Feb 16, 2019

Madrasa of Khwaja Mahmud Gawan, Bidar

September 3, 2018
Our tour of Bidar started with Narasimha Jharani followed by Chaukandi, Bahamani tombs of Ashtoor and Bidar Qila. From the fort we drove into the old city in search of the five gates of Bidar city fort, Choubara and Madarasa of Khwaja Mohammed Gawan.

Khwaja Mohammed Gawan Madarasa is an imposing and unique structure. Its a three storey building almost 40' high and its Minar is about 50; tall. Its facade and tower (Minar) are covered in terracotta tiles and glazed tiles, there's no other monument which is quite like this red colored building in Bidar.

Archaeological Department board planted at the building's entrance reads as follows-
Madrasa of Khwaja Mahmud Gawan: The Madrasa at Biadr is a distinguishes example of Bahamani architecture (Persian style) build in AD 1472 by Khwaja Mahmud Gawan, the minister of Muhammad shah III (AD 1463-82). It was functioned like a residential university and was maintained on the lines of the Madrasa of Khurasan. It comprises a conventional quadrangular hall and chambers on all sides. This three storeyed building houses mosque, library, lecture halls, professors's quarters and students's cubicles. The library that existed on the other wing is now destroyed. On three sides there are semi-octagonal projections crowned by bulbous and on the fourth side is the main entrance, flanked by two stately three-stage minars. The facade is adorned with multi-colored tiles in green, yellow and white in a variety of designs, arabesques and Quaranic verses. Even though the building suffered much damaged due to explosion of gun powder in AD 1695, it still retains much of the original architecture features. It is the only one of it kind in India.

The ruined walls have exposed the interior. The pyramidal column is an engineering marvel, it rises 3 floor high. During my first three visits, I remember seeing kids running around inside. I think the building was used as a Madrasa. Looks like archaeology department has banned public usage. However the grounds around this monument is mostly occupied by children playing cricket.

The two great arches and domes. A photograph of the ruined Madrasa at Bidar, taken by D.H. Sykes in 1875 shows this yard was littered with massive chunks of rubble which was result of gunpowder explosion. On the right is one of those chunks left behind probable as a reminder of the incident.

Remains of a doorway.

A ruined arch. An arched window covered by a mesh made of mortar.

A wide angle lens would cover the entire structure or shoot from one of the roofs across the street.

Here's a short video.. a walk around the monument.


From here we continue our search of the gates of Bidar old city-
  • Fateh Darwaza
  • Talghat Darwaza
  • Agsi Mangalpet Darwaza
  • Shah Gunj Darwaza
Bidar fort has five gates namely-
  • Mandu Darwaza, main gate
  • Kalmadgi Darwaza
  • Delhi Darwaza
  • Kalyani Darwaza
  • Carnatic Darwaza
Mandu gate is the one used by locals and tourists. The remaining gates are used only by local people, would be interesting to explore and check them.
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