{"id":6568,"date":"2023-02-18T17:14:12","date_gmt":"2023-02-18T17:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/?p=6568"},"modified":"2025-01-27T14:11:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T14:11:12","slug":"bidar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalwanderings.co.uk\/new\/2023\/02\/18\/bidar\/","title":{"rendered":"Bidar"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

After a four year hiatus, I was back in India. This time, I was to explore northern Karnataka concentrating on the architecture of the Deccanni sultanates and the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar, finishing up with a few days in Goa. First up was Bidar, now a small town in the middle of nowhere but formerly the capital of a great Muslim kingdom of the 15th and 16th centuries.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

It was a bit of trek to get there because as it was my first destination in India, I flew in to Mumbai then a connecting flight to Hyderabad and then the easiest and quickest way to get there was a taxi from the airport. Fortunately in India a taxi ride of 150kms is not overly expensive – \u00a350 for the two and a half hour trip. So, 28hrs after leaving my home in Portugal, I checked into the Sapnaa International Hotel in Bidar. Don’t be fooled by the international moniker, but at least it was clean.<\/p>\r\n

Sapnaa International Hotel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n

The blokes at the hotel were friendly but spoke no English as foreign tourists rarely come here. Surprising as there are plenty of interesting monuments. As expected, Bidar town was less than salubrious. At least the main streets were wide but with only rubble to serve as pavements. I headed down the street in search of the Baridi tombs. I saw a sign for the Barid Shahi Garden and headed in. In retrospect I should have gone to another, more famous tomb across the road – the Ali Barid tomb<\/a>\u00a0 but somehow couldn’t find it – maybe it was jet lag. Anyway, the Barid Shahi garden was interesting and featured the tomb of Qasim Barid I from the early 16th century. I also arrived at the same time as a bus load of schoolies so was subject to a host of selfies and an incessant chorus of “What is your country?” It was good natured and the lads are always friendly and happy.<\/p>\r\n

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tomb of Qasim Barid I (1492-1504)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n

On the way back from the tombs I came upon a parade. Quite a common occurrence in India but I have no idea of the purpose of this one.<\/p>\r\n