The first Rashtrakuta capital was Mayurkhandi in the present day Bidar district. The regal capital was later moved to Manyakheta in the present day Gulbarga district by Amoghavarsha I.
Kalyani (today called Basavakalyan after Basaveshwara) in Bidar district was the capital of Western Chalukyas, who were also called Kalyani Chalukyas after their capital. The Kalachuris continued with Kalyani as their capital.
Later, Bidar was ruled in succession by the vassals to Sevuna Yadavas of Devagiri, Kakatiyas of Warangal, Allauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughluq.
The generals of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq who were nominated as viceroys of the newly conquered Deccan region broke up and formed theBahmani Sultanate under Allauddin Hasan Gangu Bahman Shah.
The Bahmani capital was shifted from Kalburgi or Kalubaruge(pronounced as Gulbarga and subsequently renamed Ahsanabad by the Muslim newcomers) to Bidar (renamed Muhammadabad by the Bahmanis) in 1425. Bidar remained the capital until the Sultanate's breakup after 1518. It then became the center of the Barid Shahis, one of the five independent sultanates known as the Deccan sultanates. These were the successor states to the Bahmani kingdom.
The Bidar Sultanate was absorbed by the Bijapur Sultanate to the west in 1619, which was in turn included into their Deccan province by theMughal Emperor Aurangzeb during his viceroyship of Deccan in 1656. After the death of Aurangazeb, Asaf Jah I, the Mughal Subehdar of the Deccan province, became independent and assumed the title Nizam-ul-mulk, with the whole of the province under the Nizam's sovereign control. This status remained unchanged until Operation Polo, when the Nizam's territory was merged to the Republic of India.
With the reorganization of states in 1956 along linguistic lines, Bidar was deemed a Kannada speaking area, and became a part of unified Mysore state which later was renamed Karnataka.
Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur and Koppal are collectively referred to as Hyderabad Karnataka. Bellary, though ceded to the British in 1796 AD, is also grouped together with these areas.
The entire district forms a part of the Deccan Plateau and is made up mostly of solidified lava. The northern part of the district is characterized by expanses of level and treeless surface punctuated here and there by flat and undulating hillocks, black soils and basaltic rocks. The southern half of the district is a high plateau about 715 m above mean sea level and are well drained. The average elevation of the district is between 580 to 610 m above mean sea level. Alluvial deposit is normally found along the banks of the Manjra river and its main tributaries.
The district is entirely covered by the Deccan trap flows of the tertiary period. The Deccan trap is composed of horizontal flows of basaltic lava. They generally form flat-topped hillocks and terrace-like features. The physical characteristics of individual flows show considerable variations. Some flows are hard and massive while others are weathered, soft and friable. This character has resulted in terraced landscape, suddenly ending in escarpments. The traps are seen generally 618 m above mean sea level. These are jointed and show the characteristics of spherical weathering leaving massive hard cores. Columnar jointing is predominantly developed in these rocks, besides horizontal joints, which impart to the rocks bedded appearance. The top layers of the Deccan trap in parts of Bidar and Humnabad taluk are altered to reddish vesicular laterite, forming and extensive undulating plateau.
The minerals found in the area are Bauxite, Kaolin and Red ochre. A deposit of highly siliceous bauxite clay has been located about three kilometers south of Basavakalyan. Similar deposits are noticed near Alwal and Kamthana Villages of Bidar taluk. A large deposit of Kaolin is located near Kamthana village. Red ochre deposits are found near Sirsi and Aurad Village
Weather and climate
Most of north Karnataka, including Bijapur, Gulbarga and Bidar are dry areas. The summer season in Bidar starts in the first week of February and lasts until June. This is followed by southwestmonsoon which continues till late September, and from September to end of January is winter.
May is the hottest month with average daily maximum temperature of 38.8 °C while December is the coldest with average daily minimum of 16.4 °C, The highest temperature recorded at Bidar was 43.3 °C on May 8, 1931, and the lowest 3.9 °C on January 5, 1901.
The average annual precipitation at Bidar is 847 mm with most of the rainfall received during the monsoon season. The variation in rainfall from year to year is large and the district is prone to drought.
