The foundations of this historic city were laid during the reign of the Chalukyan dynasty of Kalyani between the tenth and eleventh centuries. They called it Vijayapura or the "City of Victory" from which comes its present name Bijapur.

Bijapur came under Muslim influence, first under Allaudin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, towards the end of the 13th century, and then under the Bahamani kings of Bidar in 1347.

In 1481, Mohammed III, one of the Bahamani Sultans, appointed Yusuf Adil Khan as the Governor of Bijapur. One of the sons of Sultan Mahmud II of Turkey. Yusuf Adil Khan fled his country on the death of his father, to escape the massacre of crown prince in the battle for succession to the throne. He was purchased as a slave by Mahmud Gavan, the Prime Minister of Mohammed III.
 

With the decline of the Bahamani power at Bidar, Yusuf declared his independence in 1489 and thus became the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty which survived as a kingdom till its annexation by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1686.

Bijapur experienced a great burst of architectural activity under the Adil Shahi dynasty. The Adil Shahis encouraged building activity to such an extent that Bijapur itself has over 50 mosques, more than 20 tombs and a number of palaces.

 An interesting feature was the employment of large numbers of Indian craftsmen . Earlier Muslim rulers of the Deccan deployed Persian craftsmen and architects.

Places of Interest

Gol-Gumbaz
Malik-e-Maidan
Jumma Masjid
Ibrahim Roza
Anand Mahal
Mehtar Mahal
Asar Mahal