The tourism potential of the north-eastern districts of Karnataka which host wondrous historical monuments such as the Gol Gumbaz, Bidar fort and numerous natural attractions, has been neglected A not-so-well known fact about the south-western state of Karnataka (pop. 68 million), whose capital Bangalore (pop. 12.5 million) has emerged as the hub of India’s fast-track computer software industry, is that beyond Bangalore it offers a scenic countryside, rich in flora and fauna. Once the seat of the famous Vijaynagar kingdom, Karnataka is a composite tourism destination offering an enchanting mix of temples, wildlife, trekking, health spas and unspoilt beaches — an excellent, even if under-promoted balance of natural attractions (forest and wildlife) and architectural splendour. Moreover the state is a major producer of coffee, spices and betel nut, and produces 60 percent of the country’s silk. Although the state has a large number of tourist attractions, its tourism potential (102 million domestic and 460,000 foreign tourists per year) is dwarfed by the neighbouring states of Kerala and Goa, primarily because most of Karnataka’s tourist sites are underdeveloped in terms of infrastructure, roads, hotels etc. A case in point are the wholly neglected north-eastern districts of Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga and Raichur aka Hyderabad-Karnataka region due to its large Telugu speaking population. Prior to independence from British rule in 1947, the region was ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad. These districts which host wondrous historical monuments such as the Gol Gumbaz, Bidar fort, the Badami and Lakkundi caves and natural attractions including Jaladurga Falls, Tungabhadra dam, Kudala Sangama among others have great tourism potential, but they have been neglected. To fully redeem its tourism potential, the Hyderabad-Karnataka region requires radical infrastructure upgradation by way of improved roads, establishment of tourist information centres, planned preservation, restoration of historical monuments and education of local youth as guides. Bidar Bidar (pop. 1.7 million) situated on the north-eastern tip of Karnataka, was formerly the capital of the Bahamani kingdom. The town is famous for its numerous historical monuments which reflect the glory of the 14th century Bahamani rulers. Apart from monuments and mausoleums, Bidar’s cool and refreshing climate also attracts visitors. Sited 669 km from Bangalore, at an altitude of 2,200 ft above sea level, Bidar overlooks the picturesque Manjira river valley. The best time to visit is between October and March. Historically this region formed an important part of the kingdom of Vidharba, referred to in the Mahabharata. Bidar was absorbed into the Chalukyan Empire in the 10th century. Later the region was taken over by the Yadavas of Devangere who were followed by the Kakatiyas of Warangal and finally by the Bahamani sultans in the 14th century. The disintegration of the Bahamani kingdom in the late 15th century into five small states led to the rise of the Sultanate of Bidar. Sultan Ahmad Wali I shifted his capital from present day Gulbarga to Bidar and built a fort here. Later in 1656 Bidar was annexed and incorporated into the Mughal Empire by Emperor Aurangzeb…