Rivers
The important rivers in the district are:
Manjra
Karanja
Chulki Nala
Mullamari
Gandrinala
The district has two river basins, the Godavari and the Krishna. The Godavari basin extends to over 4,411 km² of which Manjra covers up to 1,989 km² and Karanja up to 2,422 km². Manjra is the main river of the district and it is a tributary of Godavari. Karanja is also a tributary of Manjra.
Climate
The climate of this district is characterized by general dryness throughout the year, except during the southwest monsoon. The summer season is from the middle of February to the first week of June. This is followed by southwest monsoon season, which continues till the end of September. The months of October and November constitute the post-monsoon or retreating monsoon season.
The winter season is from December to middle of February and the temperature begins to decrease from the end of November, December is the coldest month with mean daily maximum temperature of 27.3 C and mean daily minimum of 16.4 C. From the middle of the February, both day and night temperatures begin to rise rapidly. May is the hottest month with mean daily maximum temperature of 38.8 C and mean daily minimum of 25.9 C. With the withdrawal of southwest monsoon in the first week of October, there is slight increase in day temperature but night temperature decreases steadily. After October, both day and night temperatures decreases progressively. The highest maximum temperature recorded at Bidar was on 8-5-1931(43.3 degree C) and the lowest minimum was on 5-1-1901(3.9 degree C).
Rain
The average annual rainfall at Bidar is 885.8mm. About 81% of annual rainfall is received during the period from June to September. Maximum rainfall is recorded in the month of September. The variation in rainfall from year to year is large and the district is drought-prone. The average numbers of rainy days in the district are 52.
The relative humidity is high during the southwest monsoon, being between 65% to 75%. Summer is the driest part of the year, when the relative humidity in the afternoon is between 30% and 40%.
Winds are generally moderate in strength with some increase in force during the latter half of the summer season and during the monsoon. During the southwest monsoon season, winds mainly blow between the southwest and northeast directions. In the post monsoon season, winds blow predominantly between north and east directions. During the winter season winds are variable in directions
Bidar Forests
Bidar Forest division is the northern most division of Karnataka encompassing the whole of Bidar district and 31 villages of the adjoining Gulbarga district.
Forest areas of Bidar division are classified as Reserve forests, Protected forests and Unclassed forests.
Bidar Forest division is having 43,592 ha. of Forest area including Reserve Forests, Protected forests and Unclassified forests. This area is about 8.5% of total geographical extent of the district
River Systems and Drainage
The district falls under two distinct river basins, the Godavari basin and the Krishna basin. The Godavari basin extends over 4,411 square kilometers of which Manjra river basin cover 1989 square kilometers and Karanja river basin covers 2422 square kilometers. The Krishna basin covers 585 square kilometers of which Mullamari river basin covers 249 square kilometers and Gandarinala river basin covers 336 square kilometers. The main river of the district is Manjra River, which is a tributary of the Godavari River. The Karanja River itself is tributary of Manjra River. These rivers and their rivulets are not navigable.
Economy
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Bidar one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the five districts in Karnataka currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Demographics
According to the 2011 census Bidar district has a population of 1,700,018, roughly equal to the nation of The Gambia or the US state of Nebraska.This gives it a ranking of 289th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 312 inhabitants per square kilometre (810 /sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 13.16 %. Bidar has a sex ratio of 952 females for every 1000 males,and a literacy rate of 71.01 %.
Most of the north Karnataka is a fusion of the Dravidian and Aryan races. Medieval times also saw a continuous influx of Turks, Mughals, Iranians, Afghans and Arabs.
Economy
Agriculture is the main occupation in rural parts of the district. Greengram, bengalgram, blackgram, paddy, groundnut, wheat, redgram, sugarcane and chillies are other agricultural crops andjowar remains the major crop. now the trend is changing towards sunflower and most of the rabi crop will be sunflower
Bidar has lots of historical monuments from Bahmani era. The structure of the great Mahmud Gawan Arabic University is reminiscent of the rich architecture of the Bahmani era. The Bidar Fort situated next to the city is one of the biggest forts in India.
