Nice week-end!

Our long weekend ended today with a wonderful trip to places around Bidar . Mrs. Mandy Tromp, our guest from Holland is with us. She is on an exchange program with SharePeople since 2nd September and will stay with us till end of this month. Mandy is a management expert, working Rabo Bank in Holland. She is helping Nirantara in Change Management as we are undergoing transformation, from a not-for-profit NGO-Microfinance Institution to a regulated financial company. 

Mandy is quite courageous! From watching Salman Khan's movie (Dabangg 1) to tasting Indian spicy food, she has demonstrated her willingness of checking new things, meeting new people and traveling to new places. Brave!

We took her to a nearby village to show rural lifestyle. My wife and kids too joined me. In fact, I had couple of other agenda points in my mind - to show some of the livestocks (cows, buffaloes, goats, sheets, chicken) to my daughter and to convince my wife for village stay, 10 years down the line. At the end of the visit, I think, I was successful in achieving objectives set for the visit .

Chillergi & Manjara River
We went to Chillergi, our neighbor, Mr. Rajkumar Shivpuje's village. Mandy enjoyed her trip on narrow roads, flooded with all sort for livestocks including quite a number of dogs and cats. Farmers were busy in (free) harvesting of green gram. (I am not quite convinced about On-Road Harvesting of crops, which is not a safe option, both for farmers and drivers. That's a different matter for discussion). Sky was clear n bright throughout the day. 

We all enjoyed warm hospitality, tasty food, quick visit to River Manjara, local Church (because some villagers forced Mandy to attend prayers, which we all really liked & enjoyed), muddy road walk, photography with village kids, etc. My kids met their new friends such as catty & doggy at home and goaties and birdies near river. It was hard for me to translate/explain, names of crops (kindly forgive me, I am a graduate from Agriculture University, my professors would kill me!!), ingredients of dishes and traditional practices . I suggested her to meet Mr. Google for further information!

On our way back, we visited Bahamani Tombs (aka Astoor Tombs) and Chaukhandi, near Astoor village. A very quick visit to Bidar Fort followed. We enjoyed the beauty of these amazing places. Now it is your turn to enjoy beauty of these places through my photos. Do let me know what do you feel.

I am giving a very brief write up on places visited. A Heritage Series handbook published by the District Administration and Department of Archeology, Museums & Heritage came handy for my quick reference. (I have copied the content ditto, with my spot comments. The document has a copyright. I don't care!)

Bahamani Tombs: 
The Bahamani Sultans were fond of constructing huge sculptures. Several majestic mausoleums of their period are near Astoor village, 4 km East of Bidar. There are 12 tombs at a place in row which together give a very impressive look (but the people/young boys strolling/playing around the tombs destroy impressive beauty of tombs . They need to be taught how to behave with visitors, especially foreigners) They are huge structures beautiful arches, niches and lofty domes. 

The tombs of Ahmed Shah-al-Wali is known for its walls on which verses are written in golden color with a dark background. The interior is decorated with fine paintings. It is interesting to to note that the Swastika symbol has been used in this mausoleum for ornamentation. The paintings here depict lovely contrasts and skill of artist in blending colors. Urus (Jatra - Religious gathering) is held here every year (when??) in which both Hindus and Muslims participate. The tomb of Sultan Alauddin-Shah II consists of tile panels and carvings on the black stone margins of arches which are very impressive. Other tombs here are built up of trap masonry.

Chaukhandi:
It is the tomb of Khalil-Ullah who was preceptor of Ahmed Shah. It is erected on elevated place. The Building is octagonal in plan. There are traces of fine decorations on the walls of the building . This prominent building is altogether is one of the excellent building constructed by the Bahamanis.

Bidar Fort:
I must have visited this place several hundred times since my birth. However, It is very difficult to write (and also to copy from the handbook!!) about this magnificent fort in one single entry. Kindly forgive me for this. For more information, please magnify to read my photo on Bidar Fort. I will visit the fort during upcoming weekends and write blog entries in installments!!