You’ll find everything you need to know to plan a trip to Bidar in Karnataka in this blog post. This guide contains details on what to see in Bidar and where to stay, where to eat, getting around in Bidar and so much more! We’ve also put together the ideal itinerary if you are spending a day exploring the city.

Our experience of visiting Bidar

Bidar is the northern most district in Karnataka! The city is home to many incredible monuments which date back to the islamic era in the Indian subcontinent. In other words, that era led to many changes in culture, tradition, architecture and education and eventually shaped the region to what it is today.

We were curious to know about the history of the city and how it was an important part of the Bahmani dynasty. We visited the major monuments at the best time of the day while beating crowds. However, we learnt from locals that there are very few visitors from beyond nearby cities and towns. In other words, Bidar might just be ideal if you are looking for offbeat Karnataka destinations!

We also enjoyed the simple food in town. Street food was safe to consume and that made our experience wholesome too! Above all, we found it to be very cheap to travel in and explore. Therefore, we’ve put together this little easy-to-use guide to the best places to see in Bidar, Karnataka. Check it out!

Bidar Fort

Bidar Fort is a fort situated in the northern part of Bidar city. The credits for its construction goes to Sultan Alla-Ud Din Bahman of the Bahmanid Dynasty. Under his rule, the capital of the Bahmani dynasty was shifted from nearby Gulbarga to Bidar in 1427. The ruler had this fort built with many other Islamic monuments in the vicinity.

For its time, the fortress was very beautiful. It featured multiple layers behind massive walls from the outside to the inside. The insides of the fort were supposedly even more beautiful with gardens, colourful madrassas, arches and gardens. Some monuments like the Rangeen Mahal (Colourful Palace) have remained beautiful even today.

Tip: We recommend visiting the Bidar fort by 9 am to enjoy the crowd-free experience. There are tickets for specific monuments, while entering the fort is free.

There are. anumber of beautiful monuments inside the Bidar Fort. The Rangeen Mahal is a must visit among them. There are sections of well preserved Fresco art even today along with Islamic blue tiling, some of which is very similar to the monuments in Uzbekistan.

Other monuments include the Solah Khamba mosque and the Tarkash Mahal. There are a few gates along the perimeter of the Fort, each bearing a significance of their own. Of them, the Mandu Darwaza is the main gate.

Expect to spend about two hours exploring the fort and its monuments. ASI guards are very fussy about photography equipement.

Solah Khamba Masjid

Solah Khamba Masjidliterally means the sixteen-pillared mosque. It is the largest mosque and the oldest surviving building in Bidar and was built in 1423-24 AD by Qubil Sultani. This mosque features gigantic columns which support massive domes and arches. This mosque was also called Zanana Masjid as it is located near the Zanana enclosure. 

The hall accommodated hundreds of devotees comfortably during the holy Friday prayers. It also features a beautiful garden and landscaping in its front yard. The sharp contrast between the sandstone coloured walls, the lush green gardens and the vibrant blue skies will leave you awestruck!

The Solah Khamba Masjid remains closed most times as the ASI is working to preserve the delicate structure thats now stood for about 600 years. However, the outer courtyard is open to visitors and makes for a wonderful backdrop for photography. 

Tip: Since this is located within the Bidar Fort, we recommend visiting this monuent in the morning hours. Make sure to visit the free museum outside the mosque to learn about the history of Bidar.

Royal Bahmani Tombs

The Bahmani tombs are located on the north western side of Bidar city. The tombs are in a dilapidated state, but the ASI has been working to preserve and restore some of it. There is no entry fee. 

Inside the park, you can visit two distinct tombs. The main one is called the Rani Gumbaz, a towering foul pillar structure with a massive dome. The other is a slightly smaller structure which is located a hundred meters to its west. That is the tomb of Ibrahim Barid Shaahi, one of the rulers of the dynasty

At the entry gate, there is another mosque. It remains closed mostly and is in a poor condition as compared to the tombs. 

Barid Shahi Gardens and Park

There is a public park north of the tombs (necropolis) and it is called the Bardi Shahi Gardens. Inside the park, there are many smaller tombs from the Bahmani era. There are seats, lawns and even play areas for families to enjoy their time at the gardens. In addition, there are a few snack stalls and hawkers inside the park and many street food vendors outside the gate selling delicious snacks.

