Bidar itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Bidar

1. 01

   Day 1: Fort, madrasa and a tomb sunset

   Start at Bidar Fort at opening time. Walk through the Gumbad Darwaza, check whether Rangin Mahal is open, and spend most of the morning at the Solah Khamba Mosque and the palace ruins. After lunch and a rest, see the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa and the Chaubara on the old street. Drive out to Ashtur in late afternoon for the Bahmani tombs, and if there is time, stop at the Barid Shahi tombs on Udgir Road on the way back.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Bidar Fort	2–3 hours for the main sights; a half day with the ramparts	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon; November to February is the comfortable season
   Rangin Mahal	20–30 minutes	Easy	Morning, when light inside is better and the fort is quiet
   Solah Khamba Mosque	30–45 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon, when the arcade is in shade
   Mahmud Gawan Madrasa	30–45 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon; avoid midday sun in the courtyard
   Chaubara	20–40 minutes including the climb	Moderate	Late afternoon, for the light and a cooler climb
   Barid Shahi Tombs	45–60 minutes	Easy	Late afternoon, with soft light on the domes

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Bidar Fort: Paths inside are broad and mostly level, but the complex is spread out with little shade or seating, and some gate approaches and ruined rooms have steps and rubble. A car that can drop you at the inner gates and wait makes it manageable for older visitors.

   With parents at Chaubara: Seeing the tower from the street is easy. The climb is a winding staircase of about 80 steps with narrow, uneven treads and no seating, so it suits only confident walkers.

Plan 02

2 days in Bidar

1. 01

   Day 1: The fort and the old street

   Take the fort slowly in the morning, including the interpretation centre and the Solah Khamba Mosque. After lunch, walk to the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa and the Chaubara. If you want a souvenir, ask a local guide for a Bidriware workshop in the old town.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Solah Khamba Mosque	30–45 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon, when the arcade is in shade
   Mahmud Gawan Madrasa	30–45 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon; avoid midday sun in the courtyard
   Chaubara	20–40 minutes including the climb	Moderate	Late afternoon, for the light and a cooler climb

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Chaubara: Seeing the tower from the street is easy. The climb is a winding staircase of about 80 steps with narrow, uneven treads and no seating, so it suits only confident walkers.

2. 02

   Day 2: Tombs and shrines

   Visit Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib in the morning and eat at the langar. Then see the Papnash Shiva Temple. In the afternoon, drive to the Bahmani tombs at Ashtur for the painted interior and light, and finish at the Barid Shahi tombs.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Papnash Shiva Temple	45–60 minutes	Moderate	Morning; Maha Shivaratri for atmosphere but heavy crowds
   Bahmani Tombs at Ashtur	1–1.5 hours	Easy	Late afternoon, near sunset, when the domes glow
   Barid Shahi Tombs	45–60 minutes	Easy	Late afternoon, with soft light on the domes

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Papnash Shiva Temple: There are steps down to the shrine and tank, with a few places to sit. Crowds on festival days make it harder for older visitors.

Plan 03

3 days in Bidar

1. 01

   Day 1: Fort and madrasa

   Spend the morning at Bidar Fort, then rest. In the late afternoon, visit the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa and the Chaubara, and take a gentle walk along the old street.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Bidar Fort	2–3 hours for the main sights; a half day with the ramparts	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon; November to February is the comfortable season
   Mahmud Gawan Madrasa	30–45 minutes	Easy	Morning or late afternoon; avoid midday sun in the courtyard
   Chaubara	20–40 minutes including the climb	Moderate	Late afternoon, for the light and a cooler climb

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Bidar Fort: Paths inside are broad and mostly level, but the complex is spread out with little shade or seating, and some gate approaches and ruined rooms have steps and rubble. A car that can drop you at the inner gates and wait makes it manageable for older visitors.

   With parents at Chaubara: Seeing the tower from the street is easy. The climb is a winding staircase of about 80 steps with narrow, uneven treads and no seating, so it suits only confident walkers.

2. 02

   Day 2: Shrines and craft

   Start at Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib, then visit the Papnash Shiva Temple. If you are fit and the cave is open, try Narasimha Jharni in the late morning; otherwise visit the Naubad karez. Spend the afternoon at a Bidriware workshop.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Papnash Shiva Temple	45–60 minutes	Moderate	Morning; Maha Shivaratri for atmosphere but heavy crowds
   Naubad Karez	30–45 minutes	Easy	Morning, in the dry season when water is visible

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Papnash Shiva Temple: There are steps down to the shrine and tank, with a few places to sit. Crowds on festival days make it harder for older visitors.

3. 03

   Day 3: Tombs, or a day trip

   Visit the Bahmani tombs at Ashtur and the Barid Shahi tombs in the morning or late afternoon. Alternatively, make a longer day trip to Basavakalyan to see the Anubhava Mantapa memorial, which is about 80 km away.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Bahmani Tombs at Ashtur	1–1.5 hours	Easy	Late afternoon, near sunset, when the domes glow
   Barid Shahi Tombs	45–60 minutes	Easy	Late afternoon, with soft light on the domes

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Bidar trip for parents and children

• Hire a car and driver for the whole day so you have somewhere to rest between sights; the fort and tombs are spread out.
• Start at opening time and rest after lunch; April to June afternoons are very hot and the fort has little shade.
• The fort, madrasa and Barid Shahi tombs are mostly level; the Chaubara climb, the Chaukhandi steps and the Narasimha Jharni cave are not suited to everyone.
• Carry water and a hat, and wear shoes with grip for rubble and uneven stone.
• Dress modestly for the shrines; cover your head at the gurdwara and be ready to remove shoes.
• Heat: April to June is very hot, with highs near 38 to 39 degrees. Plan sightseeing for the first hours after opening and the late afternoon, and rest in between.

Bidar with elderly parents: the full guide →