Bijapur (Karnataka)
Discover Bijapur (Karnataka)
Bijapur, now known officially as Vijayapura (Kannada: ವಿಜಯಪುರ), is the district headquarters of Bijapur District in a city in Northwestern Karnataka. It was once the capital of the Bijapur Sultanate, ruled by the Adil Shahi dynasty. Tombs, palaces, mosques, darghas and a portion of the fortified citadel still stand; this includes the Gol Gumbaz. The Gol Gumbaz houses the second largest dome in the world. 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.
Taste of Bijapur (Karnataka)...
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.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsBijapur is well connected to the rest of the country by rail and road. The airport is yet to start operations. 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. There are a lot of rickshaws in town. Their drivers know all the major attractions of the town. Since no rickshaw has a meter, you need to negotiate their prices and bargain very hard. A very quaint way to get around, especially for tourists, is by tonga or horse buggy as it's called. There is a horse buggy stand at MG Square. Alternatively, outside Gol Gumbaz, there are many horse buggies waiting for business. Negotiate a round figure for the whole day and the tonga will take you to all the important places....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting 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. There are a lot of rickshaws in town. Their drivers know all the major attractions of the town. Since no rickshaw has a meter, you need to negotiate their prices and bargain very hard. A very quaint way to get around, especially for tourists, is by tonga or horse buggy as it's called. There is a horse buggy stand at MG Square. Alternatively, outside Gol Gumbaz, there are many horse buggies waiting for business. Negotiate a round figure for the whole day and the tonga will take you to all the important places. A small tip at the end (in the name of the horse - tell the driver to buy something special for the horse) will get you a friend for life.
Money & Budget
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.