View source for Bijapur

{{about|the city known officially as "Vijayapura"|the town|Vijayapura|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Bijapur
| other_name                      =
| native_name                     =
| native_name_lang                = 
| official_name                   = Vijayapura
| settlement_type                 = [[City]]
| image_skyline                   = Bijapur Montage.jpg
| image_alt                       = 
| image_caption                   = Clockwise from top: [[Gol Gumbaz]], [[Shivagiri|Shivagiri Monument]], [[Bara Kaman]], [[Jama Mosque, Bijapur|Jama Mosque]].
| nickname                        = City of victory
| image_map          =
{{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=y|type=shape-inverse|id=Q1185|frame-width=270|frame-height=350|frame-lat=15.04|frame-long=76.40|stroke-width=3|zoom=6|type2=point|coord2={{coord|16.83|N|75.71|E}}|marker-size2=medium}}
| map_alt                         = 
| map_caption                     = Vijayapura in Karnataka   
| pushpin_map                     = 
| pushpin_map_alt                 = 
| pushpin_map_caption             = 
| coordinates                     = {{coord|16.83|N|75.71|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1               = State
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of regions of India|Region]]
| subdivision_type3               = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Karnataka]]
| subdivision_name2               = 
| subdivision_name3               = [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Bijapur]]
| established_title               = <!-- Established -->
| established_date                = 10th-11th centuries
| founder                         = 
| named_for                       = 
| government_type                 = City Municipal Corporation
| governing_body                  = Vijayapura Mahanagara Palike (VMP)
| leader_title1                   = Commissioner
| leader_name1                    = Badruddin Saudagar
| unit_pref                       = Metric
| area_footnotes                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 102.38
| area_rank                       = 
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 592.23
| population_total                = 326,360
| population_metro                = 
| population_as_of                = 2011
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="Census2011"/>
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_rank                 = 9th (Karnataka)
| population_demonym              = Vijayapurian,Bijapuri
| blank_name        = {{nowrap|[[Official language]]}}
| blank_info        = [[Kannada]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |title=50th Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India (July 2012 to June 2013) |access-date=14 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date=8 July 2016}}</ref>
| timezone1                       = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1                     = +5:30
| postal_code_type                = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code                     = 586101-xxx109
| area_code                       = 08352
| area_code_type                  = Telephone code
| registration_plate              = KA-28
| website                         = {{URL|http://www.vijayapuracity.mrc.gov.in}}
| iso_code                        = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-KA]]
| footnotes                       = 
}}

'''Bijapur''' (officially '''Vijayapura'''<ref name="official_name">{{cite news |title=Bangalore becomes 'Bengaluru'; 11 other cities renamed |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bangalore-becomes-bengaluru-11-other-cities-renamed/articleshow/45002333.cms |work=The Economic Times |agency=PTI |date=1 November 2014 |location=Bangalore |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=113433 |title=Renaming of cities |date=16 December 2014 |access-date=5 August 2017 |agency=[[Press Information Bureau]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806061139/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=113433 |archive-date=6 August 2017}}</ref>) is the district headquarters of the [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Bijapur district]] of the [[Karnataka]] state of [[India]]. It is also the headquarters for [[Bijapur Taluk]]. Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of the [[Adil Shahi dynasty]]. It is also well known for the popular Karnataka premier league team, the [[Bijapur Bulls]]. Bijapur is located {{cvt|519|km}} northwest of the state capital [[Bangalore]] and about {{cvt|550|km}} from [[Mumbai]] and {{cvt|210|km}} north east of the city of [[Belgaum]].

The city was established in the 10th–11th centuries during the time of [[Kalyani Chalukyas]] and was known as ''Vijayapura'' (city of victory). The city was passed to [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Yadava]]s after Chalukya's demise. In 1347, the area was conquered by the [[Bahmani Sultanate]]. After the split of the Bahmani Sultanate, the [[Adil Shahi dynasty|Bijapur Sultanate]] ruled from the city. Relics of the Sultanates' rule can be found in the city, including the [[Bijapur Fort]], [[Bara Kaman]], [[Jama Mosque, Bijapur|Jama Masjid]], and [[Gol Gumbaz]].

