Bijapur

Bijapur, located in the state of Karnataka, is reknowned for its historical monuments, including the world famous Gol Gumbaz. Most of the monuments in Bijapur were built by the Adil Shahi dynasty between 15th and 17th century. Contemporary of the Elizabethan rule in England, great Mughals in Delhi, and Shah Abbas in Persia, the Adil Shahi rulers ushered in the golden era for Bijapur. Buildings, built of the local basalt having brown monochromatic effect, are simply splendid. In a city filled with soulless multi-storeyed blocks, the sun still sets behind an elegant minaret or a grand dome.

Bijapur is part of the Karnataka Northern Circuit. If you start your tour of historical Karnataka at Hampi and are travelling northwards thereon, Bijapur should be your third major stop. From Hampi, make your way to Badami - Pattadakal - Aihole, all three of which are only a stone's throw from each other. And from there go further to arrive at Bijapur. If you are doing the route by road, you can choose from among buses, luxury coaches and cars (hired or otherwise). There are train connections to Bijapur from Sholapur (in Maharashtra), Badami and Hospet, which is the railway station for Hampi. Bijapur's greatest attractions are architectural, especially Islamic architecture. Minarets, domes and echoing burial chambers all conjure up images of the Arabian Nights. Bijapur in northern Karnataka is famous for mosques, mausoleums, palaces, fortifications etc of the 15th to 17th centuries. Bijapur is Muslim in character. The town is dotted with mosques, mausoleums, palaces and fortifications of the 15th to 17th century Muslim architecture. A formidable fort surrounds the town, which has some of the finest mosques in the Deccan and retains a pleasant atmosphere.

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.