Early and medieval history

The first Rashtrakuta capital was Mayurkhandi (Morkhandi) in the present day Bidar district. The regal capital was later moved to Manyakheta (Malkhed) in the present day Kalaburagi district by Amoghavarsha I.^[6]

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 vassals to Sevuna Yadavas of Devagiri, Kakatiyas of Warangal, Alauddin Khalji 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 Kalburgi or Kalubaruge (pronounced as Gulbarga and subsequently renamed Ahsanabad by the Muslim newcomers) to Bidar (renamed Muhammadabad by the Bahmanis) in 1425. Bidar remained the 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. These 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 included into their Deccan province by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb during his viceroyship of Deccan in 1656. After the death of Aurangazeb, Asaf Jah I, the Mughal Subehdar of the Deccan province, became independent and assumed the title Nizam-ul-mulk, with the whole of the province under the Nizam's sovereign control.

After Independence, Bidar district, along with Gulbarga, Bijapur and Raichur districts, became part of Karnataka.

Topography

The district extends from latitude 17.35'N to 18.25'N and from the longitudes 76.42'E to 77.39'E^[7] which is located on the northern maidans of Karnataka which provides a mountainous treeless expansive plateau landscape.^[8]: 16 The ancient schistose rocks are covered by the Deccan Traps (Cretaceous Eocene).^[8]: 17 The most remarkable character of these traps is their perfectly horizontal disposition.^[8]: 28 The traps weather with a characteristic spheroidal weathering and the trap area is strewn with numerous dark-coloured boulders of all shapes and sizes. The soils covering this region are black to deep brown in colour which are rich in humus and form some of the most valuable fertile lands in the country,^[8]: 29 well suited for cultivating pulses.

Physiographically, the district can be divided into two regions, the northern low lands and southern high lands. The southern high lands are popularly known as Bidar plateau, which is made up of laterite. The ground altitudes are varying from 420 to 684 m (1,378 to 2,244 ft) above sea level. Bidar plateau has an elevation range from 640 to 684 m (2,100 to 2,244 ft) above sea level. The ground surface is flat, gently sloping forming broad valleys and flat topped hills. Flat topped hills with step-like sides exhibit the terraced landscape. The southern half of the district is a high plateau about 715 m (2,346 ft) above mean sea level and are well drained.

Soil

The two important types of soils noticed in the district are black soils and lateritic soils.

• Black soils: Major parts of the district are made up of black soils derived from Deccan traps. These are deep black in colour and their texture varies from loam to clay. Lime concentration in this soil is high, resulting in poor infiltration capacities. Their infiltration characteristics are poor to moderate. This type of soils covers mainly in areas lying below 610 m (2,000 ft) contour and along the valley portions.^[9]
• Lateritic soils: A lateritic soil is confined to the central portion of the district. Lateritic soils are pale to bright red in colour and clay to clayey loam in nature. This soil has moderate to good infiltration characteristics. This type of soils covers mainly in areas lying above 610 metres (2,000 ft) contour.^[9]

The entire district forms a part of the Deccan Plateau and is made up mostly of solidified lava. The northern part of the district is characterized by expanses of level and treeless surface punctuated here and there by flat and undulating hillocks, black soils and basaltic rocks. Alluvial deposit is normally found along the banks of the Manjra river and its main tributaries.

The district is entirely covered by the Deccan trap flows of the tertiary period. The Deccan trap is composed of horizontal flows of basaltic lava. They generally form flat-topped hillocks and terrace-like features. The physical characteristics of individual flows show considerable variations. Some flows are hard and massive while others are weathered, soft and friable. This character has resulted in terraced landscape, suddenly ending in escarpments. The traps are seen generally 618 metres (2,028 ft) above mean sea level. These are jointed and show the characteristics of spherical weathering leaving massive hard cores. Columnar jointing is predominantly developed in these rocks, besides horizontal joints, which impart to the rocks bedded appearance. The top layers of the Deccan trap in parts of Bidar and Humnabad talukas are altered to reddish vesicular laterite, forming and extensive undulating plateau.

