Gol Gumbaz

Design Resource

Monuments of Bijapur

Ancient Masterpiece - Karnataka

Prof. Bibhudutta Baral,Divyadarshan C. S. and Lija M. G.

Gol Gumbaz

Gol Gumbaz which is popular in the Bijapur area is by itself very famously known as round dome or a roof top in a rounded shape. It is known as the tomb (mausoleum) of the ruler Muhammad Adil Shah II who lived in the year (1627-57 AD) and generally known as the seventh Sultan of Bijapur of the Adil Shahi dynasty of the 17^th century.

This mausoleum covers an area of about 15,000 sq.ft with an external diameter of 144 sq.ft and inner part generally referred to as the architectural wonders of the world, with an internal diameter of 37.92m. The construction of this was done between the years 1626 to 1656. Gol Gumbaz is one of the mausoleum masterpiece of Islamic architecture with a huge proportions of the architectural summit of Adil Shahi dynasty. The floor area is covered with about 1703.56 m²almost the major under any domed building in the world.

It is in one of the artistic manner in which the hemispherical dome has been built on a square base. This dome structure is supported by a system of eight interlocking pendentives with massive brick dome that bears the load of the dome. Though the domes are repeatedly raised on the square bases system of interlocking pendentives that are present here is very unique.

It is generally known as a whispering gallery around the base of the tomb that gain access through the winding staircases in the four corner towers. At present only two towers are used as the passage one used as the entrance of Gol Gumbaz and the other as they exist passage where the people move through to experience the echoing effect. Due to its acoustical properties the feeblest sound made at one end of the Gol Gumbaz can be heard at the other end with echoes of 10-20 times with vibrations for 26 seconds( eleven times) that the building has the longest vibrations count of any building.

It is said on the platform in the centre of the tomb space are the tombstones of Muhammad Adil Shah with his two wives, son, daughter, his mistress the dancing girl Rambha and grandson which are located in the real graves of the cellar below. Gol Gumbaz also houses mosque Naqqar Khana, gateway and a Dharamshala, the building opposite to Gol Gumbaz has been turned into a gallery which contains the history about Adil Shah dynasty that constructed the Gol Gumbaz. It usually consists of consistent of concrete reinforced with bricks of a thickness of 10 inches with a fine piece of Islamic architectural style design as per the Persian style. This monument has four with seven storeyed towers at the corner with each of unique whispering gallery.

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Monuments of Bijapur