Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur - Timings, History, Architecture, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 1 km from Bijapur Railway Station, Gol Gumbaz is a 17th-century mausoleum located in Bijapur, Karnataka. It is one of the must visit places as part of Bijapur tour packages.

Gol Gumbaz serves as the final resting place for Mohammad Adil Shah, the seventh sultan of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur, along with several of his relatives. The name of the monument is derived from 'Gola Gummata' or 'Gol Gombad,' which translates to 'circular dome.' It is situated directly behind the dargah of Hashim Pir, a revered Sufi saint. This site is preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and has been included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2014, under the designation of Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate.

Gol Gumbaz stands as one of the prominent heritage sites near Hyderabad. Commissioned by Mohammed Adil Shah as his mausoleum shortly after he ascended the throne in 1626, the structure was intended to surpass the grandeur of his father Ibrahim Adil Shah II's tomb, the Ibrahim Roza. The construction of this monument spanned Mohammed Adil Shah's reign but remained unfinished due to his untimely death in 1656. The entire process of building Gol Gumbaz took approximately 30 years to reach completion.

Exemplifying the Indo-Islamic architectural style, Gol Gumbaz was designed by Yaqut of Dabul. The mausoleum is part of a larger walled complex that includes additional structures such as a mosque, a naqqar khana, and a dharmshala. The dome of the mausoleum ranks as the second largest in the world, following St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, with a diameter of 44 m. Constructed from brick and reinforced with layers of lime, the dome features six small openings at its base and a flat section at its apex. This massive dome is supported by eight intersecting arches. The main structure is cube-like, with octagonal towers at each corner, each topped with a dome and comprising seven stories. These towers contain staircases and floors that provide access to the monument's terrace.

The interior comprises a vast single chamber featuring a square podium at its center, equipped with steps on all sides. This podium is adorned with the cenotaphs of Mohammad Adil Shah, his younger wife Arus Bibi, his elder wife, his favored mistress Rhamba, as well as his daughter and grandson. Additionally, the podium is topped with a wooden canopy that signifies the precise location of Mohammed Adil Shah's grave. The structure's walls are constructed from dark grey basalt and embellished with decorative plaster.

Encircling the base of the dome is a gallery, accessible via staircases located in the towers. This area, referred to as the 'whispering gallery,' is a captivating feature of the architecture, as it amplifies echoes more than tenfold. Inscriptions located to the south and above the central archway commemorate the Sultan's death on 4th November 1656. The main entrance is embellished with a 'bijlipathar,' believed to be a meteorite that fell during the Sultan's reign.

At the entrance of the Gol Gumbaz complex lies the Naqqar Khana, which has been transformed into the Vijayapura Archaeological Museum. Established in 1892, this museum safeguards and showcases artifacts from Vijayapura and its surrounding regions. It features a variety of items across six galleries, including Brahmanical and Jain sculptures, inscriptions in Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, and Kannada, as well as arms, weapons, metal objects, and miniature paintings, among others.

Timings: 10 AM - 5 PM

Entry: Rs. 10 for Indians & Rs. 100 for Foreigners, Rs. 25 per Person for Museum