Bibi Ka Maqbara
Bibi Ka Maqbara is a tomb built by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s son, Azam Shah, in memory of his mother. Aurangzeb’s wife Rabia Durrani is buried in a grand palace built at Aurangabad. Bibi Ka Maqbara is respectfully called the Taj Mahal of Marathwada.
Construction
The mausoleum containing this tomb was built in 1679 AD by Malika’s son-Azam Shah during the reign of Aurangzeb. It is made of red and black stones, marble and some white clay. This mixture is called Stucco Plaster. The mausoleum is built on a massive plinth, with Begum Rabia’s tomb in the middle. Marble grids are installed on all four sides of the grave. The mausoleum is designed so that the rays of the sun will fall on it during the day and the moon at night through the roof windows. There are minarets built on all four sides on the grand platform. Sometimes these minarets could be visited.
If you still think that only Taj Mahal is the ultimate symbol of love, then you must visit ‘Bibi Ka Maqbara’, a must visit historical place in Aurangabad. Although not as grand and popular as the Taj, this historic structure symbolizes Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s love for his wife Dilrasbanu Begum.
Built on a raised platform, it is guarded by four minarets at its four corners and is reached by a series of steps on three different sides. Encrusted with exquisite marble and adorned with intricate designs, carvings and showcasing undying love, this ancient structure is truly worth a visit when you plan to cover all the major places in Aurangabad.
Bibi Ka Makbara is a beautiful mausoleum in Aurangabad, 5 km from Aurangabad railway station. Maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, Bibi Ka Mukbara is one of the tourist attractions in Aurangabad.
Bibi-ka-maqbara is dedicated to Rabia-ul-Daurani alias Dilras Bano Begum, wife of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb’s son, Prince Azam Shah, built the mausoleum between 1651 and 1661 AD in memory of his mother Begum Rabia Durrani. This mausoleum is a replica of the world famous Taj Mahal. Also known as the Mini Taj, the mausoleum is much less ornate than the Taj Mahal in Agra. Aurangabad is one of the places that must be included in a tour package.
An inscription found at the main entrance mentions that the mausoleum was designed by Ata-Ullah, an architect, and Hanspat Rai, an engineer, respectively. The marble for this mausoleum was brought from a quarry near Jaipur. Despite the mausoleum layout and surroundings resembling the Taj Mahal, the architecture fails to evoke the magic of the Taj Mahal. It is therefore considered a poor imitation of the Taj Mahal.
The mausoleum is laid in the Charbagh formal garden. It stands in the center of a huge enclosure measuring approximately 458 m x 275 m and is surrounded by high walls with bastions at intervals and open pavilions on three sides. The mausoleum is built on a raised square platform with four minarets at its corners, which is flanked by a flight of steps on three sides. A mosque has been found to the west of the main structure, which was later added by the Nizam of Hyderabad. The narrow walkway from the main gate has a series of fountains in the middle and is surrounded by lush gardens.
Like the Taj Mahal, this impressive monument has a central dome, surrounded by four smaller domes. Four small minarets near the main structure and four large minarets at its corners. The mausoleum is built of marble up to the dado level. Above the dado level, the base of the dome is lined with a basaltic trap; The latter is again built of marble. A fine plaster covers the basaltic trap and is given a finely polished finish and embellished with exquisite stucco decoration. The remains of Rabia-ul-Daurani are surrounded by an octagonal marble screen below ground level and are of exquisite design, accessible by a descending flight of steps. The ceiling of this chamber, which corresponds to the floor of the mausoleum, is pierced by an octagonal aperture and provided with a low barricaded marble screen. Thus through this octagonal opening the samadhi can be seen even from the ground. The mausoleum is crowned by a dome pierced with panels decorated with floral designs and latticed trays used as supports for vine-like plants.
MTDC organizes a fair every October in celebration of Bibi Ka Makbara. Just behind the mausoleum is an archaeological museum, which houses a rare collection of artefacts and personal items from the Mughal period.
- Place: Begampura, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431004
- Time : 8 AM to 8 PM
- < strong>Entry Fee
