The Bidar Heritage Marathon organised by GoUnesco is an interesting package for runners and history buffs.

It included a 100-km cycling trip from Hyderabad to Bidar and a visit to ‘karez’ or ‘surang bavi’, the under ground drinking water aquaduct network of the Behmani era, on Saturday and the run on Sunday. On Saturday, resource persons V. Govindan Kutty, groundwater expert and Anuradha Reddy of INTACH, Hyderabad, spoke on the cultural significance of the ‘surang bavi’.

Around 40 people attended the talk in Saharda guest house in Naubad, near the mouth of the ‘surang bavi’ in Bidar on Saturday.

“We don’t aim at making the Bidar marathon a competitive event. It is a fun run for families, young runners and heritage and archaeology lovers,” Ajay Reddy, founder of GoUnesco, said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bidar – November 23rd, 2015