The Bahmani dynasty and their architectural grandeur in Bidar Premium

According to the historians, the kingdom was marred by internal strife for power. Despite several hurdles, Ahmad Shah I created an environment that attracted scholars from around the world. Besides promoting art and literature, the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa -an educational institution was established during his rule.

When the Bahmani Sultanate shifted its capital from Gulbarga (Now Kalaburagi) to Bidar (previously known as Muhammadabad) in 1422, the ninth ruler of Bahmanis- Ahmad Shah I, faced challenges and struggled with political unrest and factionalism. However, he was successful in maintaining the integrity of the Bahmani dynasty, which had seen impressive growth in the past.

According to the historians, the kingdom was marred by internal strife for power. Despite several hurdles, Ahmad Shah I created an environment that attracted scholars from around the world. Besides promoting art and literature, the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa -an educational institution was established during his rule.

Historians say that shifting the capital of the Bahmani kingdom from Gulbarga to Bidar was a strategic move as it made easier to administer the kingdom and the Bidar’s hilly terrain provided a security. Also its connectivity to trade routes encouraged trade and economic growth, and eventually helped it maintain distance from rival kingdoms, that brought political stability to the kingdom.

The Bahmani dynasty had 18 kings and ruled for almost 200 years . It made Gulbarga as its capital for the first 75 years followed by Bidar for over a century. Of the 18 Bahmani rulers, first eight rulers including - Allauddin Hasan Gangu Bahman Shah, Muhammad Shah I, Allauddin Mujahid Shah, Dawud Shah I, Muhammad Shah II, Ghiyas-ud-Din Tahmatan Shah, Shams-ud-din Daud Shah II and Taj-ud-Din Feroz Shah made Gulbarga as their capital from 1347 to 1422.

Ahmad Shah I, Ala-ud-Din Ahmed Shah II, Ala-ud-Din Humayun Shah, Nizam-ud-din Ahmad Shah III, Shams-ud-din Muhammad Shah III, Shihab-ud-din Mahmud Shah, Ahmed Shah IV, Ala-ud-Din Muhammad Shah, Wali-ullah Shah and Kaleem-ullah Shah ruled from Bidar as capital between 1422 and1538.

The imposing Bidar fort is well protected with a three-layered fortification spread across 67 acres with a perimeter of 5.5 kilometres. Its outer walls measure 5 metres thick and 10 metres high, interspersed with seven gates and 37 bastions. The irregular rhomboid shaped fort houses palaces, mosques, and courtyards.

The Fort has seven grand arched gates- of which the Gumbad Darwaza and Sharaza Darwaza were the two most prominent entrance gates. The other five gates – Carnatic Darwaza, Mandu Darwaza, Kalyani Darwaza, Kalmadgi Darwaza, Delhi Darwaza were named based on their directions.