Gol Gumbaz is a popular heritage structure in the Bijapur district of Karnataka. It was built by the Adil Shahi dynasty as the tomb of the Adil Shahi ruler Mohammad Adil Shah under the expertise of architect Yaqut of Dabul.
The literal meaning of Gol Gumbaz is ‘circular dome’. With the dome, minarets and other features, the structure is a visual delight and stands as a perfect example for the Deccan style of architecture.
What makes the dome unique is its Whispering Gallery. It is a circular gallery below the tomb where even the slightest whisper gets amplified and travels a distance of more than 40 metres! That means, even sounds produced in low strengths from one end of the gallery can be heard at the other end, very clearly. Besides, there is an incredible echo effect within the place. It enables a clap to be echoed for more than 10 times!