets on all corners is the tomb of Khan Muhammed. Both Khan muhammad and Abdul Razzaq were the traitors who helped Aurangzeb to bring down the 200 year Adil Shahi dynasty. Sikandar Adil Shah was the last and the youngest ruler of the Adil Shahi Dynasty. Aurangzeb ordered the construction of the tomb in remembrance of Khan Muhammed and Abdul Razzaq.

Tomb of Abdul Razzaq if less ornate than Khan Muhammad but is bigger in size.

There is a mosque on the west side of the tombs.

Beautiful garden within the complex.

The third tomb which is much smaller in size of the tomb of Sidi Rehan.

We were here.

The group of tombs and the green garden was more picturesque than some of the other monuments in Bijapur.

Vijayapura Trip: Mehtar Mahal

Date: 13th Aug 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Parking: No.

Food: Available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Jama Mosque, Jod Gumbaz.

Mehtar Mahal is not really a palace but a ornamental gateway leading to a simple mosque. There are various theories about when and who built the gateway. According to one legend Bijapur was a prosperous city under Ibrahim Adil Shah II. There were no beggers in the city and the King could not distribute money set for alms. He then gave the money to the head of fakirs, Mehtar gada and he built the gateway to the mosque. The two minarets of sixty ft each adorns the front cornets of the building. Interesting feature of the mahal is the carvings of the lion, elephant, birds and swan which is very unusual in Islamic architecture.

The projecting window with ornate carvings.

Minarets at both corners.

Arch doorway to the mosque.

Carvings on the roof.

Mosque.

Square ground floor of the mahal.

Brackets with bird carvings. They look like its all carved in wood but its all slate.

One of the ornate buildings in Bijapur after Ibrahim Roza.

Vijayapura Trip: Jamia Mosque

Date: 13th Aug 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Parking: Available.

Food: Available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Mehtar Mahal, Jod Gumbaz.

Jama mosque or Jamia Mosque is the largest mosque in Deccan region. The construction of the mosque was begun by Ali Adil Shah in 1537. More structures were added by later Adil Shahi kings. In 1686 Aurangzeb after capturing Bijapur added an ornamental gateway to the mosque with four minarets. The main hall covers around 37000 sq ft and can accommodate 4000 worshipers. The mihrab in west wall is decorated in black and gold. There are 6 Persian inscriptions done by Malik Yakub by the order of Muhammed Adil Shah in 1636. Some of the inscriptions roughly translate to 'Life is short, put no interest in it', 'Life is the best gift but does not last'.

The entrance left of the mosque which is used mainly.

The arches on the sides of the left entrance.

View of the mosque from the east.

The ornate east entrance.

Mihrab on west wall.

View of the main dome and the small minarets.

Few closer look at the Mosque.

Mehtar Mahal is next on list.