The surface of the plateau presents wide stretches of red plains, either waved over by light dry grasses alive with coveys of partridges and herds of deer, or mottled by every sort of cultivation for which artificial irrigation is not essential. The laterite must everywhere be pierced nearly to the subjacent trap to reach the perennial springs, so that the wells in the vicinity of the edges of the tableland (maidan) are of extraordinary depth. The stream-fed valleys and the tracts of mixed soil in the lowlands bear prodigally fruits and grains, sugarcanes and vines, and every variety of vegetable produce.^[10]: 2

Weather and climate

The district experiences semi-arid climate with extreme summer. The dust storms and severe heat waves are common in the district between April and May. Coldest months are December and January. The temperature varies in the district between 20 °C and 42 °C The summer season in Bidar starts in the first week of March and lasts until mid-June. This is followed by southwest monsoon which continues till late September, and from September to end of January is winter.

May is the hottest month with average daily maximum temperature of 38.8 °C while December is the coldest with average daily minimum of 16.4 °C, The highest temperature recorded at Bidar was 43.3 °C on 8 May 1931, and the lowest 3.9 °C on 5 January 1901.^[11]

The average annual precipitation at Bidar is 847 mm (33.3 in), with most of the rainfall received during the monsoon season. The variation in rainfall from year to year is large and the district is prone to drought.^[12]

River systems and drainage

The important rivers in the district are:

• Manjra
• Karanja (River)
• Chulki Nala
• Mullamari
• Gandrinala

The district has two river basins, the Godavari and the Krishna. Major parts of the district are covered by Godavari basin, drained by its two major tributaries the Manjra and the Karanja rivers. The Godavari basin extends to over 4,411 km² (1,703 sq mi), of which Manjra covers up to 1,989 km² (768 sq mi) and Karanja up to 2,422 km² (935 sq mi). The Krishna basin covers 585 km² (226 sq mi) of which Mullamari river basin covers 249 km² (96 sq mi) and Gandarinala river basin covers 336 km² (130 sq mi). The Manjra river is perennial river flows over a distance of 155 km (96 mi) in the central part of the district and flows in eastern direction with a meandering course. The Karanja river flows in northwestern direction for 74 km (46 mi) with Karanja reservoir being major water source. The river Mullamari takes its origin near Matala village of Basavakalyan taluk flows from west to east for a length of 38 km (24 mi) and then flows into Kalaburgi district and joins the river Kagna. The Kagna river is one of the main tributary of Bhima river. Besides, there are several streams, which are of ephemeral in nature. The drainage pattern in the district varies from sub-dendritic to dendritic and some streams have a sub parallel drainage to the main river.^[9]

These rivers and their rivulets are not navigable.

Forests

Location of the Bidar district with respect to the other districts in Karnataka

Bidar Forest Division is the northernmost division of Karnataka, encompassing the whole of Bidar district and 31 villages of the adjoining Gulbarga district. Classified under reserve forests, protected forests and unclassed forests, Bidar Forest Division has 435.92 km² (168.31 sq mi) of its area under forest cover.^[13]

The forests are mainly dry deciduous and have scrub type vegetation. Over the years, almost all the forest areas have been worked on one or more times resulting in large expanses of man made forests consisting mostly of Eucalyptus, Acacia auriculiformis, Glyricidia, and miscellaneous species such as Hardwickia, Albizzia, Azadirachta, and Pterocarpus.^[13] The majority of these plantations are successful. Because of the sustained efforts of the forest department, the forest cover in the district has increased by about 4% as reported by the Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Agency.

Teak is found mixed with dry deciduous species. Ground cover is scanty and seedlings regeneration is practically absent. Thorny plants occur and tend to increase in proportion with heavy grazing, to which most of the area is subjected. Ground cover is scanty and seedlings regeneration is practically absent. Grazing incidence is heavy. This type of forest is found in Changlair, Karpakpalli and Karakanalli forests.

Acacia catechu, Acacia leucophloea, Wrightia tinctoria, Zizyphus xylopyrus, Cassia fistula, Annona species, Azadirachta indica, Butea monosperma, Chloroxylon switenia, Albizzia amara, etc. are widely seen in Ladwanthi, Kohinoor, Algood and Manhalli forests Basavakalyan range.

