Gulbarga is the administrative headquarters of the
Gulbarga District, in
Karnataka. It is an ancient town situated in north-eastern part of Karnataka and is 663 km north of
Bangalore.
Gulbarga's earlier name was Kalburgi and rose into prominence when it was made the capital by the Bahmani rulers. It served as the administrative headquarters of the kingdom from 1347 to 1428. They patronized art, architecture and craft, the legacy of which can still be witnessed in the town in the form of monuments, forts and tombs. The city was annexed by
Aurangzeb in the 17th century. The erstwhile rulers of Hyderabad wrested control of the town in the 18th century.
Major attractions in the town include Gulbarga fort, noted for its 15 towers, the tombs of the Bahamani rulers, the Haft Gumbaz, the tomb of Khwaja Bande Nawaz (an important local Muslim saint) and the Sharana Basaveshwara temple. The pilgrim center of Gangapur is 38 km away.
The nearest airport is at Hyderabad (214 km).
Gulbarga Railway Station is on the Mumbai-Bangalore main line.
