Bidar

Bidar - the lost artisans of Bidri

Bidar is an important historical and cultural town.

The Bidar fort (Vidarbha, the ancient place mentioned in the Mahabharata) stands tall and high engulfing the whole of the Bidar town, which is about a 2 hours drive, 120kms west of Hyderabad on the AP – Karnataka border.

In the year 977 AD, the Chalukyas established their kingdom in the South and their capital was Kalyani. It was 57 Kilometer from the Bidar Fort, which belonged to them. Later on however, the fort went into the hands of the Yadavas of Devagiri, and then into the hands of the Kalyanas of Warangal in 1322.

However, the real charm and elegance of the Bidar Fort rose to its zenith in the hands of the Muslims. Under the Delhi Sultanate the Bidar Fort was reconstructed and many new fractions were added to make the fort more and more modern and charismatic. It is at a height of 2,200 feet from the sea level and overlooks the Manjira River Valley. The old world charm and aristocracy has been preserved with utmost care and transports oneself to the land of the glorious maharajas. The lush green fields, adorned with aromatic fountains and baths suited to a royal class, and the seraglios, pavilion and the palaces embellish the palace beyond imagination. (India profile)

The other facet of the place is the art lovers’ fantasy in the form of Bidri - sturdy and almost unbreakable objects in various shapes and sizes; jet-black in color, Bidriware comes alive with dazzling silver inlay work. Persian immigrants taught this form of art to locals in Bidar during the reign of the Bahmanis. However, of Persian origin, down the ages, Bidri work has developed its own unique form and style. It is an ancestral art passed down generations, extremely time consuming and labor intensive. Nevertheless, sadly, such skilled artisans are lost in the dingy and dark back lanes of Bidar.

Noor Alam, spends 8 hours in a day to create the intricate work of Bidri. The room is nothing more than 6ft by 6ft and depends much on daylight coming from a small window right on top. He represents one of many unattained, unknown creators of beauty who are not only lost in the back lane but also are poorly paid in lieu of their mighty creations. One can get to see the beauty of the Bidri being created in the lanes of Bidar and can buy such artistry in the small shops that are found in and around Bidar.

The other tourist attractions are King's tombs, Madras Mohammad Gawan, Tombs of Barid Shah, HazaratKhaja Abdul Faiz, Choubara(watch tower )at Bidar. Apart from the Monuments, other important places of religious and pilgrimage significance are Papanasham Shiva temple,Gurunanak Gurudwara and Narasimha Swamy Temple.

It is a small town with lot of rich historical and cultural heritage. A very soothing place to spend a day in artistic warmth and historical glory.How to Reach

By Road: Its just 2 and half hours drive from the airport to Bidar on NH9 till Zaheerabad and a diversion of 28 KMs after Zaheerabad. From Bangalore many Govt Luxury Buses of KSRTC ply daily via Hyderbad, Its 16 hours journey from Bangalore via Hyderabad on NH 7 and NH 9. From Bangalore Via Gulbarga and Bellary its 20 hours journey. From Hyderbad Imaliban bus stand for every 15 minutes a Bus to Bidar is available from Plat form No 36.


By Rail: Rail facility is available from Bangalore and Hyderbad. Bangalore - Nanded Link Express Via Bidar, Departure from Bangalore at 9.50 PM. Secundrabad - Manmad Express from Hyderbad Departure at 6 PM from Secundrabad Station, Hyderbad. Hyderbad - Aurangabad Express from Kachiguda weekly thrice. One can also take Udyan express or KK Express from Bangalore reach Gulbarga and take a bus from there, its 105 KMS from Gulbarga.


Places to Stay: There are very few hotels and lodges in Bidar. Whatever accommodation is available is of mediocre standard. Moreover, due to the non-availability of proper accommodation it is better to make a daylong visit from Hyderabad rather than staying overnight at Bidar.