Upli Buruj

Upli Buruj

Upli Buruj or Uplri Buruj is a spherical structure with stone steps winding round the outside. The top of the tower offers a commanding view of the city. This is also known as Hyder Burj or Upli Burj. On top of Upli Burj there are two guns of huge size. One needs to climb the stairs to reach the top. 

The para feet of this tower which was used for monitoring purposes has been fenced now. One needs to climb the circular stairs to reach the top. However except for this tower there is very little evidence of the citadel wall in this area due to rampant construction. Furthermore, it contains various guns, powder chambers, war material, and water cisterns.

History

Upli Buruj or Uplri Buruj was built around 1584 by Hyder Khan, is an 80 ft high tower standing to the north of Dakhani Idgah in Bijapur (Vijapura).

How to Reach

Nearest City  : Vijapura
District           : Vijapura
Distance        : 1.2 km from Vijapura Bus Stand
Duration         : > 1 Hour                        

Jod Gumbaz, Vijapura

Jod Gumbaz, twin domed tombs, were built in memory of Khan Muhammad and Abdul Razzaq Qadiri. Situated near Mecca Gate, these tombs are also referred to as ‘Two Sisters’.

For offering assistance to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb to defeat the young Adil Shahi emperor Sikandar, both Khan Muhammad and Abdul Razzaq Qadiri were considered traitors. The structure was built in 1687 and is also known as the Dargah of Abdul Razzaq Qadiri.

How to Reach

Nearest City  : Vijapura
District           : Vijapura
Distance        : 300 Mtrs from Vijapura Bus Stand
                      

BARA KAMAN

BARA KAMAN

Bara Kaman is the incomplete mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah II in Bijapur, Karnataka. Ali Adil Shah, ruler of the Adil Shahi Dynasty, wanted to build a tomb of exceptional quality. According to the plan, twelve arches were to be placed vertically and horizontally around the tomb.

However, because of  some unknown reasons, the work was left incomplete. As a result, only 2 arches were placed vertically. However, the remains of the 12 arches that were placed horizontally, are also visible in the premises.

It was also planned that the shadow of Bara Kaman would touch the Gol Gombaz. At present, this site is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Useful Information

Nearest City  : Vijapura
District           : Vijapura
Distance        : 1 kms from Vijapura Bus Stand

Duration        : < 1 Hour                        

Almatti Dam

Almatti Dam

Almatti Dam is situated on the Krishna River in Bijapur District. It is an essential reservoir of the Upper Krishna Project, aimed to provide irrigation to the drought prone areas of Bijapur, Bagalkot, Gulbarga, Raichur and Koppal. Construction of this dam was completed in July 2005 and it has an annual energy design of 713 million units.  

Height of this dam was raised from 509 m to 519 m as per the orders of the Supreme Court. According to the present scheme, Karnataka has been allocated 700 TMC of Krishna River water.

How to Reach

Nearest City  : Nidugundi
District           : Vijapura
Distance        : 73 kms from Vijapura City
                        40 kms from Bagalkot City

Ibrahim Roza, Vijapura

Ibrahim Roza

Ibrahim Rauza, often referred to as 'The Taj Mahal of the Deccan', was designed by Malik Sandal. It comprises four minarets, a mosque on its right, and a tomb at its left side. It houses the remains of Ibrahim Adil Shah II and his wife Taj Sultana.  

Facing east towards the tomb, the front of the mosque has five arches with elaborate plaster work on the spandrel. Above them, a wide nave is supported by lotus brackets. Above the nave is an elaborate parapet comprising an ornate screen.

The high corner minarets are divided into storeys and have an unusual cluster of columns at the base. The spherical dome is raised on a platform decorated with large petals. Both the mosque and the tomb are elevated on a common base in the middle of  a  beautiful garden. The tomb is composed of cupolas and slender minarets.

District                                : Vijapura/Bijapura

Distance from Bus stand  : 2 Kms

Length of Visit                    : 1 Hour

Malik E Maidan, Vijapur

Malik - E - Maidan

Malik-e-Maidan, considered as one of the largest bell metal guns in the world, is situated around 3 km away from Bijapur District. Meaning of the word ‘Malik-e-Maidan’ is 'The Monarch of the Plains’. It was built in 1549 by Ali Adil Shah I and was considered as a war trophy.

 

It is 4.45 metres long, has a diameter of 1.5 metres and weighs 55 tons. The cannon is sitting on top of the Sherzah Burj facing west towards the plains outside the city. This cannon was surrounded by a darbar hall and many royal residences of the Adil kings.   

It is believed that the legendary cannon always remains cool and tinkles like a bell on tapping. The nozzle of the gun is shaped like the head of a lion with open jaws. Between the carved fangs of the lion is depicted an elephant being crushed to death. On top of the cannon is present an inscription commissioned by Aurangzeb.

Gol Gumbaz

GOL GUMBAZ

Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah, who ruled the Adil Shahi dynasty between 1490 and 1696. It was designed and constructed by the famed architect, Yaqut of Dabul, under the patronage of Muhammed Adil Shah. This dome, which is around 124 ft in diameter and stands unsupported by pillars, is considered as the second largest in the world.

The architectural design of this building includes 4 minarets of 8 storeys that can be entered by winding staircases terminating in cupolas. Around the inner periphery of the dome is a circular balcony that contains the whispering gallery. Any sound gets echoed around 7 times in the gallery and can be heard even on its diagonally opposite side.

Apart from having a floor area of 1,700 sq m, the tomb is 38 m in diameter and is of a height of 51 m. The tomb is placed in a large walled garden, which is designed in Persian style. On either side of the path that divides the garden lie the remains of buildings made of dark bricks.

Exterior of the tomb has a triple set of arched recesses and medallions, both of which are filled with scroll works. The rectangular recess above the arch is believed to have held a granite calligraphy slab. The structure is rounded off by four octagonal turrets in each corner, which project at an angle. Apart from this, the edifice also has a mosque, guesthouses and a drum house.