Maryslanker at 19:33, 5 March 2026

2026-03-05T19:33:40Z

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{{Infobox building
| image = Massive Chor Gumbaz.jpg
| location = [[Kalaburagi]]
| years_built = 15th century
}}

'''Chor Gumbad, Gulbarga ''' is a domed building in Gumbad, [[Kalaburagi]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Yazdani |first=Ghulam |url=https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/22688.pdf |title=Annual Report of the Archaeological Department of His Exalted Highness The Nizam's Dominions |publisher=Baptist Mission Press |year=1917 |location=Calcutta |pages=3–4}}</ref> It is listed as a [[State Protected Monuments of India|state protected monument]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Protected Monuments in Karnataka |url=https://asi.nic.in/protected-monuments-in-karnataka/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=[[Archaeological Survey of India]]}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=May 2024}}

== Etymology ==
The ''Chor Gumbad'' (lit. Dome of thieves), as it is colloquially known, might have been named as it came to have been occupied by thieves.<ref name=":0" />

Another name for the building is the ''Shor Gumbad'' (lit. Dome of noise), also spelt ''Shor Gumbaz''. This is ascribed to the supposed use of the building as a [[watchtower]]. As the soldiers deployed on the [[Turret (architecture)|turrets]] would sound an alarm upon spotting any enemy army approaching, which could be heard from a distance.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Rehaman |title=Shor Gumbaz that inspired Gol Gumbaz |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/shor-gumbaz-that-inspired-gol-gumbaz-999133.html |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The building dates back to the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahmani]] period. There are no graves within the building, and it may have been built as a commemorative monument by [[Ahmad Shah I Wali|Ahmad Shah]] to mark his victory over [[Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah|Firuz Shah]] and ascension to the throne in 1422.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Philon |first=Helen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AfjtoQEACAAJ |title=Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur |date=2014 |publisher=Jaico Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8495-601-6 |language=en}}</ref>

== Description ==
It is situated on a hillock, to the west of [[Gulbarga Fort]]. The square-shaped building is surmounted by a massive dome. This dome rises to a height of 100 feet. At four corners of the roof are turrets which are crowned by kiosks. A five feet tall [[parapet]] rises above the structure. The walls have arches carved into them, with each wall having ten arches arranged in two stories. There is only one entrance, at the Eastern end.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Internally, the tomb measures 74' by 66'. A corridor beneath the dome has arched windows covered by [[jali]] screens. This was probably provided to allow elite women of the ''[[zenana]]'' to observe events while maintaining their privacy as required by ''[[purdah]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Haidar |first1=Navina Najat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iWNHYID4WqAC&dq=chor+gumbad+gulbarga&pg=PA195 |title=Sultans of the South: Arts of India's Deccan Courts, 1323-1687 |last2=Sardar |first2=Marika |date=2011 |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art |isbn=978-1-58839-438-5 |pages=195 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.153598/page/n255/mode/2up |title=History of Medieval Deccan |date=1974 |editor-last=Sherwani |editor-first=H. K. |editor-link=Haroon Khan Sherwani |pages=245 |editor-last2=Joshi |editor-first2=P. M.}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Bahmani Sultanate}}

{{coord|17.34833|76.81120|format=dms|type:landmark_region:IN|display=title}}

[[Category:Bahmani architecture]]
[[Category:State Protected Monuments in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 15th century]]

Chor Gumbad - Revision history

Maryslanker at 19:33, 5 March 2026