Bidar Fort an Half full filled Thirst

[Shekar]

Hi Friends, This is my last drive in 2018. 

 

First time I had visited Bidar Fort during first week of May, 2017 while returning from a Train Accident site near Kalgapur which is about 55 Kms further from Bidar from hyderabad. Me and my colleague went to the place to over see the recovery of a Locomotive (Railway Engine) and a coach which were drifted away from track due to derailment. 

 

Though unrelated to this forum, thought it will be interesting as it is also a mode of transportation. Few Photos... 

 

 

 

This restoration was planned after midnight of 04-05-2017 and we went by car instead of a train and actual work started at early hours of 05-05-2017 and completed by noon. Post lunch we started back and thought of visiting Bidar Fort on return. 

 

We reached a couple minutes before closing time of the fort at 5.00 PM. Security guards started locking the buildings (Museum, Jail etc). Even on request and telling them that we came from Hyderabad they did not stopped locking. We made a round of the fort saw it from locked gates and returned. 

 

At that I had decided to visit this fort during winter months but could not succeed. 

 

Couple of mobile clicks on first visit.

 

Coming to the present trip, 

 

It was not planned in advance, One of my travel partner from Betul MP with whom I traveled to Ladakh in 2016 invited me for his daughter's marriage being performed at Udgir MH on 29th Dec, 2018. I checked up train services and bus services to the place but none is convenient. Then decided to go by car. When my wife declined to travel, I asked two of my friends to joint with me. One among them is also traveled with us to Ladakh. 

 

So plan was to start early and reach Bidar before 9AM and after visiting Bidar Fort, reach Udgir by lunch. (marriage was at 12.45). Total one way about 240 Kms. I read the log of ID member's visit to Bidar twice before starting. 

 

As planned I started at 5.30 AM and picked up both partners from nallakunta and started our journey by sharp 6.00 AM. We took Mehidipatnam and entered ORR at Kokapet. Though it was early hours we did not tried Kukatpally road as it is time for long distance buses. 

 

Reached Mahindra Paradise by 07.30 Hrs to have breakfast. It was too cool out side. We had Poori for breakfast and started again by 8.10 AM towards Bidar. NH to Bidar bypass road is in very bad shape at few places. Further road up to Karnataka border was not so good. Once entered Karnataka, road is newly laid and smooth. We reached the fort just before 9.00 AM. we saw the clock tower and Gawan madarsa on the drive and did not stopped and clicked any photo. We were the first in the parking lot near the entry. When we entered in to main gate, we saw the unlocking of buildings by security personnel. I just remembered my last visit. The weather is cool and the sun light is lovely for photos. Missing is greenery of monsoon.  

 

Some views from my camera at entry

The Main Entry

Reverse view from Main Entry

The unique two lane mote 

We three together

This is behind the walls of Rangeen Mahal. A beautiful garden used to be here for a view of Rangeen Mahal inmates from their balconies.  

Back wall of Rangeen Mahal

I tried to click the main entry dome from inside. 

 

First we saw the Jail area. 

 

Some more photos.

View of Main entry from inside. Left side is the Museum and exactly opposite of it is Raneen Mahal. Behind the tree is Jail complex. 

View from Jail complex entry. Left is entry for Solah Kambha Mosque

 

 

Wide angle view of the building

 

Next we went in to Mosque area. 

 

We only found that the Solah Kambha Mosque is locked same way Turkish Mahal is also locked. We asked the security guard available there about it. He said they will not be opened and similarly Rangeen Mahal also locked. We pestered him to tell us how the locks can be opened. He said if we know some one in ASI, it may be possible and none of the ASI staff have come yet. We contacted our Railway official but they said they have no contacts with ASI. Disappointed, decided to see the museum and large canon and start to Udgir. 

 

Some clicks at Solah Kambha Mosque.

 

 

 

The Solah Kambha Mosque full view

Turkish Mahal

Building in which ASI office is situated. 

 

We decided to visit again with proper recommendation and started for visiting Museum and then the large Canon. 

 

Then came the luck 

 

A wood pecker near Museum. 

 

I will take a break and explain our Luck.            

[sagar]

Beautifully drafted log @Shekar

Thoroughly enjoyed reading through. Bidar is one of the closest heritage site to Hyderabad where one can enjoy an early morning drive. Do make sure to pay a visit during August/September. This place looks green and much beautiful to sight at  

[Shekar]

9 hours ago, sagar said:

Beautifully drafted log @Shekar

Thoroughly enjoyed reading through. Bidar is one of the closest heritage site to Hyderabad where one can enjoy an early morning drive. Do make sure to pay a visit during August/September. This place looks green and much beautiful to sight at  

Thank you @sagar Yes I need to visit this place again with my family friends. Otherwise they will kill me. 

