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Location
: Ashtur, Karnataka
Belongs To : Bahamani Kings
Number of Tombs : Eight
The
Bahamani Tombs are located at Ashtur in Bidar, accessible by a road
opposite the general hospital and through the Dulhan Gateway leads to
the eight Bahamani tombs at Ashtur.
These tombs are worth a visit in the early part of the day to be able to
appreciate the interior decorations. Though the watchman there will
produce a mirror to light up the interior it is bette to go equipped
with a flash gun if photographs are to be taken.
The interior has well-preserved paintings. On the outside are good
carvings in granite with the walls decorations are in gold and various
other colours and are a good example of medieval Muslim art.
Tomb of Ahmed Shah-al-Wali Bahamani :
Ahmad Shah, a liberal ruler was the ninth king and ruled for 13 years.
The height of the tomb is 107' and 9" and it is built on a square
plan, each side measuring 77' and 1'.
There are no external decorations but the interior is a blaze of
brilliant colours. Intricate floral designs as well as calligraphic
styles are interwoven to produce a harmonious and pleasing blend of
opposing colours.
The artistic device of giving a white outline to make subjects more
prominent have been employed here.
Most of the enscriptions are texts of Sufi doctorines and the
workmanship is of Persian artisans. Tomb of Sultana Ahmed Shah's wife is
much smaller. Traces of paintings are just visible. Tomb of Ahmed Shah's
sons to the south of Ahmed Shah's Tomb are rather ordinary.
Tomb of Sultan Allauddin Shah II :
Allauddin was a cultured prince who built his tomb during his lifetime.
When completed it must have glittered like a gem with all its outer
walls covered with tilework, remnants of which can still be seen.
The flat appearance of the walls is livened up by carved black stone
margins enclosing the decorations in tiles. The original paintings in
the interior have disappeared and the dimensions are almost the same as
those of the tomb of Ahmed Shah.
Tomb of Sultan Himayun :
According to local belief as Humayun was a cruel ruler, lightening
struck his tomb and the dome is till this day split open. This cross
section of the building should interest architects as the construction
styles are different from those of the other tombs. Specimens of the
'spongy bricks' used may be seen.
Tomb of Sultan Nizam Shah :
the incomplete tomb of the son of Sultan Humayun who was aged only ten
at death and ruled for two years only.
Tomb of Sultan Mahammad Shah III :
Another incomplete tomb of the brother of Nizam Shah who being a puppet
in the hands of the regents, could not finish it in spite of ruling for
19 years.
Tomb of Mali-e- Jahan :
To the southwest of Humayun's tomb is that of his wife who was one of
the council ofregents during one of the council of regents during the
reign of her young sons.
Tomb
of Mahammad Shah Bahamani
:
He ruled for 36 years and was therefore able to complete it in his
lifetime. Though the outer surface lacks the decorations of the other
tombs, niches are built in to break the monotony and produce an effect
of light and shade and depth.
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