The historic city was founded by the Chalukyan dynasty of Kalyani between the tenth and eleventh century giving it the name of Vijayapura or the City of Victory. Bijapur came under the influence of the Muslims rulers, first under Allaudin Khiiji, the Sultan of Delhi and then one of the Bahmani kings appointed Yusuf Adil Khan as the Governor of Bijapur.

Yusuf later formed his own dynasty by the name of Adil Shahi Dynasty. It was under the Adil dynasty that Bijapur prospered greatly in architectural edifices including the mosque, tombs and palaces. Bijapur's major attractions are mainly Islamic architecture, all of which conjure up images of the Arabian Nights.


Location
Bijapur is located 530 kms to the north-west of Bangalore and still closer to Belgaum - the gateway to Karnataka from Goa and Bombay.

Climate
Summer temperatures is hot and high as North India although humidity is extreme. Cooling breezes can be heard. Bijapur have pleasant climates with relatively low rainfall. The ideal season to travel here is in the winter seasons between September-February.


Major Attraction
Gol Gumbaz - The gigantic mausoleum which took some 20 years to take shape is the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah, the 7th ruler of the Adil Shahi Dynasty. The massive tomb has a height of 51m and a diameter of 37m having a floor area of 1700 sqm. The monument's central dome is second only to the tomb of St Peter's Basalica in Rome in size and structure. Each and every possible sounds can be heard in the Whispering Gallery including the drop of a pin. The echoes of the sound produced can be heard eleven times more.

At the bottom of the dome are placed the tombs of the Sultan, his two wives, his mistress Ramba along with his daughter and grandson. The angle shaped turrets and the huge bracketed cornic below the parapet are an important show piece of this architecture's complex comprises a mosque, a Naqqar Khana, a gateway and a dharamshala. The buildings in front of the tomb has been renovated to a museum in the present context.

Ibrahim Rauza - The square shaped garden holds beneath it the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah and his family in one of the building structure while it encloses a mosque in the other edifice. The tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah is especially noted for its symmetrical proportions decorated with minaret cupolas, parapets and cornifices.

The structure is built on a slab of bed rock with the mausoleum on the left and the prayer hall to the right.

Above the basement the structure holds a secret passage for ammunitions and living quarters for the chivalry. Two chains loosen up from the sides of the prayer hall and the doors are made of teak enforced in metal. Brass is provided to the iron doors for intricate patterns.

Jumma Masjid - The first constructed mosque in Bijapur is the largest one and named Jumma due to the prayers of Khutba held on Fridays every week. It was built between 1557 and 1686 during the reign of Adil Shah who acquired the land after defeating the rajas of Vijayanagar. The total area covered by the mosque is 10810 sqm and has nine huge arches on the facade that forms ultimately to 45 compartments.

Aurangzeb built the gate of the mosque on the northern side. The interior of the mosque is decorated with motifs on the arches. The heavy curtains hangs over the Mehrab having domes, minarets, flower bases and Persian writing.

The Malik-e-Maiden. - The largest medieval bell metal cannon in the world, is 14 ft long, weighing 55 tons. Legends say it that if you touch the gun and make a wish, it will come true! Placed on the walls of the city, its unique feature is that it is cool to touch even in the summer seasons and when tapped gently it tickles softly like a bell. The muzzle of the gun shapes like the head of a lion with open jaws and between the carved fangs.