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Gol Gumbaz also known as Gol Gummata is the catacomb of Muhammad Adil Shah II (1627-57) of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Indian sultans. The tomb is located in the district of Bijapur, which forms the part of the south Indian state of Karnataka. The monument stands as one of the edifice entirely built in Indo-Islamic architectural style and is also known for its dimensions and matchless features. The mausoleum consists of a mosque, a dharamshala, a Naqqar Khana and a gateway, within its area.
The tomb is spread over an area of about 1703.56 sq m. The establishment of the structure has been made on bedrock and the edifice is created out of dark grey basalt and plaster. The walls of the building are about 3 m thick and 30.5 m high having, dome situated at the top of the structure, just in the center.
This ancient historical monument is positioned just at a drive of 2 km from the district of Bijapur in the state of Karnataka. The construction of the building started off by Adil Shah himself, soon after the rise of his throne in the year 1626 in order to have his mortals buried here in the territory. However, the construction of this building was completed in the year 1656, soon after his demise. Gol Gumbaz also holds the tombs of Muhammad Adil Shah, his wives, daughters and other family members.
This cubicle shaped mausoleum is consists of three blind arches each on all sides and the middle arches are wider than the others and are adorned with wooden panels, having a small rectangular opening. There is another attraction of biji patthar (meteorite) hanging with a chain from above, at the main doorway which stands at the southern side.
The building is still incomplete and has plain cubes on each corner. The towers which envelopes the structure are divided into seven floors with arches that renders the distinction between each floor. The most interesting part in the tomb is the gallery which is there at around the base of the tomb and can be reached via any of the four towers that are erected at the corners of the tomb. This gallery is called as the whispering gallery for the reason that even the slightest voice or whisper made in the area is carried forward to the exterior of the gallery. The echoes of the voice are happened to take place 11 times with its decreasing pitches. The Gol Gumbaz stands as the second largest dome in the world and the second largest sole chamber structure in the world after the Pantheon of Rome.
The best time to visit the spot is in the month of September till March as during these months weather is pleasant making travelers to travel with comfort. The visiting timings of the Gol Gumbaz are between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm and it is closed on Fridays.