Tip: Visit the Barid Shahi Gardens at before sunse, which is the best time. However, carry mosquito repellants!

Basavakalyan

Basavakalyan was once the capital of the Kalyana Chalukyas and the centre of a great social and religious movement in the 12th century. It is located an hour away from Bidar city. Although known as Kalyani before independence, the place was renamed after Basaveshwara, the religious reformer of the Lingayat sect in Hinduism. During the 1100s, it was a seat of learning and an abode of spiritual wisdom. The place also became the home of great saints like Allama Prabhu, Akka-Mahadevi, Channabasavanna and Siddarama, in addition to Basaveshwara. Today, there is a massive Basavanna statue which houses a modern temple atop a hillock. In addition, there is a meditationcentre nearby called the Anubhava Mantapa. Basavakalyan also features a massive hillside fort.

Tip: Visit on your way out of the city as you drive towards Bidar or on your way back out from Bidar. Entry ticket costs INR 20.

Other places to see in Bidar and nearby

There are many more places to see in Bidar. Some of them include Mahmud Gawan Madrassa, which is located down the street from the Bidar Fort and also the nearby Bidar Clock tower. There is a famous temple in Bidar called as the Narasimha Jhira Cave Temple which is also worth a visit. In addition, you can also explore the nearby cities of Gulbarga and Hyderabad as they are a few hours away by road.

Read about the iconic city of Islamic rule in Karnataka 

Best itinerary for Bidar tourist places

You can easily explore the city in one day by starting early. We recommend this itinerary for seeing Bidar tourist places:

• Check into a hotel and then visit Bahmani Tombs at 4 pm and then the Barid Shahi Gardens for sunset.
• Dine at one of the many Khanavalis in town.
• Visit Bidar Fort early in the morning by 9 am to beat the crowds. Spend the next two hours exploring the different monuments inside the fort premises.

Stay, food, transport, weather and budget in Bidar, Karnataka

Bijapur has many small hotels and budget lodges. Not all are available via online booking. You can find some of them here though. We stayed at KSTDC Mayura Barid Shahi on the main road of the city. It was close to many small restaurants and street food joints! We paid INR 1000 for a very average room. It had an in-house restaurant (multi cuisine, which was good) and parking space too.

Budget and costs: Food is reasonably priced in the city. Expect to pay INR 30 for a plate of Idlis, INR 40 for a dosa, INR 30 for fresh Orange juice. Expect to pay about INR 80 for north Indian dishes. However, there are many small Chaat stalls in and around the major tourist attractions. Street food is generally safe to consume. In addition, fresh coconut water costs about INR 30.

Must eat: Khanavali Meals

Auto-rickshaws and local buses are available in Bidar. They are very affordable and easy to find. However, hire an auto for the day if you plan to visit all the monuments in one day. It may just make it easier. 

Weather is hot and dry like any other north Karnataka town. However, it gets cooler in the winter months. Therefore, we feel that its best to visit Bidar between November and February. It is unbearably hot in summer months (March to August) and not a good time to visit.

Tip: Dress modestly to respect conservative local beliefs and traditions. Wear cotton clothing to beat the hot weather. Carry an additional layer for evening chills.

How to get to Bidar, Karnataka

Bidar is very well connected with most major cities in Karnataka and most of South India. There are daily buses from Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune. Bidar is also close to Gulbarga, Bijapur and Hyderabad. These are the other important tourist cities in the region.

Love road tripping? Check this list of weekend getaways from Bangalore

Karnataka is indeed a very beautiful part of India! It is very popular for its greenery and architecture from the yesteryears. In fact, it is our home state and we’ve explored a few other places which you might just find just as appealing to explore! Check it out here.

If you have more questions or want to explore Bidar with us, please write to us – we’d be very happy to help!

Useful links

Here are some useful resources to plan and book your next trip. These are the same websites and apps that we use for our own bookings! We may earn a small commission if you make your booking using the below link, at no extra cost to you. 🤓