Bibi Ka Maqbara Historical Facts and Pictures

Located in the city of Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, lies the magnificent monument Bibi Ka Maqbara (Tomb of the Lady). It was built in the 17th century by Prince Azam Shah, son of the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, as a tribute to his mother Begum Rabia Daurani. The tomb bears an uncanny resemblance to the Taj Mahal of Agra and seems to be inspired from the world famous monument; hence it is also sometimes referred to as the Dakkhani Taj (Taj of the Deccan).

According to the historical inscription “Tarikh Namah” written by Ghulam Mustafa, the mausoleum was designed and erected by the Persian architect Ata-ullah with the help of an engineer Hanspat Rai. The marbles for the mausoleum were hauled on ox driven carts and came from the famous mines of Jaipur with the entire cost of construction during the period amounting to roughly 668,000(INR).

The mausoleum stands in the middle of a huge enclosure measuring approximately 458 m. (north to south)X 275 m. (east to west). The Baradaris or pillared pavilions are located at the centre of the north, east and western part of the enclosure walls. The main entrance of the mausoleum is through its south gate which has splendid floral patterns carved out on brass plates covering the exterior of the wood. The mausoleum is adorned in the typical Mughal Charbagh style that increases its beauty and grandeur through its proportionate and symmetrical patterns and a splendid garden layout.

Bibi Ka Maqbara

Bibi Ka Maqbara Images

Bibi Ka Maqbara Photos

Bibi Ka Maqbara Pictures

Bibi Ka Maqbara

Bibi Ka Maqbara Inside

Bibi Ka Maqbara Inside View

Bibi Ka Maqbara Inside

Inside of Bibi Ka Maqbara

Bibi Ka Maqbara Dome

Bibi Ka Maqbara Dome Inside View

Bibi Ka Maqbara Dome Inside

Bibi Ka Maqbara Dome Outside

Bibi Ka Maqbara, like various other Mughal mausoleums, is built over a raised square platform. It has four highly ornamented hexagonal minarets in its four corners which can be approached through a flight of steps on three sides. The grave of Rabia Daurani is placed below the ground level and is surrounded by an octagonal marble screen. The mausoleum is crowned by a dome pierced with trellis works and its panels are decorated with exquisite flower designs. A small mosque was later added to west of the mausoleum, by the Nizam of Hyderabad, which eventually led to the closure of the western entrance.