Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Bijapur - The Heritage City

Bijapur has many places of historical, cultural and architectural interest mainly related to Islamic architecture. It was the center of the Bahmani sultanate. Gol-Gumbaz
Gol Gumbaz boasts of the second largest dome in the world. 44 meters in diameter, this dome forms a highly sensitive echo-chamber. The slightest whisper echoes seven times over and the tick of a clock held at one end can be distinctly heard at the opposite end - 125 feet away !
Ibrahim Roza
Built on a single rock bed, it is noted for the symmetry of its features. Ibrahim Roza is rated as one of the most beautifully proportionated Islamic monuments in Indian and an inspiration for the Taj Mahal. The fine structure was built by Ibrahim II for his wife. In fact, he predeceased her and was also buried here. The complex consists of a tomb and a mosque in the middle of a huge garden. A huge tank nearby has been named after his wife, Taj Sultana. The walls of the tomb are decorated with superb calligraphic and geometric designs.
Embracing 1,16,300 square feet is the Jumma Masjid - "one of the finest mosques in India". Here, in a beautiful mihrab -covered by a heavy curtain - are verses of the Quran, beautifully inscribed in letters of gold.

Malik-e-Maidan - the largest medieval cannon in the world - is fourteen feet long, weighing about 55 tons. Legend has it that if you touch the gun and make a wish, it will come true ! Bijapur is full of such legends. Beautiful Museum
Great Buruz
Jumma Masjid
Bara Kaman
(Twelve arches) are important spots near the citadel
You could spend days exploring Bijapur. Wandering around the Arakilla, the Anand Mahal, the Mehtar Mahal, the Gagan Mahal, the Amin Durgah, the Assar Mahal,The Sat Manzil (seven-storied palace), Jala Manzil (water pavilion), the Chota Asar, the Faroukh Mahal, the Jahz Mahal, the Jod Gumbaz… Listening to the quaint Deccan dialect.

3 comments:

ರಾಜೇಶ್ ನಾಯ್ಕ said...

where is the photo of sath kabar? don't tell me you gusy did not visit this place!

HARISHA RAO said...

When did you went yaar, beautifull picturs man, but when u went there ?

shivu.k said...

ರಾಕೇಶ್ ಸರ್,

ಫೋಟೋಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆ ನನಗೂ ಬಿಜಾಪುರಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕೆನಿಸುತ್ತೆ..ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾದಷ್ಟು ಬೇಗ ಹೋಗುತ್ತೀನಿ...
ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು.