BIDAR FORT

This imposing fort was built in 1427 by Sultan Ala-ud-Din Bahman. Defended by thick walls and a triple moat, the fort was for a time the seat of the administrative capital of much of South India. It houses about thirty monuments within it, including the delicate Rangin Mahal with its panels inlaid with mother-of-pearl and coloured tiles, the Tarkash Mahal or throne room and its delicate Islamic inscriptions, and the Solah Khamba mosque and its 16 pillars. The most interesting monuments are closed by heavy gates, so we strongly recommend that you use a guide who can open them for you. Although it is falling apart, many Bollywood films have used the beauty of the fort to shoot scenes. A small museum at the entrance displays sculptures, mosaics and objects from the fort. The ideal time to discover this jewel is just after the monsoon, in September or October, when the plain at the foot of the fort is lined with greenery.

Karez. This is the most original feature of the site. The impressive water supply system, inspired by Persian technology. The set of underground canals was supplied from nearby springs and connected to the surface by vertical ducts. 17 of these ducts are still visible and the canals spread over 2 kilometres under the fort. It provided drinking water to the garrisons based inside the fort, even though the region is experiencing frequent periods of drought.