Karnataka - Bijapur   

Gagan Mahal gets a facelift

relic of the past: A view of the Gagan Mahal, an Adil Shahi monument in Bijapur, which has been renovated by the Archaeological Survey India.

BIJAPUR: Gagan Mahal, one of the most majestic buildings of the Adil Shahi era, has got a facelift, thanks to a major conservation work taken up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The building, constructed in the second half of the 16th century by Ali Adil Shah, once served as a durbar hall.

As the name suggests, Gagan (sky) Mahal is a high-rise building, situated in the heart of Bijapur city on an area of 124 ft x 82 ft.

Its roof, floor and side galleries were ruined long ago. However, its walls, pillars and arches are intact. The huge arch in the front portion gives it a majestic look. The bottom width of the central arch is 60 feet, nine inches with an amazing height. “This is the tallest and broad arch built by the Adil Shahis,” said H.G. Daddi, a researcher and writer of a book on Adil Shahi monuments.

The remains of the structure almost collapsed with most of the walls caving in, including a part of main arch. However, the Archaeological Department took steps to plaster the walls. According to Somla Naik, senior conservation officer with the ASI, plastering was done to give the wall an ancient look. Moreover, no modern day bonding material such as cement concrete was used. Instead, a mix of limestone, sand, jaggery, bale-fruit and jute and brick pieces was used as bonding agent as it was done in the times of the Adil Shahis. This would enhance the life of the building at least by 100 years, Mr. Naik said. The lush green lawn maintained by the department has enhanced the beauty of the monument which stood testimony to several historical events. It is the same place where Sikandar Ali Shah was produced before Moghul emperor Aurangzeb after the latter conquered the Adil Shahi kingdom in 1689. History has it that Sikandar Ali Shah was then shackled in a silver chain. Also, Gagan Mahal is where Afzal Khan, a high-profile brigadier in the Adil Shahi Army, vowed to capture Chatrapati Shivaji, a Maratha king, dead or alive. However, he was lured into a trap laid by the Maratha king. Specifically for this reason, tourists visiting Bijapur, especially those from Maharashtra, do not leave without visiting Gagan Mahal.

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