History of Bibi Ka Maqbara Bibi ka Maqbara was erected in between the period of 1651 and 1661 C.E. "Tawarikh Namah" of Ghulam Mustafa states that Emperor Aurangzeb had allocated an amount of seven lakhs for its construction out of which six lakh sixty eight thousand two hundred and three and seven annas were spent. The marble which structures the mausoleum was brought from the mines located near Jaipur in Rajasthan. According to the accounts of Tavernier, a French gem merchant and traveller, about three hundred carts full of marbles were journeyed from Surat to Golconda. Architecture of Bibi Ka Maqbara Owing to the stark resemblance of Bibi Ka Maqbara with the famed monument Taj Mahal, it is also known as Dakkhani Taj which refers to Taj of the Deccan. It is believed that its constant comparison with Taj Mahal has greatly masked its own beauty. The main entrance door of the monument bears an inscription which states that the mausoleum was designed and constructed by Hanspat Rai and Ata-ullah an engineer and an architect respectively. Ata-ullah was the son of the principle architect of Taj Mahal, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Bibi Ka Maqbara exhibits an exquisite structure in which minarets adorn the corners. Simple yet charming artistic elements have been used to embellish the interior and exterior of the mausoleum. The tomb was intended to compete with Taj Mahal but the severe budgetary constraints on the part of Aurangzeb resulted in its poor architecture, lacking in structural proportions. |