Bijapur Fort
Bijapur Fort is an important monument of historical importance situated in Bijapur. It was built during the rule of the Adilshah dynasty and is endearingly known as the Agra of South India. It is also known as Vijapura Fort and is enclosed within a moat of 50 feet. The fort has different structures inside which were built by rulers of different dynasties over time.
History of Bijapur Fort
The impressive monument of Bijapur Fort was built by the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty, Yusuf Adil Shah in 1566. Faroukh Mahal and the Arkilla were the other monuments built by Yusuf Adil Shah. Before the Shahi dynasty, Bijapur was known as Vijayapura meaning the city of victory and was ruled by Kalyani Chalukyas in the 10th and 11th centuries. By the 13th century, Bijapur came under the possession of the Khilji Sultanate of Delhi.
Later in 1347, the Bahmani Sultanate of Gulbarga established its supremacy over Bijapur and the territory came to be known as Bijapur or Vijapur. After the death of Yusuf Adil Shah in 1510, his son Ibrahim Adil Shah made the most significant contribution in strengthening the Bijapur Fort and built Jama Masjid inside its premises. His successor, Ali Adil Shah I, allied with Muslim rulers of the Deccan and successfully defeated the Vijayanagara king.
Ali Adil Shah, I built several monuments such as Chand Bawdi, Ali Rauza, and Gagan Mahal from the plundered wealth of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. During Ali Adil Shah II's rule, there was an internal power struggle and thus began the decline of the Shahi Dynasty. Bijapur fell came under the possession of the Marathas. In 1686, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb finally conquered the kingdom of Bijapur and thus ended the 200 years old Adil Shahi dynasty.
Architecture of Bijapur Fort
The architecture of the Bijapur fort is a synthesis of many styles of that era. Yusuf Adil Shah built the fort with the help of skilled artisans and architects brought from Rome, Turkey, and Persia. The materials used for the monument are lime mortar and granites.
There are five main gates namely the Allahpur gate on the east, the Fateh gate on the south-east, the Makka gate on the west, the Bahmani gate on the north, and the Shahapur gate on the north-west. The fort contains over ninety-six huge bastions adorned with crenellations and two moats. The imposing wall of this structure lies at the height of 50 feet and is 25 feet in width. The vicinity of the fort is dotted with many mahals, tombs, mosques, and gardens.
The fort houses some magnificent structures such as the Gagan Mahal, the Tomb of Ali Rauza Arkilla, Chand Bawdi Jumma Masjid, Jal Mahal, Mahatar Mahal, and Malikah-e-Jahan Mosque. It is estimated that the Adil Shahi dynasty had built over 20 palaces, 50 mosques, and 20 tombs during their 200 years reign in Bijapur.
