The Karez System in Bidar

The Karez System in Bidar

One of the most unique features of Bidar is the historic ‘Karez’ system (also known as Qanat) which is a water harnessing technology that originated in Iran/Persia. The ‘Karez’ system in Naubad village, Bidar is of great historic significance dating back to almost 500 years. The karez technology basically taps into the ground water sources (or natural springs) and transports it through an underground tunnel to the settlement, ending in surface canal and/or pools in the village for various uses like drinking, washing, ablution, watering livestock, and also further used for irrigating fields, orchards and gardens.

Image Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org

History of Kariz

The original Persian term for Karez is Kariz and the rest of the world has yielded many names for this system; like in North Africa it is called “Fugara”, “Falaj” in Arabia. “Qnat Romani” in Jordan and Syria, “Galerias” in Spain “Kettharra” in Morocco, “Kanjering” in China and “Kariz” in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Karez is found in 38 countries worldwide and of course most of these are concentrated in the Middle East region. Persia is known for the earliest known and documented Karez system.
The Muslim dynasties with ruling class descending from Persia or having influential connections with Persian kings may have invited expert engineers from Persia.
The silk route may have been the information highway to transfer the cultural and traditional knowledge.

Introduction of Kariz in India
Karez system was built by Bahmani kings in 15th Century by the Bahmani kings in Bidar, Gulbarg and Bijapur in Karnataka and also in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh.
Kariz is nothing but the Underground canals, built to underground water streams which are meant to provide drinking water to civilian settlements and garrison inside the Bidar fort.
This system was necessary in a city like Bidar where the soil was rocky and drilling wells to accommodate drinking water was difficult.
It is believed that the Muslim rulers of Bidar, under the expert advice of Persian engineers followed Karez system by laying subterranean canals in the heart of the rock by widening the natural rift.
The Naubad Karez is estimated to have been constructed during the Bahmani Period (1347 – 1518 AD). The Karez was probably directed towards developing infrastructure for a village at Naubad.

Preserving Karez in India
The Naubad Karez has nearly 21 square shaped manholes were cut at suitable points to conserve ground water.
The modern methods of ground water extraction have largely impacted the water availability in Bidar which already receives low rainfall.
The centuries old Kariz system should be rehabilitated and promoted as traditional means of irrigation and drinking water supply.
The educational value of this historic system is highly relevant in the present days of water disputes that are prevailing at local, regional, national and international level.

Why restore Karez?
Ground water has become the most vulnerable water resources because it has few higher qualities compared to surface water as it is protected from the direct pollution and most importantly the seasonal and perineal fluctuations hardly matter and ground water is much more uniformly spread and conserving ground water is cost effective and reliable and is suitable for any kind of land. Hence ground water conservation and recharging has been gaining momentum across world.




Source:http://www.gounesco.com/karez-system-bidar/

Need to promote heritage tourism in Bidar stressed

Bidar has such a potential for heritage tourism that it can be developed into one of the most important places on the heritage map of India, a senior heritage tourism promoter has said.

Speaking at a meeting of stakeholders here on Thursday, Debashish Nayak, director, Centre for Heritage Management, Ahmedabad University, said that Karez, the underground water supply canal system built in the medieval period, town planning designs, and the fortification in Bidar were unique. Using these as the base, promotion of heritage could be taken up on a comprehensive scale, he said.

He cited examples from cities like Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Patiala and Amritsar that had successfully promoted heritage tourism.

He urged the district administration to utilise schools and colleges to promote discussions about heritage conservation and tourism promotion. A series of art, photography and sculpture workshops were conducted using colleges and universities in Ahmedabad and Jaipur. This not only created awareness about tourism promotion efforts being taken up by the government, but also ensured that visitors gained a lot of knowledge about history and culture of these towns, Dr. Nayak said. He gave tips to officers on how to utilise MP and MLA local area development funds for heritage conservation works and to ensure coordination of various departments to ensure fast results. He told them to form clusters of handicraftsmen, weavers, folk artists and classical musicians and performers so that they can be used in tourism promotion efforts.

He urged volunteers to develop a sense of involvement with the city and its monuments. A city’s heritage has to be conserved by its residents. Officials will come and go. Residents can not depend on them for carrying on the effort of heritage conservation, he said.