Bijapur, one of the popular heritage cities in Karnataka, is also one of the top ten populated cities in Karnataka. Bijapur city was declared as one of the corporations in the state of Karnataka in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tumkur, Shimoga and Bijapur cities to be upgraded as Municipal Corporations |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/tumkur-shimoga-and-bijapur-cities-to-be-upgraded-as-municipal-corporations/article5085415.ece |access-date=1 April 2021 |work=The Hindu |date=2 September 2013 |language=en-IN}}</ref> Bijapur urban population as per [[2011 Census of India|2011 census]] was 326,000, perhaps the 9th biggest city in Karnataka. Vijayapura Mahanagara Palike (VMP) is the newest Municipal Corporation formed under the KMC act, along with [[Shimoga]] and [[Tumkur]] Municipal Corporations.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/Karnataka-could-see-more-city-corporations-based-on-2011-census-says-minister/articleshow/23217671.cms | title=Karnataka could see more city corporations based on 2011 census, says minister | first=Jaideep | last=Shenoy | date=28 September 2013 | newspaper=The Times of India | access-date=21 October 2018 }}</ref> Administratively, Bijapur district comes under [[Belgaum]] division, along with [[Bagalkote]], [[Belgaum]], [[Dharwad]], [[Gadag]], [[Haveri]] and [[Uttara Kannada]] (Karwar) districts.

Civic administration of the city is managed by the Bijapur City Corporation and office of Deputy Commissioner in Bijapur. The office of Deputy Commissioner has the responsibility for rural areas in Bijapur, while the corporation administers the city of Bijapur. Effective administration of the heritage city of Bijapur is the main purpose of the [[Vijayapura City Corporation]].

== History ==
[[File:Visapoer int ryck vanden Grooten Mogol en Indien - Peeters Jacob - 1690.jpg|thumb|"Visapoer", 1690<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1500_1599/bijapur/viewsearly/viewsearly.html|title=viewsearly|website=www.columbia.edu}}</ref>|left]]
[[File:Plan of Bijapur India 1911.jpg|thumb|300px|Plan of Bijapur, 1911|left]]

=== Early history ===
The Bijapur district is historically, traditionally and legendarily, one of the richest districts in the state. Evidence found here reveals that it was an inhabited place since the Stone Age. The history of this district is divided into four periods, from the Chalukya acquisition of Badami till the Muslim invasion.

The early [[Western Chalukya]] period lasted from about 535 to about 757; the Rastrakuta period from 757 to 973; the Kalachuri and Hoysala period from  973 to about 1200; the Devagiri Yadava period from 1185 to the Muslim conquest of Devagiri in  1312.

=== Bahmani and Bijapur Sultanates ===
{{main|Sultanate of Bijapur|Bahmani Sultanate}}
[[File:Ibrahim Rauza, Bijapur, Karnataka.jpg|thumb|[[Ibrahim Rauza]], completed in 1626 is the burial place of [[Ibrahim Adil Shah II]] and his family]]
Bijapur first came under the influence of [[Alauddin Khalji]], the [[Delhi Sultanate|Sultan of Delhi]], towards the end of the 13th century, and then under the [[Bahmani Sultanate]] in 1347. In 1347, when the Bahamani Sultanate was established, it included the southern and eastern parts of Bijapur district. The Sultanate was divided into several provinces, ([[Bahmani taraf|tarafs]]) including Bijapur. The capital of the province was Bijapur, with boundaries extending to present parts of [[North Karnataka]] south and west of [[Maharashtra]] including the [[Konkan]], and was a centre for trading overseas. The supremacy of the Bahmanis and authority over its provinces ceased by 1490. At that time five dynasties were born, and one of them was the [[Adil Shahi dynasty]]. In 1518, the Bahmani Sultanate formally split into five splinter states known as the [[Deccan sultanates]], ruled by the aforementioned five dynasties. The sultans of the Bijapur Sultanate ruled from 1490 to 1686. The city of Bijapur owes much of its greatness to [[Yusuf Adil Shah]], the founder of the independent state of Bijapur,{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} sultan [[Ali Adil Shah I]], who fortified the city and grew its working class population,{{sfn|Eaton|1978|p=86}} and [[Ibrahim Adil Shah II]] of Bijapur.{{sfn|Eaton|1978|p=89}} At its peak under the Bijapur Sultanate in the early 17th century, half a million to a million people were estimated to have inhabited the city.{{sfn|Eaton|1978|p=90}}

