Towards the eastern side of Karnataka, bordering Maharashtra and Telangana, lies the city of Bidar. Securing its place as a historically significant destination, Bidar is home to Bidar Fort, Rangin Mahal, Bahamani Tombs, Chaubara, Solah Khamba Mosque and several other highlighting features.
Considering the location of the city at the east end of the State, Bidar is known as the ‘Crown of the State.’ Marked as a historical city, Bidar has many architectural monuments which have been constructed during the reign of the Chalukyas, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq and many others. For many of these ancient rulers, the city was a power house and the centre of their dynasty for decades.
What fascinates the visitors that flock here are the temples, forts, mosques, tombstones and several other ancient ruins. The flush array of flora and fauna along the banks of the Krishna and Godavari Rivers also adds to the rich beauty of this region.
The Bidar fort is considered to be one of the most powerful forts in the country. Made up of stone and mortar, these fort walls house palaces, mosques and other buildings which had been built of trap rock. The high fortification can be seen from the pathway itself as the passage at the entrance is protected by three gateways. A lofty dome can be seen at the entrance and its interior has been painted in bright colours.
The fort is dated back to the 14th century and is recorded to have been constructed by Ahmad Shah Wali Bahman. History says that the fort was renovated in the 15th century by Sultan Ahmad Shah-I as he shifted his capital from Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) to Bidar. Preserved inside the fort are the Bahamani tombs which is the final resting place of Ahamad Shah and Alauddin Shah II. Like the tombs of the Pharaohs of Egypt, the ones here are built magnificently.
While speaking about Bidar, one cannot leave out the Kalyana Chalukyas and their dynasty which flourished in this region. Basavakalyana city in Bidar district was once the capital of their dynasty and centre of a great social and religious upheaval in the 12th century. This city was home to many saints like Basaveshwara, Allama Prabhu, Akka Mahadevi, Channabasavanna and Siddharama. With such a rich cultural heritage, the city has a religious and historical significance.
Narasimha Jharni cave temple located here is also one with history and sees a lot of viistors throughout the years. Located at a distance of 4.8 km from the city, the ancient temple is associated with Lord Narasimha, an incarnation (avatar) of Hindu god Vishnu. The end of the cave temple is the sanctum sanctorum which houses two deities – Lord Narasimha and a Shiva Linga which the demon Jharasura (Jalasura) had worshipped.
Among many other aspects, another specialty of Bidar is the Bidari traditional handicraft, wood carving work, sandalwood products and silver work. If you are ready to dive into a cultural journey, be sure to mark Bidar as a go to destination.
Image courtesy Prasannasindol and Ganesh Subramaniam from Wikimedia commons.