Out of the total forest area of 435 km² (168 sq mi) in the division, more than 50 percent of the area is concentrated in Humnabad range, followed by Bidar range (20%) and Basavakalyan range. Aurad range is having the smallest area under the forest.^[13]

Viewed from the point of area under forests, the out-turn of forest produce and the revenue from forests Bidar division is not endowed with quality forest wealth. Out of the total geographical area of 5,448 km² (2,103 sq mi) in Bidar division, an extent of 435.9 km² (168.3 sq mi) under forests. In other words, this accounts for about 8.5 percent of the total geographical area. Area under forests in the division is very much below the state average.

Wildlife

The northern part of the state is generally considered to be a dry belt, devoid of water bodies, vegetation and wildlife. The surroundings of Bidar, the northernmost district, seem to be an exception.

There are no wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the Bidar Forest Division. However, leopards may be seen occasionally far from human habitations. Langurs, wolves, spotted deer, wild boar,^[14] hares,^[14] porcupines,^[14] foxes,^[14] wild cats and jackals are also seen.^[13] In Karnataka, after Ranebennur Blackbuck Sanctuary in Haveri district and Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve in Tumkur district, a sizeable population of near threatened species of blackbucks is found in the plains of Bidar District.^[14]

The existing natural water holes have to be developed by desilting. Herds of spotted deer and peafowl are found in Kamathana, Chitta, Shahapur and Godepalli forest areas.^[13] Poaching of deer in these areas is common. Hence, protection needs to be ensured. Creation of a wildlife sanctuary may be contemplated in the future when the number of wildlife increases. Some of the bigger trees act as a roosting place for peacocks, the national bird of India. The following forests support considerable wildlife:

• Narayanapur reserved forest in Basavakalyan range
• Dubalgundi and Benchincholi forest blocks in Humnabad range
• Kosam, Khanapur and Dhanura forests in Bhalki range

In addition to commonly found birds, varied species like green bee eaters,^[14] robins,^[14] sunbirds,^[14] red vented bulbuls,^[14] egrets, herons, ducks,^[14] cormorants,^[14] kingfishers,^[14] kites, eagles, peafowls and partridges^[14] can be seen. Rare birds and endangered species such as Indian coursers^[14] and vultures are often sighted.

Winter sees the arrival of aquatic migratory birds from regions as far as Siberia, Mongolia and Alaska. One study has recorded 74 species of aquatic birds in Bidar district, of which 32 species are migratory. Tanks and other water bodies at places like Janawada, Elaspur, Solpur, Papnash, Hallikhed, and Tripurant in the district, which have large quantities of fish and other aquatic animals, provide feeding grounds to various migratory birds like, black-necked stork, great stone plover, marsh sandpiper, and painted snipe.^[15]

Languages

According to the 2011 census, 52.97% of the population spoke Kannada, 18.41% Marathi, 17.16% Urdu, 4.25% Telugu, 3.60% Lambadi and 3.14% Hindi as their first language.^[22] Kannada is official and the most spoken language in the district. Marathi is spoken in villages and towns bordered with Maharashtra. Urdu and Hindi are spoken mainly in urban areas. Telugu is spoken by Telugu people who live in the areas of the district bordering Telangana. Lambadi is spoken by Banjara people.^[21]

Sandalwood carving

A locally less-known but globally renowned sandalwood carving at Bakchodi village in the district produces woodworks of Buddha heads, handicraft items and prayer beads carved in red sandalwood to many countries in Europe and Asia.^[23]

Religious places

• Anubhava Mantapa, Basavakalyan
• Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Sahib
• Narasimha Jharni Cave Temple
• Shri Mailar Mallanna Devasthana, Mailar, Khanapur (Bidar taluka)
• Shri Manik Prabhu Devasthanam, Manik Nagar (Humnabad taluka)

Hospitals

• Gudge Hospital, Bidar
• Mulge Multispeciality Hospital, Bidar
• Guru Nanak Hospital Bidar
• Dr Gurupadappa Nagamarpalli Hospital, Bidar

Agriculture

Traditional farming in Bidar with jola ("sorghum") in the background

Agriculture is the main occupation in rural parts of the district. Greengram, bengalgram, blackgram, paddy, groundnut, wheat, redgram, sugarcane and chillies are other agricultural crops.

