One of the largest mosques in India and one of the most architecturally pure. Construction began under Ali Adil Shah I in 1576 and continued through the next century, though the gatehouse and the planned eastern minarets were never finished. The single great prayer hall — open on three sides — has nine bays and a vast central dome supported by massive arches.
The floor is divided into 2,250 marked squares, one for each worshipper, on the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who conquered Bijapur in 1686 and converted the empty mosque interior to his standard. The mihrab itself is decorated with calligraphy in gold leaf that has survived remarkably well. Modest dress is expected; non-Muslims are welcome outside prayer times.