Bidar is a city located on the Deccan Plateau in the North Eastern part of Karnataka.  Bidar is the headquarters of the Bidar District.  Bidar city is very well known for its exclusive Bidri handicraft products.  One of the main rivers supplying drinking water to Bidar is from Manjira River. Bidar city is the administrative centre of the district.  It is located in the Northeastern corner of Karnataka, with close bordering Andhra Pradesh on the East side, 120 km away from Andhra Pradeshs capital Hyderbad and on to the North & West is Maharashtra.  Bidar was part of Hyderabad State until about 1956.

Bidar History

Bidar Sultanate was engrossed by the Bijapur Sultanate to the West until 1619, which was later incorporated into their Deccan province by the Mughal 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 autonomous and assumed the title Nizam-ul-mulk, with the whole of the province under the Nizam's sovereign control.  This status stayed unchanged until Operation Polo, when the Nizam's territory was amalgamated to the Republic of India. With the reforms of states in 1956 on the basis of linguistics, Bidar was considered as Kannada speaking area, and became a part of united Mysore state which ulimately renamed as Karnataka.

Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur and Koppal are together referred to as Hyderabad Karnataka.  Bellary, though surrendered to the British in 1796, is also grouped together with these areas.  Bidar was ruled in series by the vassals to Sevuna Yadavas of Devagiri, Kakatiyas of Warangal, Allauddin Khilji, and Muhammad bin Tughluq.

Bidar Climate

Most of North Karnataka that includes Bijapur, Gulbarga and Bidar are considered as dry areas.  Summer season typically ensues in Bidar in February and lasts until June and it is followed by Southwest monsoon which prolongs until late September, and from September to end of January is winter. May month is the hottest month for Bidar with mercury rising up to 38.8 C and December is the coldest with average daily minimum of 16.4 C.  Record high temperature recorded ever in Bidar is 43.3 C on May 8, 1931, and the lowest recorded ever is 3.9 C on January 5, 1901. The average annual rain in Bidar is 847 mm with majority of the rainfall received during the monsoon season.  The variation in rainfall from year to year is huge and the district is very much vulnerable to drought.

Bidar Tourism

Tourist places in Bidar
 Guru Nank Jhira, Bidar
 Papnash Shiva Temple at Bidar
 Narshimha Jhira Water Cave Temple
 Dev DeV Vana (Botanical Garden)
 Veerbhadreshewar Jatra's at Humnabad & Changlare
 Manik Prabhu Temple at Humnabad
 Chidambara Aashram, Shri Siddharudha Math, (Gumpa) Bidar
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS IN BIDAR
 BIDAR FORT-INNER FORT
 The Sharaza Darwaza
 The Gumbad Darwaza
 The Rangeen Mahal
 The Royal Kitchens
 The Royal Baths
 The Tarakash Mahal
 The Gagan Mahal (Hevenly Palace)
 The Diwan-e-Am(Hall of Public Audience)
 The Takhat Mahal (Throne Palace) Royal Pavilion
 The Haraj Kothri
 The Naubat Khana(Band Hall)
 Sol Khamba Mosque Fortification and their cannons Old Fort, Pond etc.
AROUND BIDAR
 The Choubara
 The Madrsa of Mahamud Gawan
The Habshikot Dara of Hazrat shal Abdul Faid
 The humble grave of Mahammud Gawan
 The Bahamani Toms at Ashtur
 The Chaukandi
 The Baridi Tombs
 Other places of interest Bidar District.
 Papnash Temple and Pond
 Narsimha Zira
 Gurunanak Zira
 Gai Mukh
 Mailar
 Jalsangi
 Karaja Dam
 Dev Dev Vana
PLACES IN AND AROUND BASAVAKALYAN
 Fort Museum
 Basaveshwar Temple
 Parusha Katte
 Prabhudevara Gaddige
 Tripurantaka Lake
 Akkanagamma's Cave
 Basaveshwara Mahamane
 Vijnaneshvara cave
 Caves of Sharanas Mathas and Dargahs
 Manik Prabhu Samsthana at Maniknagar