What to see in Bidar district?

Bidar is the northern most district of Karnataka state bordering with Maharastra and Telangana states. The word Bidar to many is synonymous to drought but that is not the case. Bidar is a land of many rivers and a colourful history. Bidar's Kalyana was Chalukyan capital when they rose to power for the second time. Kalyana is where Jagatjyoti Basaveshwara ans Shivasharanas started their social revolution. Bahamani rulers shifted their capital from Gulbarga to Bidar because of better climatic conditions and water sources. Bidar is the land where Guru Nanak performed a miracle. For travelers and tourists, Bidar district offers an array of historical and religious spots.

Chalkuyan temple at Umapur, 108' tall Basaveshwara

Bhatambra fort and Kannada inscription at Chalukyan temple at Jalasnghi

Tombs at Ashtoor, Sikh emblem at Gurudwar

Bidar fort entrance and cannon inside  Bidar fort

Lets start with Bidar city and its surroundings and then move on to other taluqs of the district.

1. Bidar fort; is one of the largest forts in Karnataka; its located on a large laterite bed the edge of the plateau; the fort walls are built of laterite blocks quarried out of  the laterite bed; the quarry  has formed a moat along the southern perimeter of the fort.
2. Chaukandi - the amazing white colored octagonal shaped building, tomb of Hadrat Khalimullahullah.
3. Pari Bowli - an ancient well close to Chaukandi
4. Bahamani tombs of Ashtur; a necropolis of Bahamani dynasty
5. Mohamad Gawan Madarsa; the Madrasa of Mahmud Gawan is situated in Bidar City of the northern plateau of Karnataka, India. established it in 1472 CE by Mahmud Gawan, a great warrior and administrator of Bahamani kingdom.
6. Choubara; a tower at the intersection of two main streets of Bidar
7. Barid Shahi Tombs - a group of tombs built over the graves of Barid Shahi family members.
8. Sri Narsimha Jharani - a cave shrine in which water flows our from a natural spring.
9. Gurudwar Sri Nanak Jhira Sahib - A major Sikh religious center in South India. A natural spring of fresh water has been flowing here since the time Guru Nanak set foot here.
10. Papanash Shiva temple - one of the most visited Shiva temples of Bidar.
11. Deva Deva Vana (Botanical Garden): An Eco Tourism center 6 kms from Bidar town on Bidar - Hyderabad Highway. With more than 200 medicinal plants, this garden is believed to be something of a unconventional temple of plants.
12. Amareshwara temple at Aurad
13. Shivaji Santaji Samadhi
14. Chidambara Aashram / Shri Siddharudha Math: was established in the year 1986 by Shri Shivkumar Swamiji. There are 12 Jyothirlingas on both the sides Shri Siddharudha statue. This is temple located at Manahalli Road, Bidar. This is also known as Gumpa.
15. Basava Kalyana fort and museum
16. Basaveshwara temple - a temple dedicated to Jagatjyoti Basaveshwara at Basava Kalyana
17. 108 feet statue of Basaveshwara at Basava Kalyana
18. Sharanara Gavi - man-made cave shrine dedicated to the XII Century Shiva Sharanas.
19. Narayanpur Shiva temple
20. Umapur Uma-Maheshwara temple; temple built during Kalyana Chalukya rule
21. Bhalki fort
22. Rameshwar Takidee; a hillock about 4 kms from Bhalki has a small fort and a temple dedicated to Ramlingeshwar
23. Bhatambra fort, about 10 kms west of Bhalki
24. Jalasanghi Kalmeshwar temple; temple built during Kalyana Chalukya rule
25. Hanakuni fort; the treasury fort of King Ramachandra's kingdom
26. Manik Prabhu temple at Humnabad
27. Veerbhadreshwara temple at Humnabad & Changlare: both temples are ancient, they attract thousands of people during their annual fairs in the months of January and November respectively. The temple at Humnabad was constructed in 1725, it is famous for its moving pillar.
28. Gurudwara Shri Mai Bhago Sahib, Janwada - this Gurudwara is about 13 kms north of Bidar town.
29. Karanja Dam and Reservoir 

Here's a list of places to see at Basava Kalyana-

1. Duoom Ganapati
2. Dargah Hazrat Tajuddin Baba Sher-e-sawar
3. Sharana Urilinga Peddi Matha
4. Sabha Bhavana
5. Kambali Matha
6. Sharana Shitya Granthalaya (Sharana Litreature Library)
7. Sharana Allama Prabhu Gadduge Matha
8. Haralayya and other Sharana Caves
9. Sharana Madivala Machayya Honda
10. Sharane Akka Nagamma Cave
11. Basava Arivana Mane
12. Akka Mahadevi Ashram
13. Ghanalinga Rudramuni cave
14. Sharana Nuli Chandayya Cave
15. Tripuranta Kere
16. Anubhava Mantapa

What to see in Bidar fort?

1. Gumbad Darwaza
2. Sherza Darwaza
3. Fateh Gate on the south
4. Talghat Gate in the east
5. Delhi Gate
6. Mandu Gate. 
7. Takht Mahal
8. Solah Khamba Mosque
9. Diwan-I-Aam
10. Tarkash Mahal
11. Rangeen Mahal
12. Gagan Mahal
13. Two large canons on turrets

You may also want to learn about other districts of Karnataka-

1. Bagalkot district
2. Ballari district
3. Belagavi district
4. Bijapur district
5. Chitradurga district
6. Dharwad district
7. Davangere district
8. Gadag district
9. Gulbarga district
10. Haveri district
11. Kolar district
12. Koppal district
13. Raichur district
14. Tumkur district
15. Vijayanagara district
16. Yadgiri district

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