The Mughal emperor [[Aurangazeb]] conquered Bijapur from the Adil Shahis in 1686{{sfn|Eaton|1978|p=270}} and had two years prior turned Bijapur into a [[subah]].{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} Disease and other natural events resulting in large-scale death following the Mughal conquest significantly reduced the city's population.{{sfn|Eaton|1978|p=270}} Bijapur was under Mughal rule up to 1723. In 1724 the [[Nizam]] of [[Hyderabad State]] established his independence in the Deccan and included Bijapur within his dominion. However, his acquisition on this portion was of brief duration, and in 1760 it went into the hands of the [[Maratha Confederacy]].
[[File:Overland trade routes through the Deccan.jpg|thumb|Trade routes through [[the Deccan]], connecting Bijapur to [[Goa]] and [[Dabhol]] (1666 French map)]]

=== British Colonial period ===
After the 1818 defeat of the Peshwa by the British in the [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]], Bijapur passed into the hands of the [[British East India Company]], and was assigned to the Maratha [[princely state]] [[Satara State|Satara]].

In 1817, war broke out between the British and the Marathas. By 1818, the whole of Bijapur was occupied by the British and was included in the territory assigned to the Raja of Satara. In 1848 the territory of Satara was obtained through the failure of heir and the British rule started. Till 1884, the Bijapur district had headquarters at Kaladagi. Bijapur was made headquarters in 1885.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

=== Post-Independence ===
After Independence, the movement for re-organisation of States gained further momentum and on 1 November 1956 a separate "Mysore State" was formed. By the wish of the people it was renamed as "Karnataka". Thus, the district Bijapur along with other Kannada speaking areas became a part of "Karnataka State" on 1 November 1956.

Central government had approved the request to rename the city in October 2014 from Bijapur to "Vijayapura" on 1 November 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Prabhu |first1=Nagesh |title=Good morning, Bengaluru |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/from-bangalore-to-bengaluru/article6553314.ece|access-date=1 November 2014|work=The Hindu |date=1 November 2014 }}</ref>

== Geography ==
Bijapur is located 519&nbsp;km from the state capital [[Bangalore]], 163&nbsp;km from [[Kalaburagi]], 196&nbsp;km from [[Hubli]], 212&nbsp;km from [[Belagavi]]. Bijapur has a semi-arid climate. It is located at {{coord|16.83|N|75.7|E|}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Bijapur, India|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/19/Bijapur.html|website=Falling Rain }}</ref> It has an average elevation of 606&nbsp;metres (1988&nbsp;ft). The district has two types of soil. The first is "deep black soil" (or yeari bhoomi), which is good for the crops like jawar, wheat, pulses, sunflower, etc. The major portion of the district consists of this kind of soil which has a great moisture-holding capacity. The second type is "red soil‟ (or masari /maddi bhoomi), which is generally poor, good for irrigation and horticulture.

Krishna river is the most important river of the district. It flows about 125 miles in the district. A dam is built across the river at Almatti. Bhima river flows in northern part of district for about 20 miles. It overflows in the rainy season and spreads over a wider area, which is thereby rendered extremely fertile land. In central part of district Doni river flows.

