Bijapur
Information
Travel to Bijapur, the ancient town, dotted with mosques, mausoleums,
palaces and fortifications, was the capital of the Adil Shahi Dynasty.
Once the capital of the Adil Shahis, it was a city that "exceeded
anything of its kind in Europe". Even today, it retains its dignity and
royal grandeur. Still strongly Muslim in character, Bijapur has many
places of historical, cultural and architectural interest. Even though
many of the structures were damaged by Aurangazeb, Bijapur remains a
must-see town.
Glorious Past of Bijapur
Bijapur boasts of having played an integral role in the rich and
eventful history of Karnataka. A tour to Bijapur, Karnataka will
essentially introduce you to this historic land which has wonderfully
preserved its dignity and royal grandeur through its numerous monuments
dating back to the 15th-17th centuries. Historically important owing to
its rich contribution to art and architecture and the propagation of
Islam in Karnataka, Bijapur is a destination well worth visit on any
tour to Karnataka. The most important monument to visit on tour to
Bijapur Karnataka is the Gol Gumbaz - considered the second largest dome
in the world.
Must Visit Places in Bijapur
The most prominent excursions in around Bijapur would include amazing
places that are worth visiting while on a tour to Bijapur such as:
Malik-e-Maidan - 'Malik-E-Maidan' meaning the 'lord of the battlefield'
is one of the largest medieval guns in the world. The colossal cannon
measures over four metres long and almost 1 ½ m in diameter and weigh
over 55 tonnes. The cannon's nozzle is in the shape of a lion's head.
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, today houses, a Gymkhana Club, an Inspection Bungalow, several
offices and the residential quarters of the Assistant Commissioner.
Badami- The picturesque town of Badami is renowned for its cave temples.
Built out of a red sandstone rock on the cliff of a hill, the four cave
temples of Badami are must-haves on the itinerary of tourists. Out of
the four temples, three are Brahmanical temples (two dedicated to Vishnu
and one to Shiva) and one is a Jain cave temple of the 7th century.
Basavana Bagevadi (43 km) - It is known for its temple and is the
birthplace of Saint Basaveshwara.
Kundalasangama (67 km) - It is an important pilgrim center and it is
associated with the 12th-century poet and social reformer Saint
Basaveshwara.
Best Time to Visit & Climate
The climate of Bijapur is temperate with summers (April-June) being
moderately hot and winters are cool and pleasant (November-February).
The best time to travel here is during winters between
September-February.
Accommodation
Apart from Karnataka State Tourism Development Council's hotels and
lodges, there are a number of hotels in the city to suit all types of
budget. Most of the hotels in Bijapur are located on the Station
Road/Gandhi Road.
Things
to see