He observed that builders and traders took greater interest in heritage conservation after they realised that it increased their profits.

He said that Heritage Walks were the most visible of tourism promotion measures. Tourists were attracted to cities through such walks. He said that Ahmedabad was among the first Indian cities to be included in the World Monument Fund list in 1996. Bidar had been listed this year.




Source:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/need-to-promote-heritage-tourism-in-bidar-stressed/article5303351.ece

Bidar is in need of immediate attention for preservation

बीदर को संरक्षण की जरूरत- विश्व स्मारक कोषBidar is in need of immediate attention for preservation










मैसूर। विश्व स्मारकों की निगरानी रखने वाली संस्था विश्व स्मारक कोष ने बीदर को भारत के उन तीन ऎतिहासिक स्थलों में शामिल किया है जिन्हें संरक्षण की जरूरत है।

भारतीय विरासत शहर नेटवर्क के कार्यकारी निदेशक के.एस.रायकर ने एक बयान में कहा कि इसकी घोषणा न्यूयार्क में की गई। विश्व स्मारक कोष पिछले 50 सालों से 100 से भी ज्यादा देशों में ऎतिहासिक इमारतों और स्मारकों के संरक्षण का कार्य कर रहा है।

वर्ष 2014 के 41 देशों के 67 स्थलों को निगरानी की जरूरत को विश्व स्मारक निगरानी कोष ने अंकित किया है। उनमें तीन भारतीय स्थल सलीम चिश्ती की दरगाह, फतेहपुर सीकरी, आगरा, जूनामहल-राजस्थान के साथ बीदर-कर्नाटक को भी शामिल किया गया है। राष्ट्रकूट -753-983एडी. साम्राज्य के दौरान बीदर के चारों तरफ ऊंची-ऊंची दीवारे थी और तीन खाइयों का सुरक्षा चक्र था। यह शहर 1422 में दुबारा उस समय बसाया गया जब सुल्तान अहमद शाह ने बीदर को अपनी राजधानी बनाया। उन्होंने यहां पारसी वास्तुकला शैली में महल के अलावा अन्यनिर्माण कराया।

उन्होंने सिचाई के अलावा पानी निकालने की व्यवस्था का भी निर्माण करवाया। आज के समय यह ऎतिहासिक शहर केवल कुछ हिस्सों तक ही सीमित रह गया है। जिसकी वजह इसकी तरफ ध्यान न देना, बढता प्रदुषण और अवैद्य निर्माण है। अगर व्यवस्थित ढंग से इसका संरक्षण किया जाए तो भविष्य में यह स्थानीय लोगों का सहयोग करेगा। निगरानी का मुख्य उद्देश्य इसकी जानकारी को लोगों तक पहुंचाना व इस बहुमूल्य ऎतिहासिक इमारत को संरक्षण प्रदान कर पर्यटन उद्योग को बढ़ावा देना है।

source:http://www.patrika.com/news/bidar-is-in-need-of-immediate-attention-for-preservation/965374

Picnic spot of Barid Shahi kings discovered in Bidar

A team of conservation experts have discovered a picnic spot of Barid Shahi kings from the 16th century on the outskirts of Bidar.

‘Bagh-e-Hamam’ (garden bath) as residents of Aliabad villagers call it, comprises some buildings, a bath, and a small pond, where the waters from an underground stream are emptied. A team of officials, including consultants from the Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation, who were tracing the ‘Karez’ system of subaltern water canals in Naubad, discovered the garden a few days ago. The garden is now part of the Aliabad forest area, and is hidden among tall trees. The garden at the foot of a cliff does not have an approach road, and one has to climb a mound to spot it.

“This was a picnic spot developed by Ali Barid, the first Sultan of the Barid Shahi dynasty,” said B.R. Konda, historian. The king used to visit the place along with his personal staff and relax for some days.

“That is why the village is named after the king, he said. Such structures are as important as the Bidar fort and need to be conserved, he said.

‘The spring of Aliabad’ that culminates at the Bagh-e-Hamam has been described in the book Bidar: Its History and Monuments by Ghulam Yazdani, the former head of archaeology in the Nizam government of Hyderabad. The spring is fed by a karez from Naubad, which runs underground through the cliff.

