Of shapes & sounds

Built in 1656, Gol Gumbadh, situated in Bijapur, north Karnataka, is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah, the Sultan of Bijapur. It is a most striking and grand royal tomb, some even call it the Taj Mahal of South India. The dome is the second largest in the world, with a diameter of 600 ft, next only to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It has seven floors and its gallery is an acoustic marvel, called the Whispering Gallery. A civil engineering marvel, the echo system reflects any sound over 11 times with even the faintest tick clearly audible within the vast dome. This imposing structure is a testimony to the impeccable engineering skills of Deccan Indo-Islamic and Dravidian lineage.