Vijayapura

Understand

thumb|300px|Gol Gumbaz thumb|Ibrahim Rouza thumb|Bara Kaman After the fall of the Bahamni Sultanate in 1490, Bujapur came under the control of Adil Shahi dynasty. From 1490 to 1686 Bijapur served as their capital. For almost two centuries, Bijapur was converted into a fortified citadel surrounded with towering walls complete with massive bastions and gateways. The Adil Shahi sultans came up with magnificent palaces, tombs and mosques, turning the city into a medieval wonder. The Gol Gambuz is the most well-known monument of Bijapur and houses the second-largest dome in the world. Bijapur has a share of medieval heritage and attracts heritage and history lovers. Sadly, the town lacks proper tourist infrastructure.

Get in

Bijapur is well connected to the rest of the country by rail and road. The airport is yet to start operations.

Get around

Bijapur is a small town and most of the tourist spots are located close by. Most of them can be covered on a combination of foot and auto rickshaw. Mahatma Gandhi Square (chowk) is the main place and it is situated in the heart of the city. It is the main market place for the locals and also for the people from towns nearby.

See

thumb|200px|Masjid at Gol Gumbaz complex thumb|200px|Jumma Masjid thumb|200px|Taj Bawdi thumb|200px|Jod Gumbaz thumb|200px|Upali Bruz thumb|200px|Malik e Maidan Cannon thumb|200px|Asar Mahal thumb|200px|Gagan Mahal thumb|200px|Andu Masjid thumb|200px|Fateh Darwaza thumb|200px|Jahan Begum Tomb thumb|200px|Chota Gol Gumbaz thumb|200px|Lord Shiva Monument thumb|200px|Sangeeth and Nari Mahal thumb|200px|Saath Kabar A standard tour of Bijapur consists of visiting the 8 popular places. They include Gol Gumbaz, Jami Masjid, Taj Bawdi, Jod Gumbaz, Bara Kaman, Upali Bruz, Malik e Madan and Ibrahim Roza. Autos and Tongas offer this package tour. Both auto and tonga drivers carry a folded leaflet describing the 8 major sites of Bijapur. These leaflet can also be purchased for ₹10 at most of the sites.

Drink

The drinking places of Bijapur are a little squalid. If you would like to have a drink it is more pleasant to do that during day time. The local bars are patronised by the rural population who like to gulp the entire contents of their quarter sized whisky bottle in go. It is an experience for those who like to observe local customs.

Most of the decent hotels on Station Road have a more 'civilised' bar with air conditioning. The range of alcohol choices may be limited i.e. mostly Indian made brands.

Go next

Aihole: Hindu temple complex near Pattadakal. Badami: a village famous for its cave temples located 128 km southwest of Bijapur. Hampi: former capital of the Vijayanagar Empire, now in ruins, destroyed by the armies of Bijapur after the Battle of Talikota. Take a bus from Bijapur bus stand to Hospet and then take the regular 15-minute bus service to Hampi. Pattadakal: Hindu temples which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. 60 km southwest of Bijapur. Lakkundi: Village with spectacular temples Udupi: A historical coastal town with beaches and temples Anshi National Park Tumkur Dakshina Kannada Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) (150 km): Once the capital of the Bahamani kingdom, the town houses a fort and tomb complex of the Bahamani Sultans. Sultan period dargahs and temples are part of the tourist attraction. Bidar: Medieval forts, tomb complexes, mosques, madrasas along with fortification walls and gates