Knowledge about historical monuments of India Part – 25 THE GOL GUMBAZ

 Knowledge about historical monuments of India

Part – 25

THE GOL GUMBAZ

Gol Gumbaz is a 17th-century mausoleum in Bijapur, Karnataka, India. It is the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah, the seventh sultan of the Adil Shahi dynasty.

● Features:

■ Size

The Gol Gumbaz is a cubical structure with a hemispherical dome that is nearly 50 meters on each side. It has the second largest dome in the world, after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

■ Whispering gallery

The Gol Gumbaz has a whispering gallery that runs around the inner periphery of the dome. Sounds made in the gallery echo more than seven times.

■ Architecture

The Gol Gumbaz is an example of Adil Shahi architecture. It is made of basalt and decorated with plasterwork.

■ Minaret

The Gol Gumbaz has four seven-storeyed octagonal minarets at each corner. Each minaret has an internal staircase that leads to the parapeted arcades around the dome.

● History:

The Gol Gumbaz was built in the mid-17th century.

The Gol Gumbaz is also known as the “Black Taj Mahal” or the “Taj Mahal of South India”.

The Gol Gumbaz is part of a walled complex that includes a mosque, a rest house, and the Naqqar Khana.

● Location:

The Gol Gumbaz is located in Jadar Galli, Vijayapura, Karnataka 586104.