A son's tribute, in marble
Commissioned in 1660 by Prince Azam Shah, son of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Bibi Ka Maqbara was built as a memorial to his mother Dilras Banu Begum. The architect, Ata-ullah, was the son of Ustad Ahmad Lahauri — the chief architect of the original Taj Mahal in Agra. The family resemblance is unmistakable.
But Bibi Ka Maqbara is not just a smaller Taj. Built on a tighter budget (the empire's coffers were stretched), it substitutes plaster stucco for some of the marble inlay, and yet retains an unmistakable Mughal grace — particularly in the soft, pearl-coloured light of dawn and dusk.
Visitor information (2026)
| Open | Daily, 08:00 – 20:00 (last entry ~19:30) |
|---|---|
| Entry fee | Indian citizens: ₹25 • Foreign nationals: ₹300 • Children under 15: free |
| Best time | Sunrise (06:30–07:30 outside the gate) or 16:30 for soft golden-hour light on the marble. |
| Photography | Free outside; respectful behaviour inside the tomb chamber. |
| Time needed | 1 to 1.5 hours. |
| Distance from city centre | ~5 km / 15 min by auto-rickshaw. |
Quick tips
- Walk the formal char-bagh gardens before entering the tomb — the symmetry is the whole point.
- Stand at the southern entrance for the classic "framed dome" photograph.
- Dress modestly; the maqbara is still considered a place of remembrance.
- Combine with Panchakki (3 km away) for a balanced half-day.