The Mystery of the Whispering Gallery of Gol Gumbaz

Gol Gumbaz

Gol Gumbaz

Gol Gumbaz

It was quite a sultry afternoon and I wiped my face for the hundredth time as I walked on the streets of Bijapur (The city has now been renamed as Vijapura), a small city which is situated about 530 Kilometers from Bangalore, the capital city of the Southern Indian state of Karnataka. Bijapur is famous for its beautiful monuments like Gol Gumbaz built in the Islamic architectural style during the reign of the Adil Shahi dynasty. Bijapur was also the home of Chand Bibi, the brave Muslim woman warrior who later moved to Ahmednagar and is famous for defending the city of Ahmednagar against the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar in the sixteenth century.

I had just finished my lunch which consisted of some of the local specialties which included Jowar Roti, bread or pancakes made of White Millet, Enne-Gai, Eggplants stuffed with ground peanuts and spices including ginger, garlic, chilies, etc., The food had been a treat for the palate, though bordering on the outer limits of the “Spice-O-Meter”!

I should have taken an auto-rickshaw (Tuk tuk), I thought, as I wiped the sweat from my brow, yet again. But I always like to walk around the new places that I visit, just to soak in the atmosphere of the place, but in this case, a heavy lunch followed by a walk in the sun was probably not one of my wisest decisions. I kept wondering where is Gol Gumbaz? I was in Bijapur to know more about Gol Gumbaz and gather information about Gol Gumbaz.

But as I turned the corner, the view of the magnificent Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur ensured that all the questions that were sprouting like weeds in my mind just melted away and were replaced by a simple sense of awe. I gazed and gazed at the imposing structure, my only reason for coming to Bijapur.

Gol Gumbaz Facts

Gol Gumbaz literally means ‘Circular Dome’. A look at the history of Gol Gumbaz reveals that it is the mausoleum of Sultan Mohammed Adil Shah who once ruled the city of Bijapur. The mausoleum was built in the year 1656 by an architect named Yaqut who ostensibly hailed from a place called Dabul, also known as Dabhol, a small seaport town in Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra, India.

Gol Gumbaz

Gol Gumbaz architecture is unique. It stands majestically, as an ode to the symmetry and elegance of Islamic architecture, it bears the hallmark of the Islamic style of architecture in its overall structure, the dome, the minarets, and semi-circular doorways, etc.. But what really makes this structure unique are:

  • The central dome of the Gol Gumbaz has a diameter of 44 meters, making it the second-largest dome in the world after the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican . Another remarkable feature of the dome is that it stands proudly without the support of pillars!
  • The inside of the mausoleum has a chamber which has an area of 1,700 Sq./meters, making it one of the biggest single chamber spaces in the world
  • Inside the mausoleum is a circular gallery, right below the tomb, this is known as the whispering gallery, the unique structure is built in such a way that a small whisper gets amplified and is carried across a distance of more than 40 meters in the vast dome and can be heard clearly. Another remarkable feature is that any sound made inside is echoed back 7 to 10 times!

Watch this video to get a feel of how it looks from outside. Gol Gumbaz images come alive in this video. (Courtesy: geobeats)

India Travel Attractions – Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur

Take a tour of Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur, India — part of the World’s Greatest Attractions series by GeoBeats. This massive domed structure is one of the most v…

Experiencing the Gol Gumbaz Whispering Gallery

After negotiating a steep staircase of hundred-odd steps, I stepped into the Whispering Gallery. By a stroke of luck or because of my Karma or just because of the sweltering heat, the gallery was virtually empty, barring a group of students which included a guitar-toting young man with a rock star kind of hairdo.

Gol Gumbaz

I entered the whispering gallery which was in a semi-darkness with beams of light periodically piercing the curtain of darkness. I stood and looked all around and was enveloped by an eerie feeling, as I stood alone inside the vast dome enveloped in semi-darkness. I looked across the other side of the gallery and saw the group of students sitting down on a ledge, at a distance of approximately 40 meters from where I stood. As I turned, I froze in my tracks as I heard a piercing, shrill laughter, besides me, I quickly turned and realized that there was no one near me, I looked across at the students as the devilish laughter continued echoing around the dome to finally die down as horrendously as it had begun. I could see the devilish grin on one of the girls in the group that sat 40 meters away as I realized that this had been my bizarre introduction to the Whispering gallery.

