At the first glance one would misunderstand this structure for the great Taj Mahal.

This is in fact Decani Taj, fondly called Tomb of the Lady! This twin Taj Mahal is also a historical monument situated in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The natives call it “Beebi ka Maqbara”.

Taj Mahal is the symbol of love, the great Mughal emperor Shahjahan built it for the loving memory of his wife Mumtaz. But Beebi ka Maqbara has a different story of love. It was