GOL GUMBAZ | Biggest Dome in India | Sound Echoes here Seven Times | Bijapur Historical Places E= 08

Biggest Dome in India is Styled in the Dravidian architecture the very name Gol Gumbaz stems from ‘Gola Gombadh’ or Gol Gomata’ translating to a circular dome.

Made of dark grey basalt stone, its chamber is among the biggest in the world measuring 18,000 sq ft and the whispering gallery allowing people to hear their most hushed tones courtesy the acoustics of the space. It is said that you can hear a word echo for about 12 times across the other end of the dome.

The 144 ft high roof with a 156 ft cube on either side
beneath has eight arches traversing the two squares interlocking together that work as the base for the dome. There are four octagonal towers placed at each corner comprising a staircase. And each tower has a gallery on the top floor.

The podium sits pretty in the centre hall with steps on the two sides.

The dome of Gol Gumbaz is said to be the second biggest in the world after the St Basilica in Rome.
The dome does not have any pillars or towers to support it yet it stands perfectly.

There are also few folklore stories associated which can be traced back to Hazrat Hasham Peer Dastageer RA whose dargah is just next to gol Gumbaz.

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