AIR
Since Bijapur has no air link, Bangalore (580 km) is the nearest airport. IA, Jet and Sahara have regular flights connecting Bangalore with all the major cities of the country. From here, do the rest of your journey (12 hrs) by convenient trains or luxury coaches that will drop you at Bijapur.

Rail
Regular trains link Bijapur with Mumbai (via Sholapur), Bangalore and Hospet (via Gadag) and Vasco da Gama (via Hubli), which in turn are linked with all corners of the country. Railway station: Close to the Gol Gumbaz, the station is situated just outside the walled city. Autorickshaws, though unmetered and manned by not-so-polite drivers, are still the best option for a transfer to the city centre. Alternatively, you can also try out the frequent (every 15 minutes) local bus services to and from the station.

Road
KSRTC and private operators both have luxury and ordinary services to Aihole (129 km/ 4 hrs), Badami (132 km/ 4hrs), Pattadakal (148 km/ 4 hrs), Belgaum (205 km/ 5 hrs), Hampi (254 km/ 6 hrs) and Bangalore (580 km). Long distance services for Mumbai and Aurangabad also depart from the bus stand. Bus stand: The main bus stand is on the southwestern side of the citadel, near the city centre. Since the timetables are mostly in Kannada, the local language, you would do better to verify them from the enquiry desk here.

Gol Gumbaz
Undoubtedly the most famous of all the monuments erected by the Adil Shahi dynasty, the Gol Gumbaz dome (1659) with a diameter of 38 m is second in size only to the St Peter s Basilica in Rome. The last resting place of Mohammed Adil Shah and his near and dear ones, the Gumbaz presents an impressive sight for miles around with four colossal seven-storey octagonal minarets rising into the firmament. The whispering gallery at the base of the dome provides an added attraction. Leave alone a whisper, even the sound of rattling a matchbox or the rustle of paper can be heard clearly by the person on the other side of the wall, and the sound echoes an amazing ten times over!

Ibrahim Rauza
These two identical domes standing side by side on a raised terrace house the tombs of Ibrahim Adil Shah II (1580-1627) and his family, and a minor mosque. Originally built to his queen s pleasure, the monuments display a remarkable symmetry of proportion. With the elegant minarets and graceful arches that have survived, it s not surprising that they were inspired by the Taj at Agra.

Malik-e-Maidan
Literally, the master of the battlefield , this colossus of a cannon now lies silent by the wall of the citadel. One of the largest bell metal guns in the world (4.5 m long with a diameter of 1.5 m), it weighs a good 55 tons and was the heaviest of its kind used in war in those days. The mouth of the barrel resembles the open jaws of a lion with a symbolic elephant being crushed to death, and the cold touch of the deadly metal still sends a chill down the spine. Of course, local legends say that if you touch the cannon and make a wish, it will definitely come true!

Jumma Masjid
The first and the largest mosque in the city, it was built by Adil Shah (1557 to 1686) and spreads over an area of 10,810 sq m. The open quadrangle has a fountain at the centre and is flanked by huge arches and numerous gracefully designed compartments. The majestic dome, resembling a flower bud, rises 120 ft into the air.

Mithari and Asar Mahals
Coming out of the Jumma Masjid, you will find this ornate gateway to the west. Leading to a small, almost non-descript house, this delicately carved three-storeyed structure with projecting windows and soaring minarets, is undeniably one of the most beautiful buildings in Bijapur.

Moving further north from the Mithari Mahal, you will come to this crumbly hall, supported on four equally worn out pillars. The Asar Mahal or the Asar-e-sharif however, has been home to some of the most sacred relics of Islam (hair from the Prophet s beard for instance). Originally intended to be a hall of justice, Sultan Adil Shah also had a large step-well built in front of the building, whose stagnant waters now bear silent witness to those glorious times. Women are not generally allowed into the frescoed upper storey, but a little bit of coaxing should work.

The Citadel
With its huge fortifications surrounded by a wide moat, the citadel dominates the heart of the city. The royal palaces and pleasure gardens of the Adil Shahi kings, that once sprawled across its ramparts are now all ruins but to have the best view of what remains, walk down the arterial Anand Mahal Road. Explore the Gagan Mahal, built by Adil Shah I around 1561, which doubled up as the royal residence and the durbar hall. Peep into the Sat Manzil, Mohammed Adil Shah s seven- storeyed palace or stroll down the Jal Manzil, an erstwhile water pavilion with private courts and gardens. Cross the road and you will come to Bara Kaman, the mausoleum of Ali Roza, which will impress you with its rows of shapely arches.