When Akbar was offering patronage and support to artists in north, a parallel art movement developed in the Deccan plateau which stretches from the Narmada river in central India to Krishna river in the south. From 1347 until late in the 15th century, the Deccan was ruled by Muslim Afgan rulers the Bahamani Kings during the reign of Mahamud Shah (1482-1518), the provincial governors of the Bahmani kingdom declared their independence and set up five sultanates, viz. the Imad shahi dynasty of Berar, the Nizam Shahi of Ahmednagar, the Adil Shahi of Bijapur, the Barid Shahi of Bidar and the Qutab Shah of Golkunda. Out of these Golkunda, Ahmednagar and Bijapur were centers of painting.