It is commonly known as the Mini Taj because it is the replica of one of the seven wonders of the world, Taj Mahal. It is a symbol of memory, Bibi Ka Maqbara is almost the same as another world of wonder, love, and its inspiration, the Taj Mahal.
It is one of the world’s most well-known monuments and an attraction to the infinite tourists from all around the world who visit it each year. The monument was built around 400 years ago, it is a milestone in the architectural history of India and a great symbol of love. It might be the derivate of the Taj Mahal but there is no doubt that this monument has much more to say. Just like the Taj Mahal, it was also built in memory of a Mughal queen.
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Let’s get back to the time to know who was Bibi, and why it is called Bibi ka Maqbara. In the meantime, when the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was the king in 1660, he constructed Bibi Ka Maqbara was built in memory of his wife, Dilras Banu Begum who was known as Bibi, she was a woman of nobility, by her son Azam Shah. After her death, Dilras Banu Begum was given the title of Rabia-ud-Durrani which means Rabia of the Age, after an Iraqi noble lady, Rabia Basri, who was known for her kindness.
The story of Dilras Banu is like a fairy tale. She was born in the Safavid royal family of Iran, the princess Dilras was the daughter of Shahnawaz Khan who was the governor of the state of Gujarat. She married Aurangzeb in 1637 and became his first consort and wife. The couple had five children and while delivering her fifth child, Dilras died. Both Aurangzeb and his eldest son, Azam Shah both couldn’t bear the loss of the most important person in their lives. It is said that the father-son duo was grief-stricken for months and it took very hard efforts and a long time for them to overcome her death. It was then in 1668 that Azam Shah ordered to build of a tomb for his beloved mother on the lines of the Taj Mahal, which was the memorial of Banu’s mother-in-law and Aurangzeb’s mother, Mumtaz Mahal. Both women died because of complications developed during the time of childbirth.
The tomb was built in 1668 and named after the wife of Aurangzeb, son of Azam Shah. After their death, she was titled Rabia Durani which means Rabia of the age. Being the replica image of the Taj Mahal, the monument is also called the Taj of the Deccan or the Dakkhani Taj.
You know from the entrance to the interiors, various decorative elements are carved in the monument such as stucco painting, stucco plaster with relief ornamentation, glazed tiles, and latticework. The entrance ceiling wall has beautiful paintings of geometric designs woven together with intricate threads into a complex design. Lattice work features intricate floral, leaf, or geometric patterns that are carved out on the walls, and are visible as you enter the main building and walk toward the tomb.
Some of the interesting Facts about Bibi ka Maqbara
- Bibi ka Maqbara is the derivate of the Taj Mahal, the replica of the Taj Mahal. it has its own beauty and charm, the interesting thing is that it is the only monument constructed by the Mughals in the Deccan and, hence, known as the ‘Taj of the Deccan’.
- The Taj Mahal is constructed completely in marble, whereas the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara, except for the small central portion of the main tomb, the rest of the building is constructed in red stone, lime, and stucco plaster.
- The mortal remains of queen Rabia Daurani are kept below the ground level adorned with an octagonal jali marble screen around the tomb.
- The Maqbara is 30% smaller in size than the Taj Mahal and was completed in 7 years.
- A small archaeological museum is located behind the monument, which is reminding its history and architecture.
The timings of the Bibi Ka Maqbara Timings are 8 am to 8 pm.
How to reach-
The nearest Airport– Aurangabad Airport in Chikkalthana is 11 km from Bibi Ka Maqbara. There are many flights available from Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
Nearest Railway Station to Bibi Ka Maqbara- Aurangabad Railway Station is the nearest railway from the monument, which is 6 km from Bibi Ka Maqbara. The fastest train from Mumbai to reach the monument is Aurangabad Jan Shatabdi Express.
Nearest Metro Station to Bibi Ka Maqbara– the nearest metro station in Aurangabad is under construction.
Nearest Bus Stand- The Central Bus Stand is the nearest bus stand near the Bibi Ka Maqbara monument, and the distance between the two is approximately 3.4 km.
