Four
Major Attractions of Bijapur Architecural Marvals
GAGAN MAHAL
Gagan
Mahal is among a complex of other royal buildings,
including the ruined Sat Mahal (seven-storeyed
palace), that were housed in the citadel, a
walled enclosure surrounded by a moat. The architecture
of all these structures is characterised by
a marked simplicity, indeed a certain austerity.
Most monuments of Bijapur and that includes
the immense Golgumbaz, eschew excessive ornamentation,
the only exception being of course the Ibrahim
Rouza of Ibrahim Adil Shah II.
The Gagan Mahal, aptly named for its fairy tale
appearance at one time, was built in 1561 AD
by Ali Adil Shah as a Durbar hall for public
audience. The central hall rises to a height
of 70 feet and contained the Zenana for the
ladies of the royal family with latticed windows,
a typical Islamic architectural feature, but
sadly missing now.
Notes Sources:
Bijapur and Its
Architectural Remains : With an Historical
Outline of the Adil Shahi
Dynasty/Henry Cousens. Reprint. 1996, 132 p.,
plates, plans.
Archeological Survey of India,
Vol. XXXVIII, Imperial Series.
Monoments
of Bijapur