Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c17.s1: The Bijapur Fort
Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c17.s1
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The Bijapur Fort
c17.s1.1
In the wake of the break up of the Bahamani Kingdom, Yusuf Ādil Shāh (1489-1510 A.D.), who was a Governor under the Bahamani Sultān Muhammed Shah II (1482-1515 A.D.) of Bidar, declared independence and founded a new dynasty of rulers in Bijāpur (Desai, P.B. et al., 1970, P.398), known as the Adil Shāhis. From the early part of the 16th century to the middle of 17th century, vigorous structural activity in Bijāpur resulted in the appearance of monuments of wonder and grandeur. A few of them are unique among the splendid architectural achievements in the world, such as the Gol-Gumbaz, the Bārākaman, the Jummā Masjid, the Sātmanzil, the Ibrahim Rouza etc. They have been now well known all the world over.
c17.s1.2
Like Kalyāṇa, the whole of Bijāpur area is a plain land with gradual undulations (Fig.68), Geologically it is of Deccan trap with varying thickness of the cover of black cotton soil. However, the soil cover in this area is not considerably thick that varies from 1 metre to 1½ metres.
c17.s1.3
Secondly, the Bijāpur area is in a depression like Kalyāne in Bīdar District. Even the massive high wall of the fort (10.80 m) round the city becomes visible only from close quarters at any point.