Malik-e-Maidan

Malik-e-Maidan is a massive 16th-century cannon displayed on the Sherzah Burj bastion of Bijapur Fort in Vijayapura, Karnataka. Cast in 1549 at Ahmednagar by Persian engineer Muhammad Bin Husain Rumi, it weighs about 55 tons and measures over 4 metres in length. Notable for its lion-head muzzle and Persian inscriptions, it is considered one of the largest medieval cannons in India and a prominent heritage attraction within the fort complex.

Visitors can see the enormous bronze cannon mounted on the elevated Sherzah Burj bastion of Bijapur Fort. The cannon features a lion-head muzzle depicting an elephant being crushed, Persian and Arabic inscriptions, and a large circular bore. The bastion offers views over the fort walls and city. The area is open-air with stone steps leading to the platform, informational plaques, and space for viewing and photography.

Cast in 1549 at Ahmednagar by Muhammad Bin Husain Rumi, a Persian engineer in the service of Burhan Nizam Shah I. Later brought to Vijayapura by the Adil Shahi rulers and installed on Sherzah Burj of Bijapur Fort. It is renowned as a masterpiece of medieval Deccan artillery and is associated with the military history of the Deccan Sultanates, including its reported use in the Battle of Talikota in 1565.

Represents the advanced metallurgy and artillery engineering of the Deccan Sultanate period. The cannon's Persian inscriptions, lion-head ornamentation and massive scale reflect Indo-Islamic art and military heritage, making it an important cultural and educational landmark of Vijayapura.