Bijapur is well known for its history and great architecture of the Adil Shahi dynasty. The city was established in the 10th-11th centuries by the Chalukyas and was referred as Vijayapura meaning the City of Victory. In 1347, the city was conquered by the Bahmani Sultanate of Gulbarga. By this time the city was being referred as Vijapur or Bijapur.
Bijapur is rich in historical attractions, mainly related to Islamic architecture.
History:
The city of Bijapur owes its architectural beauty and grandeur to the Emperor Adil Shah, who founded the independent state of Bijapur. The rule of this dynasty ended in the sixteenth century, when Bijapur was conquered by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The city of Bijapur was won over by the Marathas in the seventeenth century. And thereafter the city passed into the hands of the British East India Company, and was assigned to the princely state of Satara.
Best For:
Rich Islamic Architecture
Like the rest of the towns in the vicinity, Bijapur has a more or less pleasant weather. The temperatures fluctuate between 15 degrees C to 40 degrees C in summer. The best time to visit Bijapur is between November and March. The winter is mild and pleasant while the summer gets a bit too hot.
The Indian Rupee (INR) is the acceptable form of currency here. It is advisable to exchange foreign currency, and travelers’ cheques at larger cities such as Bangalore and Goa.
No special permits required, but all foreign nationals need a visa for visiting India.
Air The nearest airport is Belgaum. However, one can consider landing at Mumbai or Bangalore and then cover the distance by road as these airports have better domestic connections and also have good international connections.
International Flight:
There are no direct international or national flights to Bijapur. However, the major international airports nearby are Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad
Road Road travel is best recommended in case if you plan to visit Pattadakal, Aihole, Gulbarga and Hampi also. These places are well connected through roads, and regular buses are available easily. A Bus service from Bangalore to Hospet is also available from where a cab can be hired to explore the nearby places.
Train The nearest railway station is located at Gulbarga which falls under the Central Southern Railway. A lot of southbound trains stop here although their frequency is poor. The drive from Gulbarga to Bijapur is 145 kms.
Gol Gumbaz
Bara Kaman
Malik-e-Maidan
Chand Bawdi,
Asar Mahal
Gagan Mahal
Barakaman
Malik-E-Maidan, Bijapur
Image By Wikipedia User Indian Cow Image is in Public Domain
Nearby Places:.
Aihole, Pattadakal and Hampi are known for their marvelous architecture of the 6th and the 7th centuries. Also, places like Bidar and Gulbarga are known for their relative contemporary artistic works.
The flavor in Bijapur unmistakably is South Indian. There are a lot of restaurants and three star hotels where one can devour the famous South Indian dishes.
Where To Stay:
There are no luxury hotels here but there are many guest houses and even three star hotels like:
Hotel Sanman, Station Road.
Hotel Samrat, Station Road.
Hotel Madhuvan International,Station Road.
Hotel Mayura Adhil Shahi
Hotel Mayura Adhil Shahi Annexe.
It is advisable to combine nearby areas such as Badami, Gulbarga, Hospet, Aihole, Pattadakal and Hampi while planning a trip to Bijapur. They all have splendid structures and beautiful temples that belong to the 6th, 8th, 12th and 13th Centuries.
