Information on Anand Mahal (Bijapur, Karnataka) - History & Architecture

Anand Mahal is regarded as one of the most important historical attractions of Bijapur city of Karnataka. Bijapur is a popular historical city of Karnataka and is considered as a treasure of Islamic architecture. It possess various famed memorials and one of them is Anand Mahal. It is situated at about 205 kilometre distance from Belgaum airport and about 530 kilometre towards the northwest side of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. Similar to other monuments which are situated in Bijapur, Anand Mahal is correspondingly popular for harmonious combination of present along with past architecture.

Anand Mahal Architecture

Anand Mahal is an overwhelming monument of Bijapur. It is bordered by flourishing gardens and have plentiful small waterfalls. The walls of Anand Mahal are designed quite well with huge rooms along with two large mansions, namely the central hall and frontal hall. The interiors of the fort are festooned with charming foliations which are regarded as key attraction for travellers.

Anand Mahal is a two storeyed building which was traditionally resided by females of the fort. Anand Mahal is also termed as the 'Palace of Delights' due to its beautiful decoration and eye pleasing architecture. At present, in the grounds areas of the palace, there are gymkhana club, an investigation centre, numerous agencies and residential lodgings of the assistant commissioner.

Anand Mahal History

Anand Mahal was established by Adil Shah II in the year 1589. It was basically created for providing accommodation to the ladies of the palace. Ibrahim Adil Shah II was the king of Bijapur during the period of 1556 to 1627. He was the affiliate of Adil Shahi family. Under his supremacy, Adil Shahi family has enjoyed greatest period, because he had extended the edge of his family quite far. He not only was a clever ruler but also a generous supporter of arts. He deteriorated Sunni Islamic group, but also stayed lenient towards other religious conviction. At the end of his supremacy, growing weaknesses allowed Mughal infringement and efficacious rebellion of Maratha king Shivaji. His family left a tradition of multi-ethnic culture and artistic aid whose architectural leftovers can be observed in Anand Mahal.

Adil Shah II attempted to establish harmony between different cultures and religions by way of music. He respected art form, played musical tools and composed admirations of Hindu divinities. During his reign, Adil Shah II took strong interest in Bijapur, due to its wealth and power along with the surrounding territories. Under his rule, he has added grandeur to the capital, i.e. Bijapur. Among various additions, Anand Mahal was one important grandeur for Bijapur. He started construction of Anand Mahal in the year 1859, but remained incomplete during the time of death. Furthermore, its design was also debilitated by later additions of other rulers. Later, the government of Karnataka has developed the fort and it became a popular place for tourist visit.

Anand Mahal Tourism Importance

Nowadays, Anand Mahal is counted as an attractive construction in Bijapur. With its lovely gardens and cascades it attracts various tourists. Due to the magnificent structure along with majestic interiors and exteriors, Anand Mahal has great significance as tourism place. Furthermore, Anand Mahal has rich historical significance in relation with its creator and other developers which makes it an interesting place for holiday visit. So don't miss the opportunity to witness the marvel and the splendid architectural beauty that Anand Mahal preserves amid the harsh climatic conditions over the years and stands with pride even today to depict the glorious past.