Credit: Aziz Modak
About Bibi ka maqbara
A symbol of Aurangzeb’s love and respect for his wife, Bibi ka maqbara is a mausoleum that was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Azam Shah in memory of his mother, Dilras Banu Begum. She was the first and favourite wife of Aurangzeb. For it’s beauty and elegance, Bibi ka maqbara is called the Taj of Deccan.
It was designed and erected by Ata-ullah and architect Hanspat Rai, an engineer, respectively. While the principal designer of the Taj Mahal was Ata-ullah, he was the son of Ustad Ahmed Lahauri.
History and Architecture
Bibi ka maqbara is a blend of Mughal and Deccan styles that offers a unique perspective. The influence of Taj Mahal looks similar to that of Bibi Ka Maqbara, but due to the limited availability of resources, the influence was limited.
Intially, Azam Shah wanted the mausoleum to be even larger than the Taj Mahal, but his ambition fell short due to the limited royal treasury.According to various historical accounts, it’s often suggested that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was not fond of spending money on culture, art, and architecture like Shahjahan. So he didn’t sanction enough funds for the construction. Due to a scarcity of funds, the original structure was left incomplete.
While the central dome is made of marble, the rest of the structure is plastered, giving it the appearance of marble.As a result , Bibi ka maqbara is often called the ” poor man’s Taj.”While the construction of Taj Mahal was very expensive and estimated around Rs 32 million, in comparison, Taj Mahal cost Rs 7,00000.
Bibi ka Maqbara stands on a high platform that is surrounded by Char Bagh-style gardens. In the north-south direction, it’s 458 metres in length; in the east-west direction, it’s 275 metres. One can access the mausoleum through staircases from three sides.Toward the western side of Bibi ka Maqbara , a mosque has been built, commissioned by the Nizam of Hyderabad.
Entrance to the mausoleum is adorned with several water fountains in the garden quadrants, which makes it more exquisite and appealing.Charbagh Garden is characterised by its four quadrants, divided by pathways and water channels. The layout symbolises the typical features of Mughal gardens.
Following the layout of the Taj Mahal, the central dome is a prominent feature that is bulbous in size but smaller in scale. To complement the central dome, minarets are designed to provide a balanced visual appeal to the structure.The Bulbous dome is adorned with intricate geometric patterns and calligraphic instructions. Various floral motifs and patterns highlight the skilled craftsmanship of the artisans who worked on the monument.