Français (France) 
Nederlands (nl-NL) 00:00 • intro | 00:20 • the mausoleum seen from the outside | 01:50 • inside the mausoleum | 02:44 • facades of the mausoleum
Personal creation from visual material collected during my trip India - Kumbh Mela • Madhya Pradesh • Maharashtra • Goa (2018)
Map of places or practices featured in the video
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Bibi ka Maqbara
In the vicinity of Aurangabad, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, there is a mausoleum that has obvious family resemblances with the Taj Mahal in Agra.
In reality there is nothing surprising, given the family bond between the sovereigns at the origin of these two monuments.
Shah Jahan and the Taj Mahal
The construction of the Taj Mahal was ordered by Shah Jahan, powerful Mughal emperor, inconsolable after the death in childbirth of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 giving birth to her 14th child. She was 37 years old ...
Shah Jahan was a great soldier, but above all a great builder and art lover. This did not prevent it from slaughtering all its competitors ...
Aurangzeb
One of the sons of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal was Aurangzeb, who gave his name to the locality of Aurangabad. Aurangzeb inherited from his father the propensity to slaughter all his competitors and the military qualities. Shah Jahan's artistic and constructive streak was not part of Aurangzeb's genetic heritage. The same thirst for power animated the two men, and Aurangzeb moreover imprisoned his father in the fort of Agra to steal the throne from him on the pretext of his inability to reign after an illness from which he was however completely recovered.
A common thread between the two men was the grief felt at the death of their wife. Some sources report that after the death of his favorite wife, Rabia-ud-Daurani, Aurangzeb had Bibi ka Maqbara built in the surroundings of Aurangabad on the model of the Taj Mahal, but then in a "low cost" version, by scavenging on the quality of the materials and probably not hiring the best architects of the time. Many historians see in the construction of this building the beginning of the decline of the Mughal emperors, comparing the artistic quality of the Taj Mahal with that of Bibi ka Maqbara.
Other sources claim that it was Aurangzeb and Rabia-ud-Daurani's son, Azam Shah, who had the monument built. This controversy does not detract from the difference between the Taj Mahal and what some call "the poor man's Taj Mahal" or even the "mini Taj Mahal" of Aurangabad ...
Spoken comments in the film:
This is not the Taj Mahal, although the resemblance is undeniable. Sometimes called Mini Taj-Mahal or Taj Mahal of the poor, Bibi Ka Maqbara is a mausoleum built around 1668 by Azam Shah, son of Aurangzeb in memory of his mother Rabia-ud-Daurani.
Bibi Ka Maqbara means "Tomb of the Lady".
Links to related pages
• Main dynasties that ruled the region •
• Monuments •
Aurangabad • Maharashtra, Bibi Ka Maqbara - History and Mughal Architecture
about the place, Aurangabad:
Aurangabad is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra, located in the west-central part of the country. The city has a rich cultural and historical heritage, with many monuments and landmarks dating back to the Mughal and Maratha empires. One of the most famous attractions in Aurangabad is the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features ancient rock-cut temples and sculptures. The city is also known for its vibrant arts scene, with a thriving theater, music, and dance culture.
Music:
- - YouTube video library - Clouds
Disclaimer: Despite its appropriateness, copyright issues prevent the use of indian traditional music in "Bibi Ka Maqbara, mini Taj Mahal • Maharashtra, India", hence the use of royalty-free music. Despite our careful selection, some might regret this decision, which is necessary to avoid potential lawsuits. Although difficult, this decision is the only viable solution.
