A Travel Day Exploring Gol Gumbaz Museum, Vijayapura

Greetings of the day,

Reaching Vijayapura was not part of any plan for me. Just like that the path was made, I got time and I set out. The first thing you feel as soon as you come here is peace. No hurry, no pretense. The old buildings spread all around seem as if they are standing silently and narrating their own history.

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I was walking slowly, on stone paths and with each step I felt as if I had stepped inside the pages of a book. There was a slight heat in the air but the huge domes and thick walls built at various places were holding that sunlight as well.

I stopped there for some time after seeing the old cannons installed inside the fort. While reading the information written on them, I started thinking that there was a time when these cannons used to protect this entire area.

Such heavy weapons, such high walls, and such thoughtfully constructed structures – today we only see them, but all this was necessary in those times. The marks of time are clearly visible on the walls, cracks in some places, paint peeling off in some place but still there is a strange strength. It seems as if these buildings are still standing, just to remind visitors that times change, but stories never fade.

Moving a little further, huge tombs standing in the middle of an open field are visible. Domes standing equally on both sides, a long path in between and peace all around. There were some people there, some were taking pictures, some were just sitting quietly.

I also put the camera down and just kept watching for some time. In front of such a huge structure, a person automatically starts feeling small. The stone carvings, the balance and height of the arches — everything makes its presence felt without making any noise. This place is not made for show, it is made for staying.

When we climbed up and got a view of the city- we realized that Vijayapura does not live only in the past. The city spread below, small houses, roads, trees and the far-reaching sky – everything is visible together. Looking from above, it seems as if history and today's life are going on together.

The people here live in the shadow of these buildings every day, perhaps they do not even realize that they pass through history every day. Standing at that height, I also remembered my city, and realized that every place has its own pace.

While returning, my heart was a little heavy, but I was also feeling good. Visiting such places changes something inside a person. I did not return from here with any great lesson, nor with any wisdom – just with a realization that some places do not teach us to go fast, but teach us to stop. Vijayapura remained the same for me. No noise, no hurry, just time captured in stones and the sound of my footsteps.