Bibi Ka Maqbara is the burial place of Aurangzeb's wife, Rabia-ul-Daurani and was built by their son Azam Shah. It is also known as Mini Taj or Poor Man’s Taj.
Having heard so much about it, I was curious to see if the monument was really similar to the Taj Mahal or not. After taking visiting pass and crossing the main gate, you are lead to the Main entrance.
The carvings made of marble on the roof of the main entrance is marvellous. As I entered, I was surprised to see the symmetrical patterns on the ceiling of the main entrance.
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| Ceiling of the main entrance |
An inscription found on the main entrance door mentions that this mausoleum was designed and erected by Ata-ullah, an architect and Hanspat Rai, an engineer respectively. The main entrance door has foliage designs on brass plate on wood covering from the exterior.
Once you cross the entry gate, you can see the main structure. At the first glance you are reminded of the Taj Mahal. Due to its resemblance to the Taj Mahal, the Bibi ka Maqbara is also known as "Taj of the Deccan". After passing through the entrance, you can see a small tank.
I walked through one of the passages inside to approach the octagonal enclosure where the tomb of Rabia-ul-Daurani lies. The mortal remains of Rabia-ul-Daurani are placed below the ground level surrounded by an octagonal jali pierced marble screen with exquisite designs, which can be approached by a descending flight of steps.
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| Sanctum with the tomb of Dilras Banu Begum |
The mausoleum is built on a high platform. The lower body and the dome of the building are made up of marble where as the middle portion is of basaltic trap, covered with fine plaster, which gives a marble-like finish. Because of the use of such alternatives of marble, it is also referred to as the ‘Poor Man’s Taj’. The marble for this mausoleum was brought from mines near Jaipur. A mosque to the west of the main structure is a later addition by the Nizam of Hyderabad .
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| A closure look at the tomb |
Then I walked through the surrounding lawns. The Mughal garden with the mountain ranges in the background is a sight to behold.
The garden is enclosed by high crenelated walls with fortress set at intervals and open pavilions on three sides.
Location: 5 kms from Aurangabad via Nagpur-Aurangabad-Mumbai Highway and Maqbara Road and 6 kms from Station Road.
Getting there:
By Train: Aurangabad is the nearest railway station, which is approximately 12 kms from Bibi-ka-Maqbara.
By Road: If you are in Aurangabad, the best option is take an auto rickshaw to visit Bibi-ka-Maqbara. You can also avail the city buses or hire a private car.
By Flight: The airport at Aurangabad is well connected with all the major cities of India. It is 11 kms away from Bibi-ka-Maqbara.
Timings: 8am to 8pm on all days.
Entry Fees: Rs. 10/person for Indians and Rs. 250/person for foreigners.
Best Time to Visit: October to March would be the best time to visit this place as the weather remains very pleasant.
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