Experience the mystery of the whispering gallery in this video. (Courtesy: Me…yeah ME!)

Whispering Gallery, Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur, Karnataka

This video is part of the Jinkchak “The Rocks of Time” trilogy. The clips in this video were created and edited by The 21st Century Me…yeah ME! Production …

I smiled to myself and said, “Hello”, softly, “Hello”, “Hello”, “Hello”,”Hello”, “Hello”,”Hello”…….., the words echoed throughout the dome as they emerged from my mouth and flew across the huge gallery, finally passing me to slowly die down. As I prepared to let forth another volley of syllables with childish glee, the strains of a guitar assailed my ears. I saw the young man with the rock star hairdo, strumming his guitar and singing in a rich baritone. He sang reasonably well and his guitar too made fairly good music. But the acoustics of the Mausoleum elevated him to the stature of a real rock star. The music seemed to transcend all limits of space and time as it echoed through the dome, creating a kaleidoscopic effect, which literally mesmerized me. No sound technology or Sound engineer would probably be able to duplicate the kind of sound effect that emanated from the semi-darkness of the whispering gallery inside the Gol Gumbaz, that day. The music went on and on and time seemed to have stood still as I immersed myself completely into this wonderful and uplifting experience. The loud ticking of a watch brought me back from my reverie and I realized that the music had stopped, I looked at my wrist, and realized that I was not wearing a watch! The ‘tick’, tick’, ‘tick’, was coming from a watch that someone was wearing in the group of students who stood at the other side of the dome, at a distance of 40 meters!

In a daze, I walked out of the Whispering Gallery, stopping at the doorway, to have one last glance at this amazing and mysterious place. The place was now totally empty as the group of students had left a few minutes back. The emptiness of the vast space added to its aura of eeriness, and as I turned away, I thought or imagined a soft whisper, building inside the dome, “Come back”, “Come back”, “Come back”, “Come back”, “Come back”, “Come back”, “Come back”,………….

How to get to Bijapur

  • You can travel by road or rail from Bangalore to Bijapur. It is at a distance of about 530 Kilometers
  • You can also reach Bijapur from Mumbai by covering a distance of about 497 Kilometers by road or rail
  • Belgaum at a distance of about 214 kilometers, is the nearest airport and is covered by a limited number of domestic flights

Vijayapura, Karnataka 586101

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

If you are looking to visit the Qutub Minar in Delhi, India then you can book a cheap flight through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline right here. You can fly to Bangalore or Hyderabad or Belgaum or travel to Belgaum by road from a city near it. Some of the options to reach Belgaum or Bijapur could be by self-drive car or cab or bus.

Where to Stay in Bijapur

One can book hotels through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline and save a lot by getting the best savings on booking your stay.

Click to book the best hotels in Bijapur

Where to Eat in Bijapur

  • For food too, you will not have too many options. But I recommend you go for the local food as described in the earlier part of this post, you can eat either in Madhuvan International, which is a favorite amongst locals or settle for the more well-known brand, Kamath Restaurant

Jowar Roti, Gol Gumbaz  Eggplant curry, Gol Gumbaz

Order food online: Faasos, Firangi Bake, Pizza Hut, Swiggy, Oven Story, Dominos

Driving Around Bijapur, India

Places to visit in Bijapur are many. If you have a valid Indian driving license then you could rent a self-drive car.

Planning a tour to Bijapur – Best things to do in Bijapur

Bijapur points of interest and attractions are many and if you are trying to decide on what to see in Bijapur or what to do in Bijapur, then look no further. Bijapur attraction tour packages are available for the most recommended Bijapur tours. You can now book tours in Bijapur as well as activities in Bijapur.

Click here to know more and book Best Attractions and Activities in Bijapur

Tips for a great experience in Gol Gumbaz

  • The monument is open from 10 AM to 5 PM on all days except Fridays, make sure to go there early and preferably on weekdays to avoid crowds and really enjoy your whispering gallery experience
  • The best season to visit is winter as it can get pretty hot from March to June. Nothing like it if you can get there between September to February

Attractions in Bijapur other than Gol Gumbaz

Ibrahim Rauza

Ibrahim Rauza, Bijapur Gol Gumbaz

This is another piece of poetry in stone that you will love in Bijapur. It consists of a mosque and tomb, built in the finest of Islamic architectural styles and flanked by green, lush gardens. The symmetrical perfection of the structures, that were built in the 15th century is said to have inspired the Taj Mahal, that was built later in the 17th century.

