Bijaipur (Rajasthan)

The foundations of this historic city were laid during the reign of the Chalukyan dynasty of Kalyani between the tenth and eleventh centuries. They called it Vijayapura or the "City of Victory" from which comes its present name Bijapur.

Bijapur came under Muslim influence, first under Allaudin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, towards the end of the 13th century, and then under the Bahamani kings of Bidar in 1347. In 1481, Mohammed III, one of the Bahamani Sultans, appointed Yusuf Adil Khan as the Governor of Bijapur. One of the sons of Sultan Mahmud II of Turkey. Yusuf Adil Khan fled his country on the death of his father, to escape the massacre of crown prince in the battle for succession to the throne. He was purchased as a slave by Mahmud Gavan, the Prime Minister of Mohammed III.

With the decline of the Bahamani power at Bidar, Yusuf declared his independence in 1489 and thus became the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty which survived as a kingdom till its annexation by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1686.

Bijapur experienced a great burst of architectural activity under the Adil Shahi dynasty. The Adil Shahis encouraged building activity to such an extent that Bijapur itself has over 50 mosques, more than 20 tombs and a number of palaces. An interesting feature was the employment of large numbers of Indian craftsmen. Earlier Muslim rulers of the Deccan deployed Persian craftsmen and architects.

Population : Around 217,500 people lives here

Languages : Kannada and English

Best Time to Visit : October-February

Places of Interest

Gol-Gumbaz:
The tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah, the seventh ruler of the Adil Shahi dynasty, Gol Gumbaz boasts of the second largest dome in the world.

Malik-e-Maidan:
'Malik-E-Maidan' meaning the 'lord of the battlefield' is the largest medieval cannon in the world, fourteen feet long and weighing about 55 tons. Perched on a platform especially built for it, the cannon's nozzle is fashioned into the shape of a lion's head. In 1854 AD, the cannon was auctioned for Rs. 150 but the sale was cancelled in the end.

Jumma Masjid:
Jumma Masjid, one of the main attractions of the city has been called one of the first mosques in India. Still used for worship, it holds an exquisite copy of the Quran, written in gold. Also dating back to the period of Adil Shah, this is the largest Masjid in the region.

Ibrahim Roza:
On the western outskirts of the city lies the mausoleum of lbrahim Adil Shah II- Ibrahim Roza, said to have inspired the Taj Mahal in Agra. Embracing 1,16,300 square feet is the Jamma Masjid - "one of the finest mosques in India".

The Ibrahim Roza is a beautiful tomb with artistically laid out corridors and interconnecting buildings with richly decorated walls and perforated stone windows. At the centre of the town are large arches signifying the forts and its beauty in moonlight.

Anand Mahal:
The palace of delights was built by Adil Shah II in 1589 AD. The two-storeyed building, which once housed the ladies of the palace, has in its precincts today, a Gymkhana Club, an Inspection Bungalow, several offices and the residential quarters of the Assistant Commissioner.

Mehtar Mahal:
Supposed to have been built by a sweeper, it is the ornamental gateway leading to a mosque and a garden. Meaning the 'Sweeper's Palace', this gateway has a flat stone roof supported by stone brackets of delicately carved birds and rows of swans.

Asar Mahal:
To the east of the citadel, the Asar Mahal was built by Mohammed Adil Shah in about 1646AD to serve as a Hall of Justice. The rooms on the upper storey are profusely decorated with frescoes, many of them using foliage and flower motifs, some portraying male and female figures in various poses. The front of the building is graced with a square tank still fed by conduits from Begum Tank. Women are not allowed inside the main structure.

Excursion

Solapur (101 kms)
This is the nearest big city in neighboring maharashtra state. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corp (MSRTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corp (KSRTC) buses ply on hourly frequency. Non-Stop buses are also in service. Private operators also have taxis/buses service on this route.
Approx travel time: 1 1/2 hrs subject to road conditions.

Belgaum (205 kms)
This is the nearest big city in karnataka state. KSRTC buses ply on this route on hourly frequency via Bagalkot and Jamkhandi. Private operators also have bus/taxi/van service on this route.
Approx travel time: 6 hrs to 7 hrs subject to road conditions.

Hyderabad (420 kms)
This is the nearest largest city and the capital of the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. KSRTC/ APSRTC buses ply on this route daily morning/evening. These buses go either via Gulbarga or Yadgir. Luxury/Semi Luxury/Deluxe/Hitec buses are in service.
Approx travel time: 10 hrs subject to road conditions.

Mumbai (Bombay) (500 kms approx)
This is the nearest international gateway and the largest metropolitan city in India, which is also the capital of the neighboring state of Maharashtra. MSRTC/ KSRTC buses ply on this route daily morning/evening.
Approx travelling time: 10 -12 hrs subject to road conditions.

Bangalore (530 kms)
This is the state capital and the largest metropolitan city in Karnataka state. KSRTC buses ply on this route daily morning/evening.
Luxury/Semi Luxury/Deluxe/Hitec buses are in service.

How to get there

By Road: Bijapur is well connected to many cities in south and west India.

By Air: The nearest airport is Belgaum (205 kms), which is well connected to Mumbai and Bangalore.

By Rail: Bijapur is well connected to Bangalore, Mumbai (via Solapur); Hyderabad (via Solapur or Hotgi Jn); Hospet (via Gadag); Vasco da Gama (via Hubli and Londa).