Karez

While the Bagh-e-Hamam was built in the 16th century by Barid Shahi kings, Karez system was built by the Behmani kings in the 15th century. Underground canals, built to connect underground water streams, were meant to provide drinking water to civilian settlements and the garrison inside the Bidar fort. This was necessary in a city where the soil was rocky and drilling wells was difficult.

Mr. Yazdani said the Karez system was the first step to developing a village as the kings thought it necessary to put in place a drinking water supply system before expanding its reach.

“The Muslim kings of Bidar, under the expert advice of Persian engineers, followed the karez system, and laid out subterranean canals in the heart of the rock by widening the natural rift,” according to the book. For air and light, engineers constructed square manholes at suitable points.

“This is the real treasure of Bidar,” said Govindan Kutty, who heads the team of Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation consultants.




“The Naubad Karez has 21 such manholes. We are tracing them using global positioning system and other technological tools. We will also suggest to the government, methods of conserving these structures,” Mr. Yazdani said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/picnic-spot-of-barid-shahi-kings-discovered-in-bidar/article4208180.ece

BIDAR DISTRICT IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS

231 B.C The Satavahanas who were ruling at Paithan as vassals of Mauryas proclaimed independence. They ruled over Dakshinapatha for about four centuries and a half. The Vakatakas dominated the Deccan.
345 A.D Kadambas rose to power Vaijayanti (Banavasi) was their capital and palasika (Halsi) a second capital Sindas of Ranjeru- Attale nadu
545 A.D Pulakesin I established chalukya power. He made vatapi( the Modern Badami) his capital
753 A.D Rashtrakuta Prince Danti Durga proclaimed him self the sovereign power in the Deccan. Manyakheta(Malkhed) was their Capital, jain temple at Kambithana(Kamthana)
913 A.D Rashtrakuta Karka 11 was dethroned by the Chalukya, Taila II, Taila's success was the beginning of the Chalukyan empire of Kalyani. 1042-68A.D Someshwara I removed the capital from Manyakheta to Kalyani
1075 A.D Kakatiya Beta II received Sabbinadu from Chalukyas.
26th February 1077 Coronation of Vikramaditya VI started Chalukya Vikrama Varsha Jalsangi Temple
1154 A.D Kalchuri Bijjala became the Mahapradhana to Taila III.
1155 A.D Bijjala Started carrying on the administration in the name of Taila III.
1157 A.D Kalachuri Bijjala assumed full imperial titles.
1162 A.D After the death of Baladeva, Basaveshwara was Minister to Bijjala. Allamaprabhu ascended sunya pitha in the anubhava mantapa
1167 A.D Bijjala abdicated the throne in favour of his son somideva or someshvara.
1181 A.D Somesvara IV the son of Chalukya Taila III became ruler after sweeping away the last remnants of Kalchuri power.
1188 A.D Yadava Bhillama seized Kalyana. The Kakatiyas also gained some territory of chalukyan empire as a result of the final dissolution of Chalukyan hegemony.
1270 A.D Yadava mahadeva was forced to surrender Bedadakota (Bidar) which was annexed to the Kakatiya Kingdom. Sinda Bhairava assisted Kakatiyas in the struggle
1318 A.D Badarkot (Bidar) and other places were ceded to Khusrau Khan
1320 A.D Kakatiya pratap rudra reoccupied Badarkot and other places.
1322 A.D Bidar Town which was on the frontier of Telingana and Baswakalyan forts were taken by Ulugh Khan(Muhammad-Bin-Tughluq) who was then a prince. Those town fort were left incharge of trust worthy officers with strong garrison.
1336 A.D The Vijaynagara empire founded.
1341 A.D Muhammad Bin Tughluq honoured Shihab-Ud-Din of Multan with the litle Nusrat Khan and conferred on him the Government of Bidar( One of the aqlims or provinces) with its dependencies on the condition that he should pay a revenue of one Crore of rupees annually into the kings treasury.