Mehtar Mahal

Mehtar Mahal, Bijapur Gol Gumbaz

This is a beautiful gateway which leads to an exquisite mosque and garden. It was built in 1620 AD and is also known as the ‘Sweepers Palace’. The gate blends elements of the Hindu and Islamic architectural styles.

Jumma Masjid

Jumma Masjid, Bijapur Gol Gumbaz

This is a mosque again standing as an outstanding example of Islamic architecture. The mosque is quite huge and grandiose. The arches are symmetrically built in a linear form and each dome has a different design on the inside.

BARA KAMAN

Gol Gumbaz

This was supposed to be the Mausoleum for Ali Adil Shah and his wives, he wanted it to be an architectural wonder, par excellence. The plan was to build a structure with twelve arches on the vertical plane and twelve arches on the horizontal plane which would surround the tomb. Sadly the structure never saw the light of day and only two vertical arches stand as silent testimony to the royal intrigues of the Adil Shahi dynasty. It is believed that once completed the Bara Kaman would have cast its shadow on the Gol Gumbaz at a distance of 4 Kilometers and hence the structure never took shape. Some accounts also suggest that Ali Adil Shah was murdered by his own father Mohammed Adil Shah to ensure that the Bara Kaman would not rise from the ground to surpass the glory of his very own Gol Gumbaz.

It was indeed a unique experience for me in Bijapur to know more about Gol Gumbaz’s story. If you too have been to similar places and had similar experiences, do whisper back to me through our comments section. For more Gol Gumbaz information, click here.

PinitThe Mystery of the Whispering Gallery of Gol Gumbaz

The Mystery of the Whispering Gallery of Gol Gumbaz

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85 thoughts on “The Mystery of the Whispering Gallery of Gol Gumbaz”

  1. Wow, what a stunning mausoleum.

    I’ve never heard of it, and that makes me want to go there even more.

    Thanks so much for sharing this little gem!

  2. The architecture is stunning! I would have wet myself if I had heard that laugh in the whispering gallery. I’m intrigued by the story of Chand Bibi. Will have to research her.

    1. Haha. The echo sound is really amusing! Chand Bibi played a greater role in Aurangabad. She defended Ahmednagar against the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar in 1595.

  3. I’d never even heard of Bijapur, let alone Gol Gumbaz. What an impressive building! I absolutely would love to visit, as I think Islamic architecture is some of the most beautiful architecture in the world. It seems like Bijapur has lots of other great attractions to see as well!

  4. Thanks a lot for sharing and the circular dome and architecture is magnificent.
    Makes me hesitate of a 10-hour car ride from Bangalore thought…. @ knycx.journeying

  5. Great post! India has so much to offer! I have never heard about Gol Gumbaz before but I plan on visiting the Maharastra area and I might include this in the trip as well!

  6. I’ve read many pieces from you, but this sounds like the coolest place yet. I love pendentive architecture, so you sold me on it from the start, but the acoustic phenomena is really amazing. I would love to spend some time experiencing it in such a beautiful, historical place.

  7. Your knowledge about architecture is really great. As an architect, I appreciate very much this post. The dome looks pretty big. If I didn’t read the article, just from the pictures I would had said that this monument is European. The corner towers look more medieval European that Indian. Congratulations for the post.

  8. The Circulatr dome is impressive, just like where most of the well known people from the past buried. So food trip will just be perfect after a tour inside the Gol Gumbaz.

  9. Everyday you learn new informations! I’ve personally never heard of this place before and quite frankly, the history is interesting. There’s so much to learn from this world alone and I’m so glad to get a chance to read such beautiful and detailed article about Gol Gumbaz!

  10. very cool! I love the multiple echoing in the whispering gallery. That really would freak me out but I think it would be the coolest thing ever. I might have a hard time getting them out of there!

  11. Your video brought chills to my spine. It’s truly otherworldly… like something from a sci-fi video. Wow! Thank you so much for sharing! All the buildings you mention are lovely, and make me want to go back to India immediately. Bravo! Case of wanderlust, spread! 😉

  12. I didn’t know about this. This is a very informative post and I will actually bookmark it because I am returning to India in November and this time heading South.