Panaromic Entrance View of Bidar Fort
Arabic University Mahmud Gawan
Places of interest
Hazrath Shamsuddin Abul Fatah Shaik Mohammed Multani R.A(Al-Maroof Multani Bashah),Bidar. Shamsuddin Quadri Shrine popularly known as multani Badshah.
Dargah Syed Shah Burhanuddin Khaleelullah Kirmani But Shikan (R.A),Bidar at Choukhandi. The popular barid shahi tombs and a Jail made by the British before independence.File:Syed shah burhanuddin kirmani dargah bidar
Guru Nanak Jhira Gurudwara,
Sri Mailar Mallanna temple : Mailar or Khanapur is situated around 15 km from Bidar on Bidar-Udgir Road. It is believed that Mallasur and Mankasur are two brother demons, after getting blessing from lord Bharmha, they started killing and torturing Innocent people in and around Mailar, by hearing devotees plea Lord Shiva incarnated in Mailar and killed mankasur and forgave mallasur. The god Mallanna or Khandoba or Mailar Linga is believed as Lord Shiva`s Ugra Roopa. The temple is very famous in the north karnataka and every year temple attract millions of devotees from Karnataka, Maharashtra andAndhra pradesh
Bidar fort at Bidar, the great Friday mosque at Bidar, Nayee kamaan (fell down – being built)
Madarsa (university) of Mahmmed Gawan
Choubara (watch tower)at Bidar, several dargahs (mausoleums) of local Islamic saints
Basveshvara Temple
Barid shahi garden
Tomb of Mahmmed Gawan
Kalyani shariff, 12th Century Cave
Kalyan shariff, Kalyan Fort
Bidri Art Materials at Old City
Saint Paul's Methodist Church
Molige Marayya's Cave temple Molkera
Papnash Temple. It is believed that Lord Sri Rama, on the way to Ayodhya from Lanka after defeating Ravana, visited this place and that resulted in the temple which would wash off his act of killing Ravana who is a Shiva Bhakt.
Basava Kalyan. This city is place of Basveshwar and has lot of information and holy places about Basveshwara.
Bidar Fort. The fort was one the largest and strongest forts in India. It was built in 15th century.
Gurudwara. Gurdwara Nanak Jhira Sahib is a Sikh historical shrine. One of the most popular south Indian historical gurudwara's amongst the Sikh community all over the India.
Manik Prabhu Temple. Situated 53 km away from the city of Bidar, Manik Prabhu Temple is a unique architectural beauty and a major spiritual and religious centre. The Manik Prabhu temple is built over a Sanjeevani Samaadhi of a Saint- Shri Sadguru Manik Prabhu Maharaj and his spiritual stature and holy presence is still maintained by his 6th successor Shri Sadguru Dnyanraj Manik Prabhu Maharaj. The temple attracts both Hindu and Muslim devotees. The temple administration is carried out by Shri Manik Prabhu Samsthan which runs a number of social and charitable institutions since 140 years.
As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Bidar in 2011 is 211,944; of which male and female are 109,435 and 102,509 respectively.Average literacy rate of Bidar city is 87.65 percent of which male and female literacy was 92.88 and 82.08 percent respectively. Total children (0-6) in Bidar city are 25,077 as per figure from Census India report on 2011. There were 13,103 boys while 11,974 are girls. Child sex ratio of girls is 914 per 1000 boys.
Kannada is the official language and spoken by majority of the people, while Marathi, Dakhni Urdu and Hindi are the other languages spoken by significant number of population .
The Bidar Sultanate was absorbed by the Bijapur Sultanate to the west in 1619, which was in turn included into their Deccan province by theMughal Emperor Aurangzeb during his viceroyship of Deccan in 1656. After the death of Aurangazeb, Asaf Jah I, the Mughal Subehdar of the Deccan province, became independent and assumed the title Nizam-ul-mulk, with the whole of the province under the Nizam's sovereign control. This status remained unchanged until Operation Polo, when the Nizam's territory was merged to the Republic of India.
