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| Karnataka Tourist Destinations - BIJAPUR |
Bijapur district 550 km (342 miles) Northwest of Bangalore, After the fall of the Bahmanis the Adil Shahi sultans emerged as the pricipal rulers of the Deccan in the 16th and 17th centuries. Their capital, the fortified city of Bijapur, was protected by ramparts with prominent bastions; many of the original cannons are still in place. The Malik-i-Maidan ("Lord of the plain"), reputedly the largest cannon of the period in India, still guards the western entrance. Within thye fort's walls are splendid mosques, palaces and tombs built by a succession of enlightened rulers. |
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MAJOR ATTRACTIONS IN BIJAPUR |
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The tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah, boasts of the second-largest tomb in the world.44 m in diameter, the interior of the dome is mysteriously unsupported and has a whispering gallery under it, whose acoustics are superb. Located in the north-eastern part of Karnataka, Bijapur used to be the home of the Bahamani Sultans. Adil Shah began the task of building his own tomb, quite earnestly and went on with this work for over 20 years.530 kms to the north-west of Bangalore is the ancient town of Bijapur, the capital of the Adil Shahi dynasty. Bijapur is close to Belgaum - the gateway to Karnataka from Goa and Bombay. Bijapur has many places of Historical, Cultural and Architectural interest
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Jumma Masjid is the other attraction of this city. Jumma Masjid still used for worship, has been called one of the first mosques in India. It holds an exquisite copy of the Quran, written in gold. Also dating back to the period of Adil Shah this is the largest Masjid in the region. Barah Cummon (12 arches) is another wonderful piece of architecture created simply with twelve interleaving arches as a centre stage for art festivities.
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The largest medieval cannon in the world, is 14 ft long, weighing 55 tons. Legend has it that if you touch the gun and make a wish, it will come true! Also worth visit are the Mehtar Mahal, the Jod Gumbaz, Afzal Khan's Cenotaph, Asar Mahal, Anand Mahal, Ark-Killa, etc..
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| Further to the edge of the city is the Ibrahim Roza, a beautiful tomb with artistically laid out corridors and interconnecting buildings with richly decorated walls and perforated stone windows. Ibrahim Roza, the mausoleum of Ibrahim Adil Shah II, is said to have inspired the Taj Mahal in Agra. At the centre of the town are large arches signifying the forts and its beauty in moonlight. Even though many of the structures were damaged by Aurangazeb, Bijapur remains a must see town. |
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MAP OF BIJAPUR |
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