Bijapur (ವಿಜಾಪುರ), Karnataka

The Tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II in Bijapur, Karnataka, India


Bijapur (Kannada: ವಿಜಾಪುರ) is a city on the northern part of Karnataka state, in India. It is near the border between Karnataka and Maharashtra. The city covers 11 sq km (4 sq mi) and has a population of 326,000 people (2012 estimate). This puts it in as perhaps the 9th biggest city in the state.

Bijapur traces its beginnings to 1518, when the Bahmani Sultanate fragmented into five splinter states, collectively known as the Deccan sultanates, of which one of them was the state of Bijapur. The state reached the height of its glory under Yusuf Adil Shah, but was eventually conquered by the Mughals under Emperor Aurangzeb (son of the builder of the Taj Mahal) in 1686.

In 1724, the Nizam of Hyderabad broke free from Mughal rule and established his own dominion which included Bijapur. However the city was ceded to the Maratha Peshwa after the Nizam was defeated by them in 1760. The Peshwa held on to Bijapur until 1818, when they in turn were defeated by the British, and the city passed to the British East India Company, which assigned it to the princely state of Satara.

When the last ruler of Satara died without a male heir in 1848, the British added Bijapur to the Bombay Presidency. The area became part of Bombay state upon India's independence in 1947. It was assigned to Mysore state in 1956, and in 1973, Mysore state was renamed Karnataka state.

Gol Gumbax, the largest dome in India, in Bijapur, Karnataka


Due to its long history, Bijapur has many historic monuments including a citadel, a form and many other historical buildings. It is home to the Gol Gumbaz, the largest dome in India and the second largest in the world after the dome of St Peter's Basilica.

Planning your trip to Bijapur

From Goa, take Highway 66 south to Ankola, then continue on Highway 67 heading northeast. Arriving in Hubli, continue on Highway 218 to reach Bijapur.

Another view of the Tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II

Places of Interest in Bijapur

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