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Bahamani Tombs
 Location
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Ashtur, Karnataka
Belongs To
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Bahamani Kings
Number of Tombs
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Eight
The Bahamani Tombs are situated 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.
The interior has well-preserved paintings. On the outside are high-quality 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 tallness of the tomb is 107' and 9" and it is built on a square plan, each side measuring 77' and 1'.
The artistic device of giving a white outline to make subjects more prominent has been employed here.
Most of the inscriptions are texts of Sufi doctrines 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 refined prince who built his tomb during his lifetime. When completed it must have glittered like a gem with all its outer walls covered with tile work, 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 vanished 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 unkind 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 dissimilar from those of the other tombs. Specimens of the 'spongy bricks' used may be seen.
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