===Climate and temperature===
The climate of Bijapur district is generally dry and healthy. In summer, especially in April and May, it is very hot; at that time the temperature lays between 40-degrees Celsius to 42-degrees Celsius. In the winter season, from November to January, the temperature is between 15-degrees Celsius to 20-degrees Celsius. Usually the district has dry weather, so the humidity varies from 10% to 30%. The district has 34 rain gauge stations. The average annual rainfall for the whole district is 552.8&nbsp;mm, with 37.2 rainy days. The monsoon generally reaches the district by June and lasts till October. Though the total rainfall is not high, the district benefits both from the south-west and the north-east monsoons. The annual rainfall varies from place to place within the district.{{Weather box
| location = Bijapur (1991–2020, extremes 1901–2020)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 39.4
| Feb record high C = 41.1
| Mar record high C = 41.9
| Apr record high C = 43.3
| May record high C = 44.9
| Jun record high C = 43.0
| Jul record high C = 36.9
| Aug record high C = 36.5
| Sep record high C = 37.4
| Oct record high C = 37.3
| Nov record high C = 35.0
| Dec record high C = 34.6
| year record high C = 44.9
| Jan high C = 30.7
| Feb high C = 33.5
| Mar high C = 36.8
| Apr high C = 38.8
| May high C = 39.1
| Jun high C = 33.6
| Jul high C = 30.9
| Aug high C = 30.6
| Sep high C = 31.2
| Oct high C = 31.4
| Nov high C = 30.5
| Dec high C = 29.8
| year high C = 33.1
| Jan low C = 15.3
| Feb low C = 17.4
| Mar low C = 21.2
| Apr low C = 23.8
| May low C = 23.9
| Jun low C = 22.6
| Jul low C = 22.0
| Aug low C = 21.5
| Sep low C = 21.4
| Oct low C = 20.6
| Nov low C = 17.7
| Dec low C = 14.6
| year low C = 20.3
| Jan record low C = 6.4
| Feb record low C = 8.9
| Mar record low C = 11.2
| Apr record low C = 15.8
| May record low C = 17.8
| Jun record low C = 17.2
| Jul record low C = 16.1
| Aug record low C = 16.7
| Sep record low C = 16.1
| Oct record low C = 11.8
| Nov record low C = 5.6
| Dec record low C = 6.0
| year record low C = 5.6
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 2.0
| Feb rain mm = 1.0
| Mar rain mm = 7.3
| Apr rain mm = 27.2
| May rain mm = 46.7
| Jun rain mm = 100.8
| Jul rain mm = 78.6
| Aug rain mm = 92.9
| Sep rain mm = 134.7
| Oct rain mm = 132.0
| Nov rain mm = 19.5
| Dec rain mm = 4.7
| year rain mm = 647.4
| Jan rain days = 0.1
| Feb rain days = 0.1
| Mar rain days = 0.9
| Apr rain days = 1.7
| May rain days = 3.5
| Jun rain days = 5.6
| Jul rain days = 5.6
| Aug rain days = 6.1
| Sep rain days = 7.8
| Oct rain days = 6.0
| Nov rain days = 1.5
| Dec rain days = 0.3
| year rain days = 39.1
| time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 35
| Feb humidity = 29
| Mar humidity = 26
| Apr humidity = 28
| May humidity = 33
| Jun humidity = 57
| Jul humidity = 66
| Aug humidity = 65
| Sep humidity = 63
| Oct humidity = 56
| Nov humidity = 49
| Dec humidity = 41
| year humidity = 46
| source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020
| publisher = [[India Meteorological Department]]
| access-date = April 8, 2024
}}</ref><ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Bijapur Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 149–150
| access-date = 18 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M91
| access-date = 18 April 2020}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

==Description==
The city consists of three distinct portions: the citadel, [[Bijapur Fort|the fort]] and the remains of the city. The citadel, built by the Adilshahi Sultans, a mile in circuit, is of great strength, well built of the most massive materials, and encompassed by a ditch {{convert|100|yd|m}} wide, formerly supplied with water. The fort, which was completed by the Adilshahi Sultans in 1566, is surrounded by a wall 6 m. in circumference. This wall is from 30 to {{convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on}} high, and is strengthened with ninety-six massive bastions of various designs. In addition there are ten others at the various gateways. The width is about {{convert|25|ft|m|abbr=on}}; from bastion to bastion runs a battlement curtained wall about {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on}} high. The whole is surrounded by a deep moat 30 to {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on}} broad. Inside these walls the Bijapur kings bade defiance to all comers. Outside the walls are the remains of a vast city, now for the most part in ruins, but the innumerable tombs, mosques, which have resisted the havoc of time, afford abundant evidence of the ancient splendor of the place.
[[Badami]], [[Aihole]], and [[Pattadakal]], near Bijapur, are noted for their historical temples in the [[Chalukya]] architectural style.

