530 kms to the north-west of Bangalore is the ancient town of Bijapur, the capital oftheAdil Shahi dynasty. Bijapur is close to Belgaum - the gateway to Karnataka from Goa and Bombay. Bijapur has many places of historical, cultural and architectural interest.

City Sights:

Gol Gumbaz, the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah, boasts of the second-largest tomb in the world. 44 m in diameter, the interior of the dome is mysteriously unsupported and has a whispering gallery under it, whose acoustics are superb.

Jumma Masjid, still used for worship, has been called one of the first mosques in India. It holds an exquisite copy of the Koran, written in gold lettering.

lbrahim Roza, the mausoleum of lbrahim Adil Shah II, is said to have inspired the Taj Mahal in Agra.

The Malik-e-Maidan. The largest medieval cannon in the world, is 14 ft long, weighing 55 tons. Legend has it that if you touch the gun and make a wish, it will come true!

ALso worth a visit are the Mehtar Mahal, the ]od Gumbaz, Afzal Khan's Cenotaph, Asar Mahal, Anand Mahal, Ark-Killa, etc.

Shopping :

Bijapur is famous for its handwoven Ilkal sarees.

Accessibility :

Bijapur is well-connected by road and rail to Bangalore, Belgaum and Goa. The nearest airport is Belgaum, 205 kms away.

Climate :

The ideal time to travel here is September-February.

Local Food Specialities :

Non-vegetarian preparations distinctly Mughlai or Hyderabadi, milk sweets.

Around Bijapur :

(Distances and directions from Bijapur): 110 kms, 134 kms and 120 kms away are the temples of Aihole, Pattadakal and Badami. Standing close to each other (within a 13 km radius), these temple towns represent Chalukyan architecture at its best.