Saturday, March 25, 2017

UnExplored Gulbarga


Gulbarga, or Kalburgi as it is now known, is famous for its historical buildings. The fort, tombs and shrines show influence of the Nizami dynasty and Islamic art and the most prominent amongst them are the Bahmani Fort, Chor Gumbad and Jumma Masjid. 


Gulbarga is also home to a number of places of religious importance like the Khwaja Banda Nawaz Dargah, Sharanabasaveshwar Temple, Buddha Vihar and Sheikh Roza Dargah, which are visited by lakhs of people every year. The nearby Chandrampalli Dam is very popular for trekking and campaing

I visited Gulbarga on my way back from Gandikota. I knew that there’s so much to see which is always fascinated me. 
We reached at around 7 PM in the evening and straight we checked into the Mathura Hotel which was surprisingly very good. The rooms were quite huge and comfortable. 
We had a dinner at a restaurant which is just below the hotel and the food was superb. 

So we had next full day to explore, so after dinner we went to sleep to ensure we enjoy the next day.
First in the morning we wanted to visit the The Haft Gumbaz Tomb.

Haft Gumbaz Tomb:
Haft Gumbaz also known as Saat (Seven) Gumbaz because it has seven tombs of the rulers and military commanders of the Bahmani Kingdom (14th – 15th Century AD). It is situated on the eastern end of the Gulbarga town.


This structure was the part of the tripartite of Bijapur, Gulbarga and Bidar.

There is a small gate through which one can go in the complex. 
There was a helper/guide in the venue and he guided us with the entire tour of this monument.  The guide took us one by one to the tombs of the sultans. The whole premise was grotesquely secluded and the wind was gusting forth lending great whiffs to our hair every now and then. Nice lawns have been setup inside which adds the beauty to the tombs. All of the tombs are lined from entrance. As I glanced through a couple of them, I did not notice any inner decorations but the outer structure of a couple are good.

It was so high at times that the massive wooden doors were automatically opening and closing and the signboards containing the names of the successive sultans whose bodies were interred were shaking miserably.

You could spend an entire day just sitting under the shade of the walls that seem to touch the sky, or walk around exploring the many mini-palaces inside. 




Buddha Vihar:

This venue is bit far from the city but if you have a car it is easy to visit. 
Its Located around six kilometres away from Gulbarga, adjacent to the Gulbarga University campus, the Buddha Vihar complex has been constructed in conformity with traditional Buddhist architecture. The imposing domed structure on elevated ground reminds one of the Taj Mahal.
But there are basic differences between the two. While the Taj is a white marble wonder, the Vihar’s dome is an RCC structure covered with Italian white marble chips. The Vihar blends the best of the architectural features of Buddhist centres of Sanchi, Saranath, Ajanta and Nagpur
Photography is NOT allowed in the venue and there is nothing much to do around apart from just visiting the place. 

Gautama is the primary figure in Buddhism. He is recognized by Buddhists as an enlightened teacher who attained full Buddhahood, and shared his insights to help sentient beings end rebirth and suffering. 
Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition and first committed to writing about 400 years later.

Gulbarga Fort:
Nothing spectacular except perhaps the fort area, which holds a small settlement inside.
The fort would have been one of the best in the country had it been looked into and cared by the local civic authorities, nonetheless the structure can be admired here


There is a Masjid inside the fort which is said to have a view of all the pillars from any direction.
Gulbarga Fort is recognized as a national monument by the Archaeological Society of India and are looked after by The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Remains Act of 1958.


I would NOT recommend visiting the fort as there are plenty of people who have settled there and the place is now ruined. The place  smells like shit as people use it like a toilet. 





Getting There: Gulbarga is accessible by road and rail. There are many buses and trains to Gulbarga every day. I suggest use your own transport which helps in communicating as it is very dusty


Go if: You like history, want to experience life in towns, need a break from urban living and are the ‘I like local foods when I travel’ types.


You can always find more photos @ KhatriSuperShots & WittyTravel

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