Bijapur is nearly {{cvt|530|km}} from the state capital Bangalore. It lies between latitude 15.20 and 17.28 north and longitude 74.59 and 76.28 east. It is situated well in the interior of the Deccan Peninsula and is about 130 miles away from the west coast.

The district is bounded by [[Solapur district]] to the north and [[Sangli district]] to the north-west, [[Belgaum district]] on the west, [[Bagalkot district]] to the south, [[Gulbarga district]], [[Yadgir District]] to the east and [[Raichur District]] to the south-east.

== Sufis of Bijapur ==
[[File:Dargah Murtuza Bijapur.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Tomb or Dargah of Sufi Saint Hazrat Murtuza Quadri located at western side Bijapur]]
Arrival of [[Sufis]] in the Bijapur region was started during the reign of [[Qutbuddin Aibak]]. During this period [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] was under the control of native [[Hindu]] rulers and Palegars. Shaikh Haji Roomi was the first to arrive in Bijapur with his companions. Although his other comrades like Shaikh Salahuddin, Shaikh Saiful Mulk and Syed Haji Makki were settled in [[Pune]], Haidra and Tikota respectively.

According to Tazkiraye Auliyae Dakkan i.e., Biographies of the saints of the Deccan, compiled by Abdul Jabbar Mulkapuri in 1912–1913, 
{{cquote|Sufi Sarmast was one of the earliest sufi of this region. He came to the Deccan from [[Arab]]ia in the 13th Century at a time when the Deccan was a land of unbelievers with no sign of Islam or correct faith anywhere. His companions, pupils (fakir), disciples (murid), and soldiers (ghazi), numbered over seven hundred. He settled in Sagar in Solapur district. There, a zealous and anti-Muslim raja named Kumaram (Kumara Rama) wished to expel Sufi Sarmast, and his companions having also prepared to a struggle, a bitter fight ensued. Heroes on both sides were slain. Finally the raja was killed by the hand of his daughter. Countless Hindus were killed, and at this time Lakhi Khan Afghan and Nimat Khan came from [[Delhi]] to assist him. Hindus were defeated and the Muslims were victorious. The rest of the Hindus, having accepted tributary status, made peace. Since by nature he was fundamentally not combative, Sufi Sarmast spread the religion of [[Muhammad|Mohammed]] and befriended the hearts of Hindus. Having seen his fine virtue s and uncommon justice, many Hindus of that time accepted Islam, finally he died in the year A.H.680 i.e., 1281 A.D.{{sfn|Eaton|1978|p=22}}}}

After this period arrival of Sufis in Bijapur and suburbs was started. Ainuddin Gahjul Ilm Dehelvi narrates that Ibrahim Sangane was one of the early Sufis of Bijapur parish. Sufis of Bijapur can be divided into three categories according to period of their arrival viz., Sufis before [[Bahmani]] and / or Adil Shahi Dynasty, Sufis during Adil Shahi Dynasty and Sufis after the fall of Adil Shahi Dynasty. And further it can be classified as Sufis as warriors, Sufis as social reformers, Sufis as scholars, poets and writers.

Ibrahim Zubairi writes in his book Rouzatul Auliyae Beejapore (compiled during 1895) which describes that more than 30 tombs or Dargahs are there in Bijapur with more than 300 ''Khankahs'' i.e., Islamic Missionary Schools with notable number of disciples of different lineage like ''Hasani Sadat, Husaini Sadat, Razavi Sadat, Kazmi Sadat, Shaikh Siddiquis, Farooquis, Usmanis, Alvis, Abbasees'' and other and spiritual chains like ''Quadari, Chishti, Suharwardi, Naqshbandi, Shuttari, Haidari ''etc.

