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The foundation of this historic city were laid during the reign of the Chalukayan Dynasty of Kalyani between 10th and 11th Centuries. They called it 'Vijayapura' or the city of Victory from hence comes its present name Bijapur. 

Bijapur came under Muslim influence, first under Alauddin Khilji, The Sultan of Delhi, towards the end of the 13th Century and then under the Bahamani Kings of Bidar 1347. In 1481, Mohammed III, one of the Bahamani Sultans, appointed Yusuf Adil Khan as the Governor of the Bijapur. One of the sons of Sultan Mohammed II of Turkey, Yusuf Adil Khan fled his country on the death of his father, to escape the massacre of crown princes in the battle for the succession to the throne. He was purchased as a slave by Mohammed Gavan, the Prime Minister of Mohammed III. With the decline of the Bahamani power at Bidar, Yusuf declared his independence in 1489 and thus became the founder of the Adil Shahi Dynasty which survived as the Kingdom till its annexation by Aurangazeb in 1686.

Bijapur experienced a great burst of architectural activity under the Adi Shahi Dynasty. The Adil Shahi encouraged building activity to such an extent that Bijapur itself has over 50 Masks, more than 20 tombs and a number of palaces. An interesting feature of employment of large numbers of Indian artisans. Earlier Muslim rulers of the Deccan deployed Persian Craftsmen and Architects. 

Aihole 
129 Kms, There is a remarkable group of temples here built during the reign of Chalukyan rulers, between the sixth & eighth centuries.

Gulbarga 
159 Kms, Historically associated with the Bahamani Kingdom, Gulbarga is also famous for the Sharana Basaveswara Temple. 

Hampi 
254 Km, the ruins of the great capital of Vijayanagar dynasty lie here.

Pattadakal 
17 Kms, A small village on the banks of the Malaprabha river, Pattadakal; was the commemorative site for the Chalukya kings from 7th to 9th century AD.

Badami 
132 Kms, once the capital of Chalukyas, Badami is noted for its rock-cut cave temples and structural temples dating back to the 6th & 7th centuries.

Basavana Bagewadi 
43 km, Bagewadi was the birth place of Basaveswara, the great social & religious performer of Karnataka. Though the presiding deity of the main temple is Shiva as Sangamanatha, it is popularly called Basavana or Basaveswara

Jamkhandi 
62 Km Jamkhandi was the capital of the former Maratha principality of the Patavardhans, cousins of Miraj family of Maharashtra. The place possibly derives its name from the old Chalukyan Temple dedicated to Jambukeswara.

Kumtagi 
16 Kms, the lake & water pavilion built by the Adil Shahis here are most striking construction.

Torvi 
6 Km, this place is famous for its Narasimha temple with an underground shrine. The Kannada version of the Ramayana was written by Kumara Valmiki in this temple & is hence popularly called Toravi Ramayana.

Air:The nearest airport is Hyderabad (375 Kms) which is connected to all major cities of India. In Karnataka, Bangalore is the Airport, which we recommend. 
Rail:Bijapur is connected by Rail with Bangalore , Mumbai (via Sholapur), Hospet (via Gadag) and Vasco da Gama (via Hubli and Londa). 

Road:Bijapur has convenient road connection to several important places around it, some of these are:
Aihole (129 Kms) 
Badami (132 Kms) 
Bangalore (581 Kms) 
Belgaum (205 Kms) 
Hampi (254 Kms) 
Pattadakal (148 Kms) 

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