  13. Wow,the Gol Gumbaz looks like a beautiful place! I can imagine being freaked out the in Whispering Gallery, hearing all those noises! It would probably give me a headache! 😛

  14. Thank you for sharing this! The architecture is amazing, but more importantly, the way you describe the experience evokes a myriad of feelings. I felt myself at times, as if I were there, shadowing you, as you transcended time. Truly lovely piece!

  15. hey sandy and Vijay
    great article I have been to this place but after reading your article i do want to visit this place again.
    the way you defined each and very thing was beautiful.
    would be looking forward to more of your articles.
    kudos to your work.

    Thankyou

  16. As splendid as the gol gumbaz looks, so much fascinating is it’s story. Having been in Karnataka for almost a decade now, we haven’t got chance to explore north karnataka properly. Your writeup is inspiring us to do that..

  17. I love travelling, our family goes to new countries every year. India is definitely our next destination. I’ve been searching for information for our next trip and now reading your post, I think this seems like a” must- place to go”

  18. I had never heard of this place before! I love hearing about history and new places to potentially go visit and this is one of them! The architecture of the Gol Gombaz is amazing!

  19. I love the name Gol Gumbaz. I just feels good rolling off my tongue. I also loved the way you put me into the city, feeling the sweat dripping from my brow and wishing I had hailed a tuk tuk.

  20. I have heard a lot about Gol Gumbaz. I didn’t know that Bijapur has been renamed as Vijapura. Seems like a recent development. The eggplant dish sound much like the bhareli wangi of Maharashtra. The foodie that I am I love it when you get good food in destinations like this.

  21. What an incredibly magnificent building and a terrific article. Added to my list for sure. Never heard of it before and you wrote a beautiful tribute to it.

  22. India never fails to fascinate me. It’s so full of beauty and amazing structures. I didn’t know that the second largest dome in the world is in India! It’s so beautiful!!!

  23. This is not something I learned about in my architecture history class, so its fascinating to learn about it now! It rivals Brunelleschi’s dome in Florence and, as you say, the Vatican’s St Peters Basilica also. Can you recommend any books that have to do with the Islamic architecture in India?

  24. What a unique experience with beautiful architecture. Those 7-10 whispers back, sound amazing! I love all the insight you shared in regards to this beauty.

  25. Here is my whisper to you Sandy! I enjoyed every bit of this piece. It has been ages since I have visited Gol Gumbaz ( may be over a decade) and clearly remember running out of the upper dome not withstanding the shrill sounds and echoes of the crazy crowd. You are blessed to be there at the right time not to have many people to disturb the experience. The sounds in the video seem really eerie… eerie.. eerie.. eeire… eeire… eerie… 🙂

  26. Hey I watched your video and wow so you were not lying about all those larger than life echoes! Trust me I never thought Gol Gumbaz to be an interesting location but you have convinced me totally that I was stupid to think like that. The gumbaz even echoed the tick tick of the clock! Amazing. I am seriously speechless.

  27. Wow! That dome is truly impressive. I’ve seen St. Peter’s Basilica, so I can imagine the size. And the fact that it is supported without columns — truly amazing! Thanks for the informative post and beautiful photos!

  28. I am from India and I didn’t know much about Bajipur too until this post! The architecture truly looks majestic and your video is great too. There is so much history in our country it keeps surprising me from time to time. This one is surely on my list now!

  29. I’ve never heard of Chand Bibi before – it’d be great to learn more about her as female warriors are few and far between. Although that might just be in the history books, haha! I’ve never heard of Gol Gumbaz either, but reading about the acoustics reminded me of the ‘whispering wall’ near where I live which is a curved dam wall with similar acoustic properties. People stand on either side and any sound (or whisper) is clearly audible on the other side. I can only imagine how much more a dome would magnify this effect!

  30. There really is no shortage of incredible temples, mausoleums, and architecture in Southern India and I definitely missed this one on my travels to Bangalore. Thanks for the extra videos inside – the Whispering Gallery is really cool! Thanks again for having a very detailed and informative post.

  31. Wow!! Simply Wow!! I have never seen such an ellaborated post on any topic in my life. I have to visit no other webpage after i visited this one. I got complete information that i was searching for. Thanks a lot for such an amazing post.

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