The Gol Gumbaz is located in Bijapur (now known as Vijayapura), a city in the state of Karnataka, India. The Gol Gumbaz is one of the most iconic sites in the city largely due to the fact that it is the mausoleum of one of India’s greatest kings: Mohammed Adil Shah.
He was the Sultan of Bijapur (1627 – 1656) and was one of the Indian kings that we studied about in our history books. Visiting his mausoleum brought history alive for us.
The Gol Gumbaz is one of the majestic monuments of India. Very few people head here and it is definitely something that you should consider adding to your itinerary. We visited it during our trip from Bangalore to Nashik.
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Table of Contents
Location Of The Gol Gumbaz
A view from the top of the Gol Gumbaz.
The Gol Gumbaz is hard to miss. It is large, imposing and easily spotted as soon as you enter Bijapur. We noticed it even though it was almost dusk, and it reinforced our desire to visit the iconic monument. It is located on Jadar Galli in Bijapur, Karnataka.
The monument has its own parking area which makes visiting easy. If you are planning one your Indian holidays in the vicinity it is definitely worth a try.
Entrance Fees And Timings Of The Gol Gumbaz
Through the grilled arches in one of the minarets.
The Gol Gumbaz is open on all days of the week. The gates are opened at 10 am and closed at 5 pm. The best time to visit is early morning. Since it is a popular tourist attraction, it is a frequent stop for tourists and school excursions. The monument gets packed and extremely noisy. Starting out early helps you avoid the worst of the crowds.
As with almost all historic sites in India, the entrance fee differs for Indians and foreigners.
Entrance Fee (Indian): Rs. 15/-
Entrance Fee (Foreigners): Rs. 200/- (I’m not entirely sure if this is the cost. I got this figure based on some research that I had done.)
Parking fee: Rs. 40/-
Foot wear rack: Rs. 10/- (You aren’t allowed to wear any form of foot wear in the Gol Gumbaz as a sign of respect)
*Children below 15 years enter for free
Who built the Gol Gumbaz?
The Gol Gumbaz was built in the Adil Shah dynasty to house the grave of Mohammad Adil Shah. In fact the construction of this epic structure began during his rule somewhere in the middle of the 17th century. Unfortunately the structure was not completed.
Many attribute that to the fact that Adil Shah died in 1656 and no one continued the work. Despite the fact that his plans for the structure never materialized fully, the Gol Gumbaz remains one of the iconic structures of its time.
The Gol Gumbaz is Famous for its architecture
Another view of one of the minarets.
The architecture of the Gol Gumbaz is particularly interesting. Even from far off, it is obvious that the structure is in the shape of a perfect square. A large dome rises to cap the square above. The four corners of the monument have a towering minaret each. Adil Shah’s grave lies immediately beneath the dome and is the first thing that you see as soon as you enter.
Visitors are granted access to one of the minarets. The stairs wind upwards for about seven stories. The steps are steep and in some places dark, so proceed with caution. At every floor you are greeted with views of the manicured landscape below.
Once at the top you can circle the large dome from the outside or head inside to marvel at it. The inner portion of the dome is called the Whispering Gallery. It is said that the smallest whisper echoes back to you.
We unfortunately did not get a chance to try this out due to the hordes of school children and adults who thought that shouting was a better idea. The noise can get deafening which is one of the reasons why we suggest visiting before the crowds.
Interesting facts about the Gol Gumbaz
There are a couple of interesting facts about the Gol Gumbaz that we managed to pick up while we were visiting.
- The structure was never completed after demise of Mohammad Adil Shah.
- It has the largest dome in Asia! Yes the dome of the Gol Gumbaz is even larger than the Taj Mahal. It is also the second largest dome in the world!
- The dome stands without any pillar support which is amazing even if you don’t consider that this was built centuries ago!
- The circular dome was built after St Peters Basilica in Rome.
- Intriguingly enough, one of the interesting acts about the Gol Gumbaz is that it looks like the Taj Mahal. If you’ve made the epic trip from Delhi to Agra, you will know exactly what I mean.
- Another fun fact about the Gol Gumbaz is that it was built at the same time as the Taj Mahal.
Gol Gumbaz FAQ
How Long Did It Take To Build The Gol Gumbaz?
The Gol Gumbaz took 30 years to be completed from the time the first stone was laid. Now this seems like a really long time. What you need to understand is that this structure was completed in 1656. Back then they did not have the same machinery that we have today.
Who Designed The Gol Gumbaz?
The Gol Gumbaz mausoleum was designed by Yaqut of Dabul. An interesting part of the design was the symmetry in the structure. You can see this when you view it from a distance. You can also catch a fresh perspective when you walk inside the huge structure.
Who Is Buried In The Gol Gumbaz?
The Gol Gumbaz is a mausoleum or a burial site. It holds the mortal remains of Mohammed Adil Shah, Taj Jahan Begum and Aroos Bibi.
Which Is Bigger, the Taj Mahal or the Gol Gumbaz?
As we were heading to Agra from Delhi, I was struck with the realization that not many people know that the Gol Gumbaz is both older and bigger than the Taj Mahal. Both are really interesting places to visit. The Gol Gumbaz however has not been as well looked after and maintained which is sad.
The Gol Gumbaz is beautiful and is well preserved. The architecture is mesmerizing. It is standing proof as to why the throngs of people from the vicinity head to visit each day. Sadly, since Bijapur is not very accessible (comfortably!), many tourists don’t venture that far.
Have you been to the Gol Gumbaz? What did you think about the structure? Let us know in the comments below.
If you are travelling through India do also check out our post on how to avoid falling sick in India. We had quite a few tummy upsets while we were travelling in the area and I would advise extra caution should you travel in the monsoons.
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Candice
Saturday 3rd of February 2018
Thanks for writing about this. I went a very long time ago and I'd forgotten all about it. Now smiling at the memories :)
Penny
Monday 5th of February 2018
I'm so glad I could revive a memory. Even more glad to have found a fellow traveller who has visited Bijapur. :)