Design Resource
Monuments of Bijapur
Ancient Masterpiece - Karnataka
by
Prof. Bibhudutta Baral,Divyadarshan C. S. and Lija M. G.
Jamia Masjid
The unique feature in this masjid is the Quran written in gold at the Masjid’s mehrab. This masjid is generally located in the south east part of the city which spreads over an area of about 10,810 square meters. The mosque building is in the shape of rectangle with 170 meters X 70 meters with a large courtyard with a water tank, along with the small sitting arrangements on two sides of the water tank. Where the person who practices the Islamic religion cleans his own feet, hands and face before reading/ listening to the Quran reading at the masjid.
At the front it represents with nine large arches with five inner arches of 45 compartments. It was built around in the year 1565 without full completion, this masjid is a prayer hall with fine aisles supported on piers with an impressive dome in the frontage with nine inlets. It is also very interesting to see the 2250 inlaid rectangular tiles in the form of prayer rugs in the masjid with the dome in semicircular shape. It is said in the year 1636 the mosque was gilded and inscribed with Persian verses and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb got the mosque extended with eastern gates and verandahs to the east, south and the north. It is also known as Jami masjid or Jumma masjid, it is one of the largest and first constructed mosque of Bijapur built during the rule of Ali Adil Shah who acquired the land after conquering Ramaraja of Vijayanagar.
It was built to celebrate the Talikote victory and is one of the cost impressive and sublimity built by Ali Adil Shahi with a biocast door and 33 designer windows to the east. It has about 2250 grand arches. Many Quraan Slokas with beautiful designs of about 91000 sq. ft. Liger Kaman called Aurangzeb Gate.
