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The most important monument in
Gulbarga is probably the Khwaza Bande
Nawaz Dargah. The tomb of the great Sufi saint, Khwaza Syed Mohammad Gesu
Daraz, popularly known as Khwaza Bande Nawaz.
This is a magnificent building built in the Indo-Saracenic style. Like
everything in Gulbarga, the Dargah too is a blend of two cultures.
While the arches are a specialty of Bahmani architecture, the paintings
on the walls and the domes are Turkish and Iranian in style. The Dargah is
the venue of an annual 'Urs', which is attended by nearly one thousand
people, both Hindus and Muslims.
After paying obeisance at this highly venerated tomb, one can browse
through the Dargah Library. There are as many as 10000 books in Urdu,
Persian and Arabic on subjects ranging from history and literature. Near
the tomb is a mosque ascribed to Aurangzeb.
The Aiwane-Shahi building where the Nizams used to stay when they visited
the Dargah now houses the Divisional Commissioner's office. There is also
a circuit house nearby.