At the northern tip of Karnataka, on the Deccan Plateau, lies Bidar (see map from Government of Karnataka), a district known for its expansive, treeless plateau landscape. It is divided into two contrasting regions: northern lowlands, with fertile black soil suited for pulse cultivation, and southern highlands with red lateritic soil. Laterite, a unique rock formed through weathering in alternating dry and wet seasons, is prominent in the southern talukas of Bidar, Basavakalyan,  and Humnabad. The district’s semi-arid climate brings extreme summers with  temperatures going above 40°C. Bidar is also home to two river basins, Krishna and Godavari, and features grasslands that support diverse wildlife, including blackbucks, wolves, and peafowl.