Bidar is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the north-eastern part of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Bidar District. Bidar is also known as the crown of Karnataka because of its geographic location in the state of Karnataka.
Bidar city is known for its unique Bidri handicraft products. Manjeera is one of the main rivers supplying drinking water to Bidar .
History
Bidar was one of the most prosperous cities of south India during the period of 11th century to 16th century.
The first Rashtrakuta capital, Mayurkhandi, was in Bidar district. The regal capital was later moved by Amoghavarsha I to Manyakheta in the present Gulbarga district.
Kalyani (today called Basavakalyan, after Basaveshwara) in Bidar district was the capital of Western Chalukyas, who were also called Kalyani Chalukyas after their capital. The Kalachuris continued with Kalyani as their capital.
Later, Bidar was ruled in succession by the Sevuna Yadavas of Devagiri before being ruled by Allauddin Khilji, Malik Kafur and Muhammad bin Tughluq.
The generals of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq who were nominated as viceroys of the newly conquered Deccan region broke up and formed the Bahmani Sultanate under Allauddin Hasan Gangu Bahman Shah.
The Bahmani capital was shifted from Ahsanabad (Kalburgi or Kalubaruge, pronounced as Gulbarga by the Muslim newcomers), to Muhammadabad (Bidar, as it was called then), in 1425 and remained capital until the Sultanate's breakup after 1518. It then became the center of the Barid Shahis, one of the five independent sultanates known as the Deccan sultanates, that were the successor states to the Bahmani kingdom.
The Bidar Sultanate was absorbed by the Bijapur Sultanate to the west in 1619, which was in turn conquered by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1686.
In 1956, it became a part of Mysore state, later renamed Karnataka.
Bidar, along with Gulbarga, Raichur and Koppal are collectively referred to as North Karnataka Bellary, though ceded to the British in 1796 AD, is also grouped together with these areas.
