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You may know about the famous Taj Mahal that was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Did you know that there is a Mini Taj Mahal in India, that too built by Mumtaz Mahal's grandson?
Bibi ka Maqbara, translated to 'Tomb of the Lady' was built in Aurangabad by Azam Shah, son of emperor Aurangazeb, for his mother Dilras Banu Begam (also known as Rabia-ud-Daurani). One of the striking features of this magnificent mausoleum is that it has a strong resemblance to Taj Mahal, the tomb of Azam's grandmother Mumtaz Mahal.
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As Aurangazeb was not interested in building the mausoleum, Bibi ka Maqbara was not built with the expertise and finesse like Taj Mahal. He was not ready to spend much on the structure, thus has spent only seven lakhs compared to the 32 million used to build the Taj Mahal!
He had blocked bringing marbles from various parts of the country, and had delayed its construction. However, the maqbara is the largest structure that Aurangazeb had to his credit.
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Since the architecture of Bibi ka Maqbara has drawn its inspiration from the famous Taj Mahal, it is often referred to as the 'Taj of the Deccan'. The mausoleum was designed and erected by Ata-ullah who was the son of Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, the main architect of Taj Mahal.
The marble for the mausoleum were brought from the mines of Jaipur. Though the idea was to built a rival to Taj Mahal, it turned out to be a poor imitation of the Taj due to the decline in architecture and the heavy budgetary constraints set by Aurangazeb.
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Built in typical Mughal architecture, Bibi ka Maqbara stands in the middle of a well planned garden with several ponds, fountains and water channels. The structure has four towering minarets like Taj Mahal. Rabia Daurani's grave inside the tomb is on a raised platform, which is surrounded by an octagonal lattice-screen made of white marble. The tips of the pillars of the structure are in red stone. The reflection of the mausoleum in water on the first rays of the day is a sight to marvel.
How to Reach Bibi ka Maqbara
Bibi ka Maqbara is located around 12km from Aurangabad railway station. Here's how to reach Aurangabad.
Other Attractions of Aurangabad
Visit this beautiful land and revisit the history of India!
