Bijapur Fort

Bijapur, Karnataka, India

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Bijapur Fort, also known as Vijayapura Fort, is a grand 16th-century fortress built by Yusuf Adil Shah, founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty, and further developed by his successors in Karnataka, India.

It is known for its robust architecture featuring two concentric circles of fortification with 96 bastions of varied designs and massive protective walls, surrounded by a 50-foot-wide moat. The fort has five main gates including the Fateh, Allahpur, Bahmani, Shahapur, and Makka gates.

Inside, it houses majestic structures such as the Gagan Mahal palace, the tomb of Ali Rauza (Barakaman), the Jumma Masjid mosque, Jal Mahal, Mehtar Mahal, and the Malik-i-Maidan, which is one of the largest cannons in the world.

The fort's architectural style is a synthesis of Turkish, Persian, and local influences, often called the Agra of South India due to its magnificent domes and monuments. It was a major military, administrative, and cultural center during the Adil Shahi reign before it fell to the Mughals and later rulers.