Bidar

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Bidar
City
(clockwise from top) Bidar Fort; One of the Barid Shahi tombs; Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib; Ruins of the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa
Etymology: Viduranagara (Mahabharata)
Nickname(s):  The City of Whispering Monuments and Crown Town
Bidar Location of Bidar in Karnataka Show map of Karnataka Bidar Bidar (India) Show map of India
Coordinates (Bidar): 17°54′43″N 77°31′12″E / 17.912°N 77.520°E / 17.912; 77.520
Country	India
State	Karnataka
Division	Kalaburagi Division
Region	Kalyana-Karnataka
District	Bidar
Taluka	Bidar
Founded by	Bommagondeshwara
Named for	Bidri
Government
• Type	Municipal Council Urban Development Authority
• Body	Bidar City Municipal Council Bidar Urban Development Authority (BUDA)
Area [1]
• City	55.6 km2 (21.5 sq mi)
Elevation [3]	710 m (2,330 ft)
Population  (2011)[1]
• City	216,020
• Estimate  (2021)[4]	260,201
• Rank	13 (Karnataka) 216 (India)
• Density	3,900/km2 (10,000/sq mi)
• Metro	400,000[2]
• Males	111,470
• Males density	2,592/km2 (6,710/sq mi)
• Females	104,550
• Females density	2,432/km2 (6,300/sq mi)
Demonym	"Bidri"
Sex Ratio [5]
• per 1000 males	937 females
• in the age, 0-6	914 f / 1000 m
Literacy Rate [5]
• Average	87.65%
• Male	92.88%
• Female	82.08%
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	585 401/02/03
Telephone code	91-(0)8482-XXXXXX
Vehicle registration	KA-38
Official language	Kannada
Website	bidarcity.mrc.gov.in

Bidar (/biːd̪ər/) is a city in the north-eastern part of Karnataka state in India. It is the headquarters of Bidar district, which borders Maharashtra and Telangana. It is a rapidly urbanising city in the wider Bidar Metropolitan area. The city is well known for its many sites of architectural, historical and religious importance. Bidar City have a population of more than 2 lakh and are likely to get upgraded to municipal corporation in the next 5 years.

Being located at the farthest of around 744 km (462 mi) from the state capital Bangalore, it has been neglected by the state government for a long time. However, owing to its rich heritage, the city has a prominent place on the Archaeological Map of India. Picturesquely perched on the Deccan plateau, the Bidar fort is more than 500 years old and still standing strong.^[6] According to the book "Bidar Heritage" published by the state Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, of the 61 monuments listed by the department, about 30 are tombs located in and around Bidar city.,^[7] explaining its nickname, "City of Whispering Monuments". The heritage sites in and around Bidar have become the major attraction for film shooting in recent years, with Bollywood making visits apart from Kannada film industry^[8]

Bidar is home for the second biggest Indian Air Force training centre in the country. The IAF Station Bidar is used for advanced jet training of prospective fighter pilots on BAe Hawk aircraft.^[9]

Bidar city is known for its Bidri handicraft products, and its rich history. Bidar is also considered one of the holiest place for Sikh pilgrimage. Unlike other places in the region, Bidar is the coldest and wettest place in north Karnataka. For the year 2009–10, Bidar was ranked 22nd among the cleanest cities in India, and 5th cleanest in Karnataka.^[10] SH4 passes through Bidar and the whole city is integrated with 4 lane road.