Karnataka
Kalaburagi: Explore The Largest City In North Karnataka!
Kalaburagi was formerly known as Gulbarga. The name itself refers to the city’s legacy of Islamic art. There was once great prosperity in this historic city, which is now a part of the Indian state of Karnataka. The area is well-known throughout the nation for having a large number of historic forts, mausoleums, and other structures.
Intricate works by numerous Islamic artists, particularly the Sufi saint Syed Shah Qhabulullah Husayni, are also depicted in these architectural wonders. Sultan Firoz Shah Bahmani’s tomb is the epitome of Islamic art. Below we have listed a few best places to visit in Kalaburagi.
The impressive Gulbarga Fort or Bahmani Fort has a mosque that is similar to Cordoba Mosque in Spain. Today, the city is home to a large number of temples that draw visitors from all over the nation.
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Gulbarga Fort
Gulbarga Fort, which was built by Raja Gulchand of Warangal, was later fortified by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah, the ruler of the Bahmani dynasty. The fort, which is 20 acres in size and has a 3 km circumference, features a double fortification with a 30 ft moat in the middle, and it is built in a style that combines West Asian and European military architecture.
There are about 26 guns on the fort’s 15 bastions. A cannon is about 25 feet long. From the 14th to the 16th century, the Bahmani Sultans ruled Kalaburagi the longest. This is also one of the best places to visit in Kalaburagi
Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah
One of the most popular places to visit in Kalaburagi is the mausoleum of Khwaja Banda Nawaz, a Sufi saint of the Chishti order. The Dargah was constructed using Indo-Saracenic architecture. Iranian, Turkish, and Bahamian architecture are all influences on the domes, arches, and walls.
The Dargah was constructed in the 14th century and houses writings and manuscripts from that era. The mosque’s structure combines Persian and Indian architectural elements, and it houses a library with more than 10,000 books.
The books, which are of great importance, are primarily written in Urdu, Arabic, and Persian. One can explore this for a maximum of 2 hours. Dargah’s timing is from 8 am to 6 pm.
Sri Kshetra Ganagapur
The Shri Kshetra Ganagapur, Karnataka, is a paradise for devout Hindus and those who advocate for peace and enlightenment. Dattatreya, the universal Guru avatar, used to wander around this area as a common alms seeker, blessing anyone he deemed worthy.
Dattatreya is said to have three faces because he was the product of the three lords. He vanished in the woods one day and is thought to have reincarnated as Shri Nrusimha Swamy years later.
Manyakheta
The historical site Manyakheta, now known as Malkhed, is located on the left bank of the Kagina River, a tributary of the Bhima River, about 40 kilometres southeast of Gulbarga. It is also thought to have served as the seat of the Rashtrakuta kings.
The ruins of a fort with four entrances and 52 bastions can still be seen in Malkhed today. There is also a historic Mallinatha Basadi in the community, which is made up of a garbhagriha, a navaranga, and a Hazara.
This Mallinatha Basadi contains 59 manuscripts written in languages such as Prakrit, Sanskrit, and Kannada. There are also two temples here, the Ishwara Temple and the Hanumanta Temple. A Jumma Masjid and a few dargahs can be found in the fort.
Sharana Basaveshwara Temple
The famous Hindu philosopher and Lingayat Saint Sharan Basaveshwara, also known as Sabhamandapa, constructed the Sharan Basaveshwara Temple in the 12th century. The temple was constructed in a unique style that sets it apart from other 12th-century temples in the area.
The artistry of the construction is evident in the temple’s numerous stone-carved pillars, towers, flowers, elephants, and garuda on the walls. The temple is open from 9 am to 6 pm.
Buddha Vihar Kalaburagi
Within Gulbarga University, there is a Buddhist pilgrimage site known as Buddha Vihar. It was built in the traditional Indian Buddhist architectural styles and serves as a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site. The Vihar is situated in Gulbarga, also known as Kalaburagi in popular culture.
Buddha Vihar, which was formally opened by the Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of Tibet, stands as a shrine honouring nonviolence and global peace. Remember that the website is unavailable daily from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m.
Chandrampalli Dam
One of the main dams constructed on the Bhima River’s bed in 1973 is the Chandrampalli dam. The dam is encircled by Gotham Gotdense ta’s forests. There is an island on the Dam that is popular with tourists and other visitors.
