03/22/2026
BIBI-KA-MAQBARA
The beautiful mausoleum of Aurangzeb s wife. is believed to have been constructed by Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother Rabia-ul Durrani Alias Diras Banu Begum between circa 1651-1661 A.D. An inscription on the main entrance door mentions that,this mausoleum was designed and erected by Ata-Ulla, an Architect and Hanspat Rai,an Engineer. As ihe mausoleum architecturally resembles the Taj-Mahal of Agra (1631-1653) it is known as "Taj of Deccan".
The mausoleum stands within an enclosed area measuring
458x275 meters approximately. The main entrance is on the southern side of the outerwall, and at the centre of the three remaining walls are open pavilions, which were used as Mosque, Diwane-Am, and Diwan-e-Khas. These buildings contain beautiful paintings of Mughal and Nizam periods.
The mausoleum is built at the centre of a high platform, with four
minarets at its corners. The lower body and the dome of the building are made up of pure marble, decorated with beautiful carvings, where as the middle portion is of basaltic trap. covered with fine plaster, rendered with a marble finish and adorned with stucco work. The grave is simple, devoid of any ornamentation, surrounded with marble screens of exquisite design.
The Mughal garden, Living Water Management System. Pavements which are ornamented with little kiosks, finely worked brass doors, Stucce floral motifs on the shell lime plaster, rank Maqbara among the best of the 'Beautiful Mughal buildings of Deccan'
