Bahmani Tombs - Historical Landmark of Bidar

Bahmani Tombs, formally called as the Tombs of Sultan Ahmad Shah Bahmani, these are a cluster of 12 tombs located at the outskirts of the town. Ahmad Shah shifted the capital from Gulbarga to Bidar in 1430 but he died in 1436. His son Alauddin built a majestic tomb for his father, which is very famous among the 12. The walls are about 12 feet thick with three doors built into huge recessed arches and a huge dome on the top. This tomb is known for its beautiful walls, which are inscribed with Holy Quran. The walls of the tomb are also decorated with beautiful paintings. Highlight of this tomb is the swastika symbol, which has been used in this mausoleum for ornamentation.

The paintings here depict lovely contrasts and the skill of the artist in blending colors. East of Ahmad Shah Tomb, built at a lower level of similar architecture is the tomb attributed to his wife Shah Jehan Begum. There are five graves inside with the largest one said to be of his wife. There is another shattered tomb to the South of Ahmad Shah tomb. The tomb appears to be of one of younger sons or nephew of Ahmad Shah. On the immediate West of Ahmad Shah tomb is a small whitewashed mosque. Alauddin Tomb shows great improvement over Ahmad Shah’s tomb. There are a lot of decorations and carvings on the exterior walls.

Arched edges are decorated with carved black stones. The tile panels were blue, green, yellow, white and embellished with calligraphy. Humayun Shah’s tomb was struck by lightning and most of its dome and two walls collapsed. The shattered tomb is a strange sight. It seems like a cross section cut model of a tomb especially set up for students of architecture. Other times it gives a feeling as if a retractable roof will just slide in and complete the dome. The inside of the tomb has trabeate niches, lintels and the dome uses light spongy bricks, a clear influence of Hindu temples and the Hindu masons who probably built the mausoleum.

Nizam Shah tomb is situated next to Humayun Tomb. The tomb inexplicably remained incomplete and is open with the dome missing. The strongly built walls suggest that they were designed to hold a big dome. Muhammad Shah III was buried in a tomb next to his brother Nizam Shah. His tomb again is incomplete. Probably, the death of Mahmud Gawan weighed down heavily on the kingdom and the building of the tomb. These group of monuments, which stand as a testimony of the Muslim rulers are now under the maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India.