BIJAPURA
Bijapur (ಬಿಜಾಪುರ) is a fine
example of Islamic style of architecture and sculpture. The fort, the mosques,
the mousoleums and the palaces constitute the major categories. Some Hindu
temples have sprung up during the recent period. But they hardly hold any
sculptural significance.
It is possible to give only a cursory
account of the monuments of Bijapur in this introductory note. It should be
supplemented by the bibliographical references that are provided. The fort of
Bijapur ranks among the biggest forts of India. This elliptical fort has an external circumference
of more than six miles and the walls are almost fifty feet thick. It stands
1820 ft tall and it is surrounded by a moat which is 30’-50’ deep. The wall is
strengthened with ninety-six massive bastions of various designs. In addition
to these there are ten more bastions at various gateways. There are five doors
that give an entry in to the fort and they are called Mecca darvazaa, Shahpur darwazaa, Bahamani darwazaa,
Alipur darwazaa and Managali darwazaa. It is said that no enemy has succeeded
in breaching these during the entire history of this fort. Outside the walls
are the remains of a vast city, most of it in ruins. However the innumerable
tombs, mosques, palaces and other edifices, afford abundant evidence of the
ancient splendour of the place. Gol
Gumbaz is the most attractive monument in Bijapur. This was raised by Muhammaed
Adil Shah (1627-56) as a tomb and monument for himself. It was built by the
renowned architect Yaqub of Dabul. This is essentially a square measuring 205’
by 205’. It is surrounded by walls that are 198 feet in height and the Gumbaz
stands atop the structure without any visible support. The hall surrounded by
these walls occupies an area of 1833767 square feet. Gol Gumbaj is one of the
biggest single chamber structures in the world. Each of these walls had three
arches. The central dome of Gol Gumbaj does not rest on any pillar and is
second to the dome of St Peters Basilica, Rome in size. The dome rests on the system of pendantive,
which is a system of intersecting arches. It was not used anywhere else in India. The only other example of this kind was the Great
Mosque of Cordoba. The eight high pointed arches bisect in the interior of the
cube at regular intervals. The unique feature of the tomb is its acoustic
quality. A sound echoes 11 times over and can be heard at a distance 37 km. At
a height of 33.22 m from the floor of the hall, projects a 3.25 m wide gallery,
all round the inner periphery of the dome. This gallery is called the
‘Whispering Gallery’, because even the finest whisper or sound made in it is
heard from side to side and even a single loud clap is distinctly echoed over
ten times.
The outer walls of the Gumbaz are
decorated with the etchings and sculptures of pigeons, elephants, lotus petals
and necklaces. A platform in the inner hall contains artificial tombs of the
Muhammed Adil Shah and his relatives. The real tombs are located in the under
ground.
‘Arakilla’ (The Citadel) is the inner fort
located in the centre of the city. Anandamahal is a palace built in 1589 by
Ibrahim Adil Shah-2 and Gaganamahal is one of the royal courts commisioned in
1561. Asar mahal is another important monument. Mecca masjid, Jami masjid, Yakut Dabuli masjid,and Ain Ul
Mulk masjid are the famous mosques located in the various parts of the city.
Barakaman is about five miles from Bijapur and it an unfinished masoleum. It
has twelve arches. (Barah Kaman)
Malik E Maidan is a huge
cannon made of bronze, weighing fifty five tons. Its exit is shaped like the
mouth of a lion and its smooth surface consists of inscrptions in Arabic and
Persian.
Ibrahim Roza is perhaps the most famous among
the Islamic architectures in Karnataka. This contains the tomb of Ibrahim Adil
Shah-2 along with the accompanying mosque. This structure built before the
Tajmahal bears many resemblances to the great monument. Mehtar mahal is another
small but elegant structure.
Bijapura contains many more monuments
of historical and architectural interest. A more detailed account can be found
in web sites dealing with Islamic architecture. Bijapura is also known for its
Sufi saints who have provided commendable models of religious harmony and have
created poetry of lasting merit.
References: 1. Sufis of
Bijapur, 1300-1700: Social Roles of Sufis in Medieval India (Hardcover) by
Richard M.Eaton, published by Princeton Univ Pr (January 1978)
2. The New Cambridge History of India: Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates by George Michell.
3. ‘Karnatakada Sufigalu’ by
Rahamath Tarikere, Kannada University, Hampi.
4. Indian Islamic
Architecture: Forms and Typologies, Sites and Monuments J Burton, 2007 - Brill Academic Publishers.
5. A History of Karnataka:
From Pre-history to Unification by P.B. Desai, 1970, Kannada Research
Institute, Karnatak University.
6. Bijapur Web Site Main Page
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