Agriculture in Bidar had its own specific form. Drawing on the specification of the local ecology, agriculture was mostly dry cultivation or rain-dependent cultivation in which a wide variety of local sorghum (jola, the staple grain) was grown in combination with pulses, oil seeds, wheat and other cereals. Though cultivation was restricted to two periods, rabi or "winter cultivation" (August–January), and kharif or "summer cultivation" (June–September), care was taken to cultivate green manure crops of sann hemp^[25] and diancha. The cultivation and use of such manure crops helped agriculturists retain the fertility of the soil, decreased the chances of external pests and diseases entering the fields, and enabled agriculturists to be self-reliant for a very significant agricultural input. Even by the 1970s little commercial or inorganic manure and fertilisers were used.^[26]

However, the agriculture of Bidar, like that of many other semi-arid regions which produced dry cereals, was considered to be "low productive" and has been subject to a variety of "development programmes" that have drawn, largely, on the agenda of the Green Revolution. Drawing on programmes and policies that emphasise the need to increase agricultural productivity, the state has promoted a model of agriculture in the region that draws primarily on the model of agriculture developed for wet regions and for commercial cultivation.^[26]

In 1966–67, high-yielding varieties of seeds for sorghum, paddy, wheat and sugarcane were introduced. Gradually between the late 1960s and mid-1970s hybrid varieties of seeds for other crops such as cotton, pulses and sunflower were introduced. The cultivation of tur or toghri (red gram) as a commercial crop became the primary agricultural agenda in the region, A significant proportion of land once under multi-crops and dry cultivation (especially sorghum, wheat and oil-seeds) has now been dedicated to the cultivation of pulses, especially that of kadle (Bengal gram) and tur.^[26]

The introduction and promotion of modern agriculture resulted in the development of two key and striking contradictions in the region. Perhaps the most significant contradiction of this is that while there is an alteration in the very foundations and orientations of agricultural cultivation (in the type of crops cultivated, in the new seed varieties, new inputs, etc.), there is little or no change in the social bases of the agrarian society. That is, though there is an alteration in the physical conduct of agriculture (in the types of crops grown, the cultivation patterns etc.), it is not matched by any alteration in the ownership patterns of the agrarian society in which the new agriculture is introduced. Though it is largely a dry cultivation belt with a predominance of small cultivators, there is a schism in the patterns of land ownership.^[26]

Given the declining size of landholdings, many small and marginal cultivators resort to renting or sharecropping.

• Social scenario - The introduction of commercial agriculture in this predominantly dry agriculture belt has its impact on the social fabric of the region. Commercial agriculture itself forces agriculturists to submit to the prescriptions of the agricultural extension service, the market, the agri-business agencies and credit institutions and agents. Agriculture is no longer drawn on the established principles of local knowledge and caste and kin-based ties. Instead, agriculture is a form of livelihood, to engage in which individual agriculturists (farmers) depend primarily on their household and family support. As agriculture becomes an externally prescribed form of economic activity there are problems in the dissemination of knowledge, in the conduct of actual agricultural activities and in the understanding and management of situations such as crop loss.^[26]

Administration

The district has eight talukas, Bidar, Humnabad, Bhalki, Aurad, Hulsoor, Chitgoppa, Kamalnagar and Basavakalyan. In the Lok Sabha, the district is represented by Bidar constituency. The MP for Bidar is Bhagwanth Khuba from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Legislative Assembly seats

In the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Bidar district is represented through six members elected from the following assembly segments:

• Bidar - Rahim Khan (Congress)
• Bidar South - Bandeppa Kashempur (JD(S))
• Bhalki - Eshwara Khandre (Congress)
• Basavakalyan - Sharanu Salagar (BJP)
• Aurad - Prabhu Chavhan (BJP)
• Humnabad - Rajshekar Patil (Congress)