
Bijapur is now a modern
city in
Bijapur district in
Karnataka. It is also a
medieval city witnessed many Muslim Dynasties in
South India. Bijapur is a place for excursion also. Some of the popular
tourist destinations near Bijapur are
Aihole,
Basavana Bagevadi,
Alamatti Dam,
Badami,
Gulbarga,
Bidar,
Mysore and Bengaluru.
Location of Bijapur
Bijapur is located 530 km West of
Bengaluru. It was once the centre of the
Bahamani Dynasty and later the capital of the
Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur. Bijapur is dotted with many sculptural evidences in
medieval era. Bijapur or Vijayapura is located at 16.83 degrees north and 75.7 degrees east at an elevation of 1988 feet.
History of Bijapur

Bijapur was established in 10th or 11th century by the
Chalukyas of Kalyani. The name Bijapur is a derivative of the name 'Vijaypura 'or city of victory as it was originally called. Bijapur from the early era observed the rise and fall of
Yadavas of Devagiri,
Khalji dynasty in the 13th Century, the
Bahmani Sultanate,
Mughal dynasty,
Nizams of Hyderabad, the
Maratha Empire and the
British East India Company. After
Independence of India in 1947, it was briefly a part of
Mumbai (
Bombay Presidency) before being added to the state of Karnataka in 1956. Bijapur reached its greatest heights under the rulers of the
Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur, particularly,
Yusuf Adil Shah, the founder of the independent state of Bijapur.
Geography of Bijapur
Bijapur lies at the central part of
Deccan Plateau region with the latitudinal limit of 16.83 degree North to 75.7 degree East. The summers are usually
dry as well. The monsoon ushers in generally in the month of June and stays till October. The average annual
rainfall received is 552.8 mm.
Demography of Bijapur
The urban area of Bijapur has more than 3 lakh population. It was counted according to the Population Census 2011. The urban and rural population of the entire Bijapur district is more than 21 lakhs. The average literacy rate is 84 percent.
Education in Bijapur
Bijapur is known for its high literacy rate. This fact is apparent from the host of educational institutes that are scattered in the city of Bijapur. Besides the usual schools and colleges, there are engineering colleges and medical colleges. There are a number of
Ayurvedic and Allopathic medical colleges here. Besides these an educational institute for
Unani medicine is also to be found here.
Tourism in Bijapur
Bijapur offers a number of places of tourist attractions. Some of the tourist attractions here are the
Gol Gumbaz, the tomb of the ruler Mohammad Adil Shah; Asar Mahal, Gagan Mahal, Anand Mahal, Saat Manzli, Jhanjiri Masjid, Andu Mosque, Mecca Masjid,
Ibrahim Rauza, King Edward VII Memorial, Malik-e-Maidan, Upli Buruj, Chand Bawdi, Saat Kabar,
Jami Masjid, Jod Gumbaz, Jala Manzil, Landa Kasab Gun, Mehatar Mahal, Landa Kasab, Hathi Khana and Chini Mahal. The ruins of the
ancient fort here, built by the Adil Shahis, are also a sight to behold here.
Visiting Information
Bijapur is connected with
roadways,
railways and
airways. The nearest airport is
Belgaum (205 kms). Bijapur is connected by rail to Bengaluru, Mumbai, (via Sholapur), Sholapur (via
Gadag) and
Vasco da Gama(via
Hubli and Londa). The buses of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation ply from Bijapur to Badami, Bengaluru,
Belgaum District, Hubli and Sholapur. Bijapur is connected by road to-
Aihole (129 kms), Mumbai (486 kms), Badami(132 kms),
Hampi (254 kms),
Bengaluru (81 kms),
Pattadakal (148 kms) and Belgaum (205 kms).
(Last Updated on : 29/05/2017)