Medusa

The Largest Cannon Of The World and Gol Gumbaz – Historical Marvels Of Bijapur

You often travel to places to rejuvenate and enjoy the vacation. But quite a times you want to explore places which tell you about the cultural and traditional aspects of the bygone era from where, transforming and evolving continuously, this country has evolved into a fast-developing nation on the global horizon. History is an important facet of a nation and the places it is made of. Similarly, a great place is always recognized by its history. The signs of progress and development of a place and its culture owe mostly to how it has evolved over the course of time and what contribution it has made to the overall history of the nation it belongs to. Indian cities tell a vast story in this context. As the country was divided into several regions and each region was ruled by a different kingdom or dynasty or an administrative or royal head, there are numerous legends and facts about various places. Bijapur can be easily seen as one such city which has a rich heritage to share for all the times to come.

Tourists flock to see its monuments and architectural aspects and hotels in Bijapur remain fully occupied due to the sheer number of visitors during October to March. Bijapur is a city in Karnataka located approximately 550 km far from both Bangalore and Mumbai. It is the 9th largest city of Karnataka. Bijapur is an ancient city and five rivers flow through it, among which the Krishna river is the prominent one. Bijapur is considered a historically significant city. Kalyani-Chalukya were the ones who established the city in 11th century and because of this it is officially known as Vijayapura. After Chalukyas, the Yadavas ruled over the city. In 13th century, the Khilji Sultanate and then the Bahmani Sultanate took control of this region. The British took the reign of Bijapur in 19th century after the defeat of Peshwa in 1818. It is evident from such events that Bijapur is a city of high importance as it contributes a lot to the Indian history and richness. Signs of inhabitation in Bijapur date back to stone age, which is another remarkable aspect of this ancient city.

There are a number of tourist attractions in Bijapur. Gol Gumbaz is the most popular Bijapur monument which actually is a tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah. It is considered as the largest dome of India. It is just second largest in the world following the St. Peter’s Basilicas of Rome. If you talk in its central chamber, each of your words would echo seven times as you speak. This is a unique experience for visitors. There is a mosque or nakkar khana inside the premises which was a hall for the trumpeters. Other attraction is the Archeological Museum of Bijapur which has paintings, manuscripts, inscriptions, sculptures, etc. Malik-e-Maidan or the Monarch of the Fields is largest medieval cannon of the world. It weighs around 50,000 kg. Other attractions include Upli Buruj – a high tower, Asar Mahal – the hall of justice, Saat Kabar, etc. To explore all the attractions stay for a couple of days if you have the time. There are many cheap hotels in Bijapur where you can find a reasonable tariff for your stay.

Dimpy Roy

Dimpy Roy is a travel writer working with an Online Travel Guide. She guides travelers to various resources where they can find best hotels in Bijapur and choose the best one.