Bahmani

Bahmani refers to the Bahmani Sultanate, a major Muslim-ruled state in the Deccan region of South Asia that flourished from the mid-14th to the early 16th century. The sultanate was established in 1347 by Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah, emerging after the decline of centralized authority in the Delhi Sultanate's Deccan territories. It grew to become one of the most powerful powers in the Deccan, contesting with the Vijayanagara Empire and shaping cultural and architectural trends in the region.

Geographically, the Bahmani domain at its height covered parts of present-day Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and northern Andhra Pradesh. The capital was initially in Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) and later moved to Bidar, reflecting shifts in political and military priorities. The state fostered a court culture with Persian and Islamic influences, supported the arts and literature, and contributed to the development of Deccani culture and architecture. Its architectural legacy includes early Deccan monuments and tombs in the Gulbarga and Bidar areas.

Decline and legacy: By the early 16th century, internal factionalism and external pressure weakened Bahmani authority, leading to the fragmentation of the kingdom into five independent Deccan sultanates—Bijapur, Golconda (Hyderabad), Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar. These successor states carried forward many administrative practices and architectural traditions rooted in the Bahmani era and continued to influence the history and culture of the Deccan for centuries.