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
|source = <ref>{{cite web |title=Census Tables |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables |website=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=2 October 2023}}</ref>
|1931|39747
|1941 |48968
|1951|65734
|1961|78854
|1971|103931
|1981 |147313
|1991|193131
|2001|253891
|2011|326360
}}
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Bijapur City (2011)<ref name="religion">{{Cite web|date=2011|title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Karnataka|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11378/download/14491/DDW29C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Karnataka|Hinduism]]|darkorange|62.12}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|35.56}}
{{bar percent|[[Jainism in Karnataka|Jainism]]|brown|1.14}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|1.18}}
|caption=Distribution of religions
}}

Bijapur City had a population of 326,360 population as per census 2011. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Bijapur has an effective literacy rate of 83.43%, higher than the national average of 74%; with male literacy of 88.92% and female literacy of 77.86%. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. [[Kannada]] is the major language spoken here.<ref name="Census2011">{{cite web |title=Cities having population 1 lakh and above, Census 2011 |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |website=census.gov.in |access-date=7 March 2021}}</ref>

{{Pie chart
|caption = Languages of Bijapur city (2011)<ref name="languages"/>
|label1 = [[Kannada]] |value1 = 51.43 |color1 = darkslateblue
|label2 = [[Urdu]] |value2 = 34.35 |color2 = green
|label3 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]] |value3 = 5.38 |color3 = red
|label4 = [[Lambadi]] |value4 = 3.85 |color4 = darkgoldenrod
|label5 = [[Hindi]] |value5 = 2.01 |color5 = orange
|label6 = [[Telugu language|Telugu]] |value6 = 1.17 |color6 = aqua
|label7 = Others |value7 = 1.81 |color7 = grey
}}

At the time of the 2011 census, 51.43% of the population spoke [[Kannada]], 34.35% [[Urdu]], 5.38% [[Marathi language|Marathi]], 3.85% [[Lambadi]], 2.01% [[Hindi]] and 1.17% [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as their first language.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue (Town): Karnataka |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10255/download/13367/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-2900.XLSX |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

== Transport ==
===Road===
Bijapur is geographically and strategically well connected through major cities by four lane NH-13 (Solapur–Mangalore) (now [[National Highway 50 (India)|NH50]]), [[National Highway 218 (India)|NH-218]] (Hubli–Humnabad) and other state highways. The main stand in Bijapur is near the southwestern side of the citadel, near the city center. Bus services to Badami, Belgaum, Almatti, Gulbarga, Bidar, Hubli, Solapur and Sangli, Miraj are frequent.
Bijapur is geographically & strategically well connected through major cities by four lane NH 13(Solapur–Mangalore) (now NH50), NH-218 (Hubli–Humnabad) and other state highways.
Bijapur is a big road transport hub and its state run bus transport division has 6 depots/units and comes under [[Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation]] (KKRTC) headquartered at [[Gulbarga]].
The division plys many premium multi-axle coaches, sleeper coach, sitting push back coach with AC and Non AC with makers like [[Volvo]], [[Mercedes-Benz]], [[Isuzu]] [[Tata Motors]], [[Ashok Leyland]], [[Mitsubishi]] etc. services to [[Bangalore]], [[Mumbai]], [[Pune]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Mangalore]], [[Mysore]], [[Hubli]], [[Belgaum]] and other major cities.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

===Railways===
Bijapur is well connected by rail with Bangalore and other major cities of India (Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Hubli and Solapur). It has its own railhead that is located just {{cvt|2|km}} from the main town.

[[Bijapur railway station]] is connected by a [[broad-gauge railway]] ([[Gadag–Hotgi railway line]]) to Hotgi Junction near [[Solapur railway station]] and [[Kurduvadi railway station]] on [[Central Railway zone|Central Railway]] towards the north and to [[Bagalkot]]e and [[Gadag]] junction on [[South Western Railway zone|South Western Railway]] towards the south. Bijapur is connected with direct trains to [[Solapur]], [[Bagalkot]]e, [[Gadag]], [[Dharwad]], [[Bellary|Ballari]], [[Yeswanthpur]] ([[Bangalore]]), [[Hubli]], [[Mumbai]], [[Hyderabad]] and [[Ahmedabad]]. Bijapur comes under [[Hubli]] division of South Western Railway (SWR)