1345 A.D As Nusrat Khan could not fulfil the condition, he was expelled. Sadah Amirs (who were revenue collectors as well as military commanders under Mohd. Tughluq) rebelled. They elected one of their members Ismail Mukh as the sultan of Deccan. As he was aged, he readily abdicated his charge in favour of Hasan Gangu.
3rd August 1347 Zafar Khan (Hasan Gangu) was crowned and assumed the title of Ala-Ud-Din Hasan Bahman Shah at Daulatabad. He made Gulbarga his capital. Bidar was made a taraf/province under a governor. The Bidar town began to flourish as a provincial head quarters.
1358 A.D Azam-I-Humiyun of Bidar who defeated the Nayaka of warangal was appointed as the Governor of Golconda. 1364 A.D The Kingdom of warangal was finally destroyed by Ahmed shah
1378-1397 A.D Muhamad II established some schools for orphans at Bidar.
1396 The Durga Devi Xamam; a famine that lasted for 12 years and ruined the country between the Godavari and the Krishna.
1428 A.D On his return from Kherla, Ahmed stayed in Bidar for some time, where he was struck by its situation and climate that he decided to build a new city near its ancient fortress and called it Ahmadabad-Bidar.
1429 A.D Bidar became the new capital. Ahmed shah wali(1423-1436 A.D) laid the foundations of the Bidar fort. The construction was completed around 1432 A.D
1436-1458 A.D Ala-Ud-Din Ahmed-II . He built a large hospital at Bidar and staffed it with expert Muslim and Hindu physicians.
1453 Mohammed Gawan's arrival at Bidar.
1458-1461A.D Humayun was the sultan. He appointed mahmud Gawan as the Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief and governor of Bijapur.
1461-1463 Nizamud-din-Ahmed II 1463-1482 Muhammad III Mahmud Gawan. Prime Minister, introduced many reforms, Great Madarsa of Mahmud Gawan was found by Gawan in 1472 A.D, Goa annexed to Bahmani Kingdom.
1471-1474 A.D Afanasy Nikitin a Russian Traveler was in the Deccan including Bidar.
5th April 1481 On the order of the monarch Muhammad III, mahmud Gawan was beheaded at Kondappalli Camp.
1523 A.D As Bahmani Sultan Alaud-din Shah was venturing to assert himself, he was dethrouned by Amir Barid.
1538 A.D The Bahamani dynasty faded out of history. Five smaller states emerged including Barid Shahi dynasty.
1543 A.D Ali Barid assumed royal appellation of Shah.
1619 A.D The Adil Shah of Bijapur took over Bidar.
1656 A.D The Mughal forces captured Bidar and Kalyani. Bidar was annexed to the Mughal empire.
1724 A.D Asaf Jahi Dynasty succeeded Mughal rule. Rule by governors.
1846 A.D Bidar was made the headquarter of a sadar talukdar (Commissioner)
1867 A.D "Bhalki conspiracy " was the echo of the great insurrection of 1857-58 in the region.
1891 A.D Govt. school at Bidar was made a High School.
1905 A.D Bidar was reduced to H.Q of Talluqdar(Collector)
29th August, 1911 The last member of Nizam dyansty Mir Osman Ali Khan, became the Nizam.
1922 Bidar Dist. Central co-operative Bank came into existence.
1st July 1932 The Railway line which passes through the Bidar district was opened for traffic.
17th Sept 1948 The Nizam announced on the radio about the surrender. The Nizam rule came to an end. Asafia Flag brought down. The Hyderabad state became a part of the Indian Union.
1952 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Abdul Kalam Azad and Ku. Padmaja Nadu visited Bidar.
1955 Akhil Bharat Veershaiva Mahasabha held its sammelan at Basavakalyan. Sri Jayachamraj wadeyer, the then Governor of Mysore State laid the foundation of New Anubhava Mantappa Building.
1956 Vist of Dr. Rajendra Prasad to Bidar. 1st Novermber
1956 Bidar district along with other districts of Hyderabad Karnataka became part of Mysore state but only with four talukas. Basavakalyan Taluka was brought into existence in 1965
21st March 1961 Bidar Shakar Sakkare Karkhana Ltd., a sugar factory was registered under the Karnataka co-operative societies act.
1961 B.V. Bhoomaraddi College, First Degree College started at Bidar.
26th Nov. 1969 B.S.S.K Ltd., at Hallikhed started its regular production.
1998 SHG movement started in a big way in Bidar District by DCC Bank Ltd., Bidar.
2002 Naranja Sugar Factory (Under Opt. Sector) started its regular production.






Source: http://www.bidar.nic.in/hist.htm