The Dam measures 926 metres in length and 28.65 metres in height. The stunning scenery of the two mountains connected by the Dam complements the town’s pleasant weather. Due to the numerous opportunities for camping and trekking, the area has gained popularity.
The Chandrampalli dam is made of clay, sand, and other materials because it is an earthen structure. Six spillway gates can be found at the southern end of the dam.
The Haft Gumbaz Tomb
Haft Gumbaz is also recognised as Saat (Seven) Gumbaz due to the presence of seven tombs of Bahmani Kingdom rulers and military commanders. Haft is the Parsi word for seven. The tombs are constructed with tall domes in the Tughlaq architectural style.
They were built with the aid of stones. The best tomb has curved designs all around it and is devoted to Sultan Mujahid Shah. Visitors are not permitted inside the actual tombs, but they are welcome to explore the exterior building.
There is a serene aura. Haft Gumbaz is the ideal place to spend a peaceful evening while reflecting on life and admiring Persian-style architecture.
Dattatreya Temple
The Shri Nrusimha charan paduka can be found in the Dattatreya temple. Devotees come here to find inner peace and cures for their various ailments. The temple commemorates the time when the gods themselves intervened to provide devout Hindus with a path to enlightenment under the guidance of the most accomplished teachers imaginable.
Dattatreya is considered Trimurti, or the human articulation of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and is believed to be the absolute epitome of the holiest of all deities.
Shri Chandranatha Swamy Basadi
Shri Chandranatha Swamy Basadi is regarded as an ideal location for those seeking to meditate in a serene setting. Every day, a large number of devotees come to this temple to pray to Chandranatha Swamy.
Visitors would have the opportunity to see stunning stone sculptures and carvings once they arrived at the location. The temple is revered as Digambara’s most important shrine. Its structure includes a house with a tiled roof that is dedicated to the four Devatas.
Devotees can tour the Chandranatha Swamy Temple between the hours of 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm and from 6 am to 2 pm.
Best Time To Visit Kalaburagi
The ideal time to go to Kalaburagi District is from October to January. The city is currently in its winter season. After the monsoon rains, the weather will be cheerful and crisp. In November, the well-known Urs Festival is held, drawing travellers and pilgrims from all over the nation. A good time to go to Kalaburagi is in the early summer. Even though it’s dry, the weather from January to March is pleasant enough for you to enjoy exploring the city’s many points of interest. From October to March, temperatures range from 3-31 °C.
How To Reach Kalaburagi?
Kalaburagi can be reached via various transportation modes such as by air, by road, or by train.
By Air: Kalaburagi Airport currently runs flights to Bengaluru. The distance between the city centre and the airport is 12 km. Hyderabad, which is nearly 220 km away from Kalaburagi, is home to the closest international airport i.e., Rajiv Gandhi International Terminal which takes about three and a half hours of road travel.
By Train: Through several regular trains, Kalaburagi city is well connected to all important Indian cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Agra, Bhopal, Chennai, etc.
By Road: The road system connecting Kalaburagi City to other significant cities is well-connected and kept up. From nearby cities like Hyderabad, Solapur, Pune, Mumbai, Bijapur, Bangalore, and Bidar, there are frequent bus services.
Numerous buses are operated by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) from Kalaburagi to numerous locations throughout the state of Karnataka and vice versa. Many of the buses connecting these cities via Kalaburagi are operated by privately owned bus companies like VRL Travels, SRS Travels, Pooja Travels, etc.
Conclusion
Kalaburagi, an Indian state of Karnataka, is an ideal weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city works. The city was previously named Gulbarga. Gulbarga was renamed Kalaburagi, which refers to the well-known Bahmani Fort, the centre of which the modern city grew. Kalaburagi means “land of stone forts.” The people of Kalaburagi are called Gulbargians, and are predominately Hindus, closely followed by Muslims.
The official language of Kalaburagi is Kannada. Urdu, Marathi, and English are also well-understood languages. If you visit there, definitely try the authentic cuisines of Kalaburagi as they are very unique and spicy. Jolada roti and Tahaari are two signature dishes and Hoorana Holige and Malpuri are two kinds of dessert found only in the city. Kalaburagi is a very beautiful city for you to visit and explore the culture of the city.
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