What is Gol Gumbaz, the famous monument at Vijayapura (Bijapur) in Karnataka?

Introduction / Context:
Gol Gumbaz is one of the best known examples of Indo Islamic architecture in south India. It is especially famous for its massive dome and whispering gallery. Questions about this monument often appear in Indian history and culture sections, asking either where it is located or whose tomb it houses. This question specifically checks whether you know that Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur (now Vijayapura) in Karnataka.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are asked what Gol Gumbaz is, with focus on whose mausoleum it is.
• Options include tombs of Hyder Ali, Aurangzeb, Chand Bibi, Mohammed Adil Shah, and None of the above.
• We assume only one of these rulers is actually buried in Gol Gumbaz.

Concept / Approach:
Gol Gumbaz is associated with the Adil Shahi rulers of Bijapur. Mohammed Adil Shah, one of the later rulers, commissioned Gol Gumbaz as his own mausoleum in the seventeenth century. The structure's distinctive features include one of the largest domes in the world and acoustic effects in the whispering gallery. The other names in the options belong to different dynasties and regions, so they do not match the historical context of Bijapur's Adil Shahi kingdom.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Gol Gumbaz is situated at Vijayapura (Bijapur) in present day Karnataka. Step 2: Remember that Bijapur was the capital of the Adil Shahi dynasty, a Deccan sultanate. Step 3: Identify Mohammed Adil Shah as one of the prominent Adil Shahi rulers who commissioned Gol Gumbaz as his tomb. Step 4: Check that Hyder Ali and Aurangzeb belonged to different political contexts (Mysore and the Mughal empire respectively) and are not associated with Gol Gumbaz. Step 5: Conclude that Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah.

Verification / Alternative check:
Guidebooks and history texts routinely describe Gol Gumbaz as the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah, highlighting its architectural innovations and its date of construction in the mid seventeenth century. Hyder Ali's tomb is at Srirangapatna, Aurangzeb is buried at Khuldabad near Aurangabad, and Chand Bibi is linked to Ahmednagar and other Deccan fortresses, not to Gol Gumbaz. This consistent information across sources confirms that the correct answer is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mausoleum of Hyder Ali: Hyder Ali's tomb is not Gol Gumbaz; he was associated with Mysore, not Bijapur. Mausoleum of Aurangzeb: Aurangzeb's grave is a simple tomb at Khuldabad near Aurangabad, not at Gol Gumbaz. Mausoleum of Chand Bibi: Although Chand Bibi is connected to the Deccan, she is not buried in Gol Gumbaz. None of the above: Incorrect because Mohammed Adil Shah is given as an option and is historically correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Because Gol Gumbaz is in Karnataka, some students associate it with Hyder Ali or Tipu Sultan, who are better known from that region. Others might guess Aurangzeb due to his connection with the Deccan campaigns. These are natural but incorrect associations. The key is to remember that Bijapur was ruled by the Adil Shahi dynasty, and Mohammed Adil Shah's tomb is the famous Gol Gumbaz.

Final Answer:
Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah of the Adil Shahi dynasty.