3-Day Bijapur Sightseeing Tour from Hyderabad via Gulbarga

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Visit Gol Gumbaz, the second largest dome in the world
• 02 Explore Gulbarga Fort and the architecturally renowned Jama Masjid
• 03 See Bara Kaman, the unfinished mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah II
• 04 Behold Malik-e-Maidan, regarded as the biggest cannon ever made in the world

Go on an excursion to the historical monuments of Bijapur. Visit the majestic Gulbarga Fort before continuing to the major attractions of Vijayapura, including Gol Gumbaz, the second largest dome in the world, Ibrahim Rauza, and Jama Masjid. Also see Bara Kaman, an unfinished mausoleum, and Malik-e-Maidan, regarded as the biggest cannon ever made in the world, while appreciating the marvellous architecture of medieval India.

Visit the majestic Gulbarga Fort before continuing to the major attractions of Vijayapura, including Gol Gumbaz, the second largest dome in the world, Ibrahim Rauza, and Jama Masjid.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Hyderabad, Gulbarga, Bijapur

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Hyderabad to Bijapur via Gulbarga

• Pick up from your hotel in Hyderabad and drive to Bijapur. En route, stop at Gulbarga to visit with your Bijapur tour guide.
• Visit Gulbarga Fort, a remnant of the Brahmani era that has stood the test of time and is famous for its incredible architecture. It was originally built by Raja Gulchand, and later 15 towers were added to the existing structure by Allah-ud-din Bahmani. The fort was designed with a well-planned canal around it to make enemy entry difficult. It contained 15 towers and 26 guns, one of which was 8 metres long.
• Continue to Jama Masjid, a mosque in Gulbarga City regarded as one of the most architectural mosques in South Asia in both form and structure. The arch design of Jama Masjid Gulbarga is reflected in the interiors of the Spanish Mosque of Hyderabad. These are the only two mosques in India similar to the interior of the Great Cathedral-Mosque of Córdoba in Spain.
• Continue driving to Bijapur. Check in at the hotel and stay overnight.

2

Day 02

Architectural Wonders of Bijapur

• After breakfast, visit Bijapur Fort, located in Bijapur city. It has a plethora of historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of the Adil Shahi dynasty. The Adil Shahi Sultans, who ruled for nearly 200 years in Bijapur, devoted their utmost authority almost exclusively to architecture and the allied arts. Each Sultan endeavoured to excel his predecessor in the number, size, or splendour of his building projects. As a result, the buildings seen in and around Bijapur Fort and the town have rightly been called the Agra of South India.
• Visit Asar Mahal, built by Muhammed Adil Shah in the late 1640s as a Hall of Justice. Also known as Mithari and Asar Mahal, it stands on four pillars. Hair from the beard of Prophet Muhammad was also kept at this place, and owing to this, it is a place of worship for Muslim devotees.
• Continue to Bara Kaman, the unfinished mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah II in Bijapur, Karnataka. Ali Adil Shah wanted to build a mausoleum of unmatched architectural quality. It was planned that twelve arches would be placed vertically as well as horizontally around his tomb. However, for unknown reasons, the structure was left incomplete, and only two arches were raised vertically.
• Visit Gol Gumbaz in the Bijapur district of Karnataka, the second largest dome in the world. Gol Gumbaz is second in size only to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is unique because the four minarets themselves serve as staircases leading to the top dome.
• See Jama Masjid, whose graceful twin minarets are decorated with an elegant arrangement of numerous pigeonholes and terminate in bulbous domes above balconies. In modern times, processions assemble here before making their way across the island to Gumbaz for the ceremonies associated with the Tipu Urs, marking the anniversary of Tipu's death. Prayers are offered both at the mosque and the mausoleum.
• Visit Malik-e-Maidan, regarded as the biggest cannon ever made in the history of the world. Malik-e-Maidan translates to "The Ruler of the Plains". Located in Gol Gumbaz, the largest masonry dome in the whole of India, the history related to the cannon is more than enough to tempt travellers to visit this place.
• See Mehtar Mahal and Asar Mahal. Situated inside the premises of Bijapur Fort, Mehtar Mahal dates back to 1620 and is known to be the most elegant structure within the fort. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, the carvings on the minarets reflect Hindu architectural style.
• Visit Ibrahim's Rouza, built by Ibrahim Adil Shah in the 15th century. It consists of a mosque and tomb enclosed together within a square compound. The mosque and tomb are separated from each other by a tank and fountain. The mosque has finely crafted arches in its rectangular prayer hall and is shaded by chhajja and slender minarets at each corner. The bulbous dome, with beautiful rows of petals at its base, is enclosed in a square structure, giving the mosque a majestic look.
• Relax at your hotel and stay overnight.

3

Day 03

Bijapur to Hyderabad

• Have breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Hyderabad and drop off at your hotel or the airport.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• 2 nights' accommodation in the below-mentioned hotels or similar
• Daily breakfast at hotels
• Entrance fees to monuments and activity charges mentioned in the itinerary
• Services of a local government-licensed tour guide on sightseeing days in every city
• Private air-conditioned English-speaking chauffeur-driven vehicle from arrival to departure in Hyderabad
• Applicable GST (government service taxes)

What's Not Included

• Gratuities (optional)
• Camera charges at any monument, to be paid directly by the guest
• Any insurance
• Lunch or dinner, unless a supplement for the same is opted for
• Expenses of a personal nature, such as liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, and internet
• Anything not mentioned above

Know before you go

• Transport by AC vehicle, entrance fees to monuments, and English-speaking guide service during sightseeing are included.
• Bijapur: 2 nights
• 3* - Sun Hotel / Hotel Mayura Adilshahi
• 4* - Sun Hotel / Hotel Mayura Adilshahi
• 5* - Sun Hotel / Hotel Mayura Adilshahi

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Tour start

Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.