New Delhi: Bibi Ka Maqbara is a monument whose fame lies in having a striking resemblance to the famous Taj Mahal. Though both are Mughal monuments, it is the latter that enjoys bigger fame due to its magnanimity and ethereal beauty. The Bibi Ka Maqbara is located in Maharashtra.
In 1660, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb commissioned the tomb in memory of his loving wife Dilras Banu Begum. Interestingly, the Taj Mahal houses the tomb of Aurangzeb’s mother Mumtaz Mahal and also his father Shah Jahan. After the Badshahi Mosque, it is the second largest structure built by Aurangzeb, an emperor who was not very interested in architecture.
The history of Bibi Ka Maqbara
Dilras Banu Begum was a princess of Iran’s Safavid dynasty and her father Mirza Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi was Gujarat’s viceroy. On May 8, 1637, she married Aurangzeb in Agra. She was his first and favourite queen. She died on October 8, 1657. Aurangzeb was grief-stricken and their eldest son, Azam Shah had a nervous breakdown.
In 1660, Aurangzeb commissioned the mausoleum to the house tomb of his favourite queen. The name Bibi Ka Maqbara means the Tomb of the Lady. Her son Azam Shah later repaired the tomb under the orders of Aurangzeb. The monument resembles the Taj Mahal. The comparison has often obscured the unique charm of Bibi Ka Maqbara. Thanks to the resemblance, it is also called the Dakkhani Taj (Taj of the Deccan).
According to the inscription on the main entrance door, architect Ata-Ullah, and engineer Hanspat Rai designed and erected the mausoleum. Notably, Ata-Ullah was Ustad Ahmad Lahori’s son, the man who designed the Taj Mahal. Later, Muhammad Azam was tasked to oversee the repair work of the Taj Mahal. The mausoleum was meant to become a rival of the Taj Mahal, but Aurangzeb’s financial restrictions created a monument which was lesser in splendour compared to Taj but had its unique beauty.
Bibi Ka Maqbara is a monument whose fame lies in having a striking resemblance to the famous Taj Mahal. Though both are Mughal monuments, it is the latter that enjoys bigger fame due to its magnanimity and ethereal beauty. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
