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Facts To Know About Taj Mahal Of Deccan, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Aurangabad
A symbol of remembrance, Bibi Ka Maqbara is almost indistinguishable from another memento of love and its inspiration, the Taj Mahal. It was commissioned in 1660 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the memory of his first & chief wife Dilras Banu Begum and is considered to be a symbol of Aurangzeb's fidelity. It bears a striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal.
Bibi ka Maqnbara, is an architectural wonder with intricate designs, carved motifs, an imposing structure and beautifully landscaped Mughal style gardens. Due to its strong resemblance to the Taj Mahal, it is lovingly called the “Taj of the Deccan”.
East facing main entrance door of Bibi Ka Maqbara campus.
This two storey entrance gate is massive. Inclined side walls have two balconies with ornamental dome roof. This ornamental gate is best example of Mughal Architecture. The tomb was to be more splendid than the Taj itself but due to strict adherence to the tight budget allocated for the construction, the mausoleum could only result in an arduous emulation.
The massive entrance gate is a combination of of teak wood with ornamental brass metal.
First view of Bibi ka Maqbara from main entrance gate.
Bibi ka Maqbara has four gardens based on Charbagh styled Mughal garden and it sits pretty right in the centre with structures in the four directions. To the north is a 12-door Baradari, south is where the main entrance is, to the west is a mosque and facing the east is Aina khana or the mirror chamber.  
Throughout the garden, water courses are laid which are lined with cypress, pine and palm trees. At the centre of the pathways leading to four sides are oblong reservoirs with a total of 61 fountains. The water passes through marble carved sheets connected to internal wells in the buildings.  There are several uniquely designed cisterns in the garden.
The mausoleum is built on a high square platform with four minarets at its corners, exactly like the Taj Mahal, and approached by a flight of steps from three sides. An inscription found on the main entrance door mentions that this mausoleum was designed and erected by Ata-ullah, an architect and Hanspat Rai, an engineer respectively.
One of the four minarates at the corner. The minars are 72 feet high and there is a flight of stairs which leads you to the top. 
The marble for this mausoleum was brought from mines near Jaipur. The mausoleum is encased with marble only up to the dado level. Above this, it is covered with a fine plaster polished to give a marble-like finish. Only the onion dome was built with marble. 
Bibi ka Maqbara has stunning decorative elements which are distinctive of the Mughal style and add beauty to the complex. In the making of the Maqbara, stucco painting and stucco plaster were used instead of rich elements like mosaic, marble screens or peitra dura. The patterns in stucco paintings are mostly geometric, floral, inscriptional and conventional.
In the Maqbara, walls of the main entrance has an amazing relief ornamentation and floral pattern made in stucco painting and stucco plaster.  An inscription found on the main entrance door mentioning name of principal Architects. These designs represents our rich architectural history.
All walls inside of mausoleum has such kind of ornamental design made in stucco paintings and stucco plaster. Relief ornamentation can be seen in the main mausoleum which has the designs of lotus medallions, rosettes, and mehrab with floral and leaf patterns.
The main entrance ceiling has an amazing geometric design.
Spectacular decorative elements inside the main mausoleum.
The mortal remains of Rabia Daurani are placed below the ground level surrounded by an octagonal jali pierced marble screen with exquisite designs, which can be approached by a descending flight of steps. The roof of this chamber that corresponds to the ground level of the mausoleum is pierced by an octagonal opening and given a low barricaded marble screen.
The mausoleum is crowned by a dome pierced with trellis works and accompanying panels decorated with flower designs. There is a wall inside the mosque which has the 99 names of Allah written in calligraphy.
Entrance door of the main mausoleum is decorated with brass ornaments.
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