Gulbarga

Officially known as Kalaburagi, Gulbarga lies in the state of Karnataka in India. It's one of the major cities in North Karnataka which was under the rule of the Bahmani Empire for a long time. Gulbarga got its name from the Persian language in which gul means flower and berg mean leaf.  Krishna and Bhīma are the two main rivers that flow through the city. Gulbarga is also known for its different styles of architecture and hence quite popular among historians. The Gulbarga Fort was constructed by Raja Gulchand and was fortified during the reign of the Bahamian empire. The style of architecture of the fort is Islamic and is a popular tourist destination.  Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah the tomb of Khwaja Syed Mohammad Gesu Darazand, a Sufi Saint, has an Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. This spot is also frequented by a number of tourists and pilgrims.

Gulbarga Fort Image courtesy UserGulbarga

Sharana Basaveshwara Temple dedicated to the Hindu Philosopher Sharana Basaveshwara is located in an old town in Gulbarga which attracts tourists from all over. The Jama Masjid built in 1367, one of the oldest Masjids in South India within the Gulbarga Fort, Jevargi the Jain pilgrim center, the Narayanapura Dam and the Sannathi a Buddhist site are also worth seeing. October to February is the best time to visit Gulbarga. Read more about Gulbarga here.