Bibi ka Maqbara

The Arabic word Qabr means grave and Maqbara, derived from it, is a special name for tombs to honor someone as an ideal Muslim. Often referred to as the Taj of the Deccan, Bibi ka Maqbara is at best a cheap imitation. Aurangzeb's son Azam Shah built this edifice in memory of his mother and Aurangzeb's wife. While the Taj Mahal was completed in 1648 CE, Bibi ka Maqbara was commissioned just three years later. It was perhaps too much, too soon. The making of Taj itself at a cost of INR32,000,000 or 3.2 crore rupees and the prolonged fighting with the emerging empire of the Marathas that lasted many years had severely eroded the treasury of this despotic ruler. As a result, he could take out a mere INR700,000 towards this new project. If you have been to Taj Mahal in Agra and witnessed the splendid architecture and the wealth that Mughals controlled, it is worth to visit this monument from an era that witnessed the impending transition of power. In other words, if Taj Mahal represents the zenith of Mughal Empire, Bibi ka Maqbara, severely constrained by budget and an associated loss of creative thought in architecture, represents its nadir. It is located near the sprawling campus of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. You may plan to visit this between sunrise and sunset.