Experience OF STUDY TOUR

1. Magnificent Shrine
As I walk into the Gol Gumbaz complex, I turned to the corner of a building and enter
the mausoleum through a small door. The view literally stops us in our tracks. The Gol
Gumbaz (rose dome) is a magnificent structure built during the Adil shahi regime that
ruled Bijapur.
Bijapur is today just a small town in Karnataka and this magnificent monument which
happens to be the heart of the city is located near Bijapur station. At 44 meters in
height, the central dome is the second largest in the world (the largest being the dome
of St Peter s Basilica in Rome) and definitely awe inspiring, if not for the grandeur like
the Taj Mahal, then for its sheer size. It is a fascinating piece of Mughal architecture.
The mausoleum, by itself, may seem like something you see at any Mughal historical
monument, until you remind yourself that the man was crowned king at the relatively
tender age of 16 – when you and I are more concerned with our crushes and grades.
He died from illnesses sustained in battle, which means he ruled for just 29 years.
A beautiful garden surrounds Gol Gumbaz and there are two different structures which
look like a single structure from first view. First one is a small two store building at front
side which was a Nagarkhana (band room) at the time of Adil Shah and now it is a small

2. museum which depicts the history of this city from Chalukya period to Adil shahi. Things
related to Adil shahi are placed in this museum like their arms, clothes, pottery, letters
and pictures.
As I moved inside the huge structure, the main auditorium which holds a large stage for
the performance and seating area for the Sultan. All the entertainment programs for the
Sultan were conducted here. As there were no mike and speaker systems then, it is
built in such a way that where ever you stand you can hear the sound. Cool, isn’t it?
There are viewing galleries, almost seven storeys high, for the rest of the people
surrounding the stage.
A hidden maze like staircase leads up to the Whispering Gallery (the highlight and my
favorite part). It is difficult to find unless someone guides you through. There is always a
small passageway even after you think you have reached the dead end. The stone
steps are way bigger than the regular. Climbing seven stories gets a bit exhausting!
Every time one clears one steep flight of stairs, one expects to be out of breath. But that
doesn’t happen, because of the marvelous cross ventilation inside the mausoleum that
allows the cool breeze to blow through the monument at all times

3. It is a little scary though and if vertigo and the odd sensation of wanting to jump to your
death at funny heights with little to no railing is your thing gives it some thought
beforehand. I thought it was quite 'dizzying'. But once you made your way to the top
and you enter the whispering gallery all that effort seems worth it!
The specialty of the Gallery is, one can hear the other person standing far away very
clearly even if he/she whispers! This, ironically, leads hordes of families to scream at
the top of their lungs inside the dome which lead me to conclude that this must easily
be. one of the nosiest places on the planet. Visitors were having a great time in the
whispering gallery some were singing, screaming and some even clapping to enjoy the
acoustics. Trust me, narrating it, isn’t half as exciting as it was experiencing it. Families
and kids were yelling and shouting so much that I couldn’t hear my own voice. It’s a
Whispering Gallery people!! You are supposed to whisper!!!
TIP: Travelers! Be careful of what you talk, everyone in the gallery can hear you. And
yes, even if you whisper sweet nothings in your close one’s ear!
On our way back I couldn’t find the staircase as there is one for entry and one for exit. A
narrow passageway surrounds the outside of the dome. So you can actually take a full
round tour and take in all the beautiful landscape Bijapur has to offer. It is very peaceful
looking at the horizon from the top of the monument

4. While our group came back to the main auditorium, the crowd was much more than
when we had left. And making so much noise
The size and height of the dome is not all that captivates us. The acoustics and ‘air
conditioning’ inside the Gol Gumbaz, would put most of the electronics and air
Conditioning companies, to shame! With the benefit of technology and hindsight we call
ourselves an advanced and superior race. But exploring what’s left behind of this
dynasty, one realizes that they had very little to work with and yet developed
infrastructure that was very advanced, which not only withstood the test of time, but the
elements as well. I don’t think we can say the same about the drainage systems even
that run under our city even 30 years later!
In all I can just say is that Gol Gumbaz is magnificent. The sheer size of the monument
leaves you speechless
CHANDARANI SASTE
S.Y B.ARCH