[Shekar]

Let me continue explaining my luck. While clicking the Woodpecker, I had gone through ID drive to Budar to check whether you guys have seen the Rangeen Mahal and Turkish Mahal or not. I did not found any photos of those. Decided once again to come with proper recommendation. 

 

When we are approaching the gate of Museum, we noticed a person appears to be watching us for some time asked us " Museum Dhekna Hai Kya?" we said " Ha" then he asked "Rangeen Mahal Dhekana Hai Kya"   first for a second we did not believed our ears but when he repeated those words again, without wasting a fraction of second we said "Ha aap dikhavogi kya" he said "Ha chalo". We felt happy and the Mahal is not disappointing. Originally 7 storied building and some floors buried in the mud and top floors fallen. 

 

Let photos talk.

Water ponds (Bath Tub?) inside Rangeen Mahal. We were told there used to be a beautiful canopy over it and curtains are draped for privacy. 

 

Other water ponds

On the right is the dance hall and queen can watch it from first floor. 

There are floors below this. ASI had dug to find it but cont completed it for unknown reasons. 

Entry to main palace with wooden pillars with carvings and beautifully painted ceiling.

Beautiful entry. Extreme end is the outer wall of the fort from where you can see the park and road. 

 

  

Both side of the main hall (s) we can see small and big rooms with doors. 

Walled sit out from where one can see out side of the fort.

 

View of the lawn from balcony of the room.

Beautiful wooden ceiling in one of the room.

Main entry as seen from the top floor of Rangeen Mahal. The dome in the photo is of main gate. 

View of Turkish Mahal and Gagan Mahal

Another view from top

 

Said to be kitchen exhaust (Top closed later by ASI to avoid damage).

Intricate carvings in lime mortar on the walls of dance hall 

Nicely designed main arch to dance hall. The black border is made out of black stone. 

Ceiling of dance hall. 

 

When we finished visiting this, we asked the gentleman will you show us Turkish Mahal too. After asking thrice he reluctantly said yes but asked us to wait for some time. Then we asked him about showing us the underground palace and Karez under ground water system. He said both are permanently sealed with welded grills as few died after entering the Karez system and people are misusing underground palace for other purposes by breaking the locks. Later we discussed this with security, they said it all depends on the ASI officer of that period. In fact we thought they can charge tourists and employ extra security and also to meet cost of some lighting and fresh air systems. Hope some day some officer will think similarly. 

 

We decided to spend that some time asked by our guide in visiting Museum and Big Canon. 

 

There is not much in the museum. We were asked not to click our cameras in the Museum as if some secrete is in side. Then we went to visit the big canon. 

 

Some photos again... 

Ammunition store

A structure on Fort wall. ASI should have installed information boards at various places in the absence of proper guides at fort. 

The Big Canon. We were guessing how it could have been manufactured in 15th Century and how it was lifted to such height. . 

 

 

Canon balls lying at the private houses in the fort. 

Another smaller Canon on adjoining bastion 

View from Big Canon 

Long shot of the mai fort area

This road will lead to ORR of Bidar

Solah Kambha Mosque view from Big Canon

This we found near Ammunitionunation stores. are they used for to make canon balls? 

 

We returned back to museum and along with our guide? we went to see Turkish Mahal. Crowds have increased by the time and many were in the Solah Kambha Mosque area and we did not asked for inside view of the Mosque. Avoiding ground floor (said to be damaged) we were shown other floors. 

 

Some photos...

Garden View from Second Floor. There is a water tank on first floor to feed water to the fountain and water channel in the garden. There is deep well in side the palace still its water being used for watering the garden. 

Second floor low level arches and small rooms are available on either sides.  

Top most floors roofs have fallen 

Gagan Mahal under repair. This exactly behind Tukish Mahal and has a separate entrance. 

 

Some more ruins

Ground floor roof exists

 

 

Solah Kambha Mosque top view and other buildings as seen from third floor.

Garden view from third floor

 

Staircase. There used to be a canopy over it.

 

After coming out of this, we have thanked our guide in the best manner and started to visit the ruins in the backside. (Old Fort)

 

Both Dewan I Am and Takth Mahal are also locked up. We found many people who have come this side after seeing the direction boards are returning with much disappointment. We are not disappointed though and I know they are ruins not worth putting efforts to pester some one to open them. 

 

After making a quick roundup we started back and we are sure late for the marriage as it already past 12.00 noon.   

This is the vent hole for the Karez system in the fort which is 2 Kms of water channel dug under ground. People can pickup water from these vents. Total 21 such vents are provided of which 17 are existing now. 

 

We started from Bidar at 12.30 Noon and reached Udgir at 2.30 PM. Complete road SH4 is being laid with cement and in horrible state. We returned in different route SH122 and via Bidar reached home by 9.30 PM. 

 

Hope I did not dumped too many photos. 

 

Thanks for reading. 