''Direct railway line to [[Gulbarga]] and [[Belgaum]]''

Bijapur–[[Shahabad, Gulbarga|Shahabad]] is a proposed new railway line (via Devar Hippargi, Sindgi, Jewargi) and was sanctioned in the state budget of 2010–11.{{Citation needed|reason=No Crystal Ball|date=April 2013}}

Bijapur–[[Athani, Belgaum|Shedbal]] is a proposed new railway line (via [[Tikota]], [[Athani (Karnataka)|Athani]], [[Shedbal]]) survey has been completed and submitted to South Western Railway [[Hubli]].

GoK's intention is to develop Bijapur - [[Gulbarga]] belt as a cement & steel hub, which has created a need for a direct railway line between Bijapur and Shahabad. This would also be able to carry coal from the Jharkhand and Singareni collieries for NTPC's 4000 MW Power Project in [[Kudagi]] (Basavana Bagewadi Taluk). The Bijapur–Shahabad line would run {{cvt|156.60|km}} and be under the South Western Railway. Partial private sector financing is required; however, state government will contribute two-thirds of the project cost of the railway line, which is estimated at Rs. 12&nbsp;billion over the first five years, in a role as an investor in return for a share in the profits.

A similar proposal has been made for sugar belt on the Bijapur Athani [[Belgaum]] new line, which will also provide shorter connectivity from [[Goa]] to [[Solapur]], [[Gulbarga]], [[Bidar]], [[Nagpur]], [[Kolkata]]. The line would run {{cvt|112.3|km}} and be under South Western Railway, if project is taken into consideration it will be on 50:50 cost sharing basis on both state and railways.

===Air transport===
The nearest airport is at [[Kalaburagi Airport|Gulbarga]] (152&nbsp;km). Many airlines connect Bijapur to the rest of India via this airport. A [[greenfield airport]] which can accommodate [[ATR 72]] & Airbus 320 (expansion afterwards) is currently being built by the Karnataka government. The land has already been acquired. [[Bijapur Airport]] will be built by the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) at a cost of Rs 220 crore. The project site is located 15&nbsp;km from the city on {{convert|727|acre|km2|adj=on}} of land in Madhubavi villages. The construction has started and airport is expected to be ready by February 2024<ref name="TNIE1">{{cite news |title=Bijapur airport gets Karnataka cabinet nod, 18-month deadline to start operations |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2020/jul/10/vijayapura-airport-gets-karnataka-cabinet-nod-18-month-deadline-to-start-operations-2167937.html |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=10 July 2020 |access-date= 28 July 2020 }}</ref>

==Education==
Bijapur is emerging as a hub for professional education. Before the 1980s, there were very few professional educational institutions. Along with the professional colleges there are many colleges which provide under-graduate and post-graduate degrees in the faculty of applied science, pure science, social-sciences and humanities.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

Engineering colleges are affiliated to [[Visvesvaraya Technological University]] viz, [[B.L.D.E.A's V.P. Dr. P.G. Halakatti College of Engineering and Technology]] and [[SECAB College of Engineering and Technology]].

Al Ameen Medical college is affiliated to [[Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rguhs.ac.in/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229231043/http://www.rguhs.ac.in/|url-status=dead|title=Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Karnataka|archivedate=29 December 2010|website=www.rguhs.ac.in}}</ref>

The first women's university in the state of Karnataka is located at Bijapur. Various post-graduate courses like MBA, MCA are conducted here. Bijapur also has BLDE ([[Deemed university|deemed to be university]], a deemed university of health sciences recognised by the UGC.<ref>{{cite web |title=BLDE University |url=https://www.ugc.ac.in/deemed_uniinfo.aspx?id=75 |website=Deemed Universities |publisher=University grants commission |access-date=2 January 2023}}</ref>

===Karnataka State Women's University===
[[Karnataka State Women's University]], established in 2003 in Bijapur, is the only university in Karnataka dedicated exclusively for women's education. It is recognised under 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act. Seventy women's colleges spread in twelve districts of North-Karnataka are affiliated to this university.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kswu.ac.in/error/not-found|title=AWUV – ದೋಷ|website=www.kswu.ac.in}}</ref>

=== IGNOU Bijapur Regional Center ===
Bijapur has IGNOU regional center, There are 7 districts under its jurisdiction (districts Bagalkote, Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga, Koppal, Raichur and Yadagiri). The newly created Bijapur Regional Centre would cater to seven northern districts.