[sagar]

Excellent report @Shekar. You have covered every bit of this place. Your pictures with details are definitely worth a mention   Thanks a lot for sharing the full log so clearly. Cheers to more drives ahead this year. Wish you a happy new year 2019  

[Gowtham]

On 12/30/2018 at 9:20 PM, Shekar said:

Train Accident site near Kalgapur

 

Are you a part of recovery team?

 

On 12/30/2018 at 9:20 PM, Shekar said:

First we saw the Jail area. 

 

Picture perfect.

 

I have been to Bidar numerous times,

Ready many travel stories, so far this is the best travel/photo log of Bidar.

 

Pictures are fantastic, you have covered all the areas of the fort. (kudos to your effort)

I want to know how much time did you spend on  photography? 

 

On 12/31/2018 at 7:47 PM, Shekar said:

Hope I did not dumped too many photos. 

 

It is an eye feast.

 

[Shekar]

2 hours ago, sagar said:

Excellent report @Shekar. You have covered every bit of this place. Your pictures with details are definitely worth a mention   Thanks a lot for sharing the full log so clearly. Cheers to more drives ahead this year. Wish you a happy new year 2019  

Thank you @sagar. Still I have to visit underground beauty. 

[sagar]

5 minutes ago, Shekar said:

Still I have to visit underground beauty. 

 

But, is it open to access for the public?

[Shekar]

1 minute ago, sagar said:

 

But, is it open to access for the public?

Not now but when I find a link in ASI, yes the doors will be opened. 

[Shekar]

1 hour ago, Ranger said:

 

Are you a part of recovery team?

 

 

Picture perfect.

 

I have been to Bidar numerous times,

Ready many travel stories, so far this is the best travel/photo log of Bidar.

 

Pictures are fantastic, you have covered all the areas of the fort. (kudos to your effort)

I want to know how much time did you spend on  photography? 

 

 

It is an eye feast.

 

Thank you @Ranger. Yes I am an expert in Railway Accident Rescue and Restoration. 

 

It took us more than 3 hours to visit the places excluding the old fort area. 

 

Took about 2 hrs for small edit. 

Took double the time to put up the report. 

[Gowtham]

39 minutes ago, Shekar said:

Yes I am an expert in Railway Accident Rescue and Restoration. 

 

Very interesting job. 

I'm sure you will have numerous stories to share. 

 

39 minutes ago, Shekar said:

It took us more than 3 hours to visit the places excluding the old fort area. 

 

Nice

[Anand Singh]

Thank you so much for sharing  heavy information @Shekar.It was very interesting, reading full travel Story.Unfortunately i was  there on Dec 28th & 29th in Bidar AirForce Station and as usual visited only Gurudwara. 

 

Until i saw your post i was not aware that Bidar fort is this much big. Next time will try to cover this Fort.?

[Shekar]

5 hours ago, Anand Singh said:

Thank you so much for sharing  heavy information @Shekar.It was very interesting, reading full travel Story.Unfortunately i was their on Dec 28th & 29th in Bidar AirForce Station and as usual visited only Gurudwara. 

 

Until i saw your post i was not aware that Bidar fort is this much big. Next time will try to cover this Fort.?

Thank you for liking @Anand Singh. There is always next time. We have passed in front of Gurudwara on return, but as we were already late did not stopped there to see it. I always love to visit Gurudwara and sit peacefully for some time inside. 

[RajG]

Awesome report Sir,

You pictures are very crisp.

 

I enjoyed reading your log.

It was very informative. 

 

 

[sagar]

On ‎1‎/‎3‎/‎2019 at 7:30 AM, Shekar said:

Thank you for liking @Anand Singh. There is always next time. We have passed in front of Gurudwara on return, but as we were already late did not stopped there to see it. I always love to visit Gurudwara and sit peacefully for some time inside. 

 

Apart from the Bidar Fort and the Gurudwara, there is also Narasimha swamy water cave temple in Bidar which is quite interesting. The pathway to do your darshan is through a water cave. One must do it if you haven't  

[Shekar]

11 hours ago, sagar said:

 

Apart from the Bidar Fort and the Gurudwara, there is also Narasimha swamy water cave temple in Bidar which is quite interesting. The pathway to do your darshan is through a water cave. One must do it if you haven't  

What I was told is the the way through water to Narsimha Swamy Temple is closed now since some one died of heart attack in the water. Ezpanding the path and air circulation arrangements are being made. Once they are in place, the path will be opened once again.  

[sagar]

On 1/4/2019 at 8:01 PM, Shekar said:

What I was told is the the way through water to Narsimha Swamy Temple is closed now since some one died of heart attack in the water.

 

Oh sad! I hope the renovation is now happening to make the pathway for a better crowd to pass through ?

Any idea about the date of access ?

[mansur]

Lovely travel story and nice pictures.. good information.. very helpful post. Thanks for sharing