==Sports==
===Cricket===
At the inaugural auction of Karnataka Premier League (KPL), [[Bijapur Bulls]] was one of the eight teams that were formed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bijapur Bulls Squad - Bulls Squad - Karnataka Premier League, 2019 Squad |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/karnataka-premier-league-2019-1196253/bijapur-bulls-squad-1197503/series-squads |access-date=10 June 2022 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Bijapur Bulls represent the Gulbarga zone of Karnataka State.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bijapur Bulls Team, News, Squad & Results |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/team/bijapur-bulls |access-date=10 June 2022 |work=Sportskeeda |language=en-us}}</ref>

Women's international cricket player [[Rajeshwari Gayakwad]] is from Bijapur.<ref>{{cite news |agency=PTI |title=Rajeshwari Gayakwad: Uncrowned 'princess' of Bijapur |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/rajeshwari-gayakwad-uncrowned-princess-of-bijapur/articleshow/59833770.cms |access-date=10 June 2022 |work=The Economic Times |date=30 July 2017}}</ref>

===Cycling===
Bijapur is well known for its cycling culture. Cyclists from the city have won numerous accolades including medals in the State Mini Olympics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Prakash |first1=Hita |title=The North Karnataka cyclists pedalling their way to glory |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/the-north-karnataka-cyclists-pedalling-their-way-to-glory-1110720.html |access-date=10 June 2022 |work=Deccan Herald |date=19 May 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of films shot in Bijapur]]
* [[Adil Shahi|List of rulers of Bijapur]]
* [[Bhāskara II]]
* [[Lakkundi]]
* [[Arakeri, Bijapur]]
* [[Sabala Organization]]
* [[List of people from Bijapur, Karnataka|List of people from Bijapur]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{cite book|first=Richard M.|last=Eaton|author-link=Richard M. Eaton|title=The Sufis of Bijapur, 1300-1700: Social Roles of Sufis in Medieval India|publisher=Princeton University Press|location=Princeton, New Jersey|date=1978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2F9BgAAQBAJ}}
* '''"Samanya Mahiti"'''a periodical released by the Bijapur Zilla Parishad.
*Karnataka State Gazetteer 1983. 
* [http://www.deccanherald.com/content/244235/unsung-kings-bijapur.html Unsung kings Bijapur ]

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Bijapur}}
* Paintings of the Bijapur as illustrations to {{ws|[[s:Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1834/The Zenana|The Zenana]]}}, a poem by [[Letitia Elizabeth Landon]]:
*:''Bejapore'', by [[Samuel Prout]], engraved by J Teavons. Page 6
*:''Taj Bowlee, Bejapore'', by [[Samuel Prout]], engraved by J Redaway. Page 6
*:''Mosque of Mustapha Khan, Beejapore'', by William Purser, engraved by [[Edward Francis Finden]]. Page 7
*:''Tomb of Ibrahim Padshah, Bejapore'', by [[Thomas Allom]], engraved by [[Thomas Higham (artist)|Thomas Higham]]. Page 7
* Painting of {{ws|[[s:Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833/Tomb of Mahomed Shah|Tomb of Mahomed Shah]]}} in Bijapur by [[Samuel Prout]] with a poetical illustration by [[Letitia Elizabeth Landon]], from Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833.

{{Historical Places in Karnataka}}
{{Historical Places in North Karnataka}}
{{Tourism in India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bijapur, Karnataka| ]]
[[Category:Former capital cities in India]]
[[Category:Tourism in Karnataka]]
[[Category: Municipal corporations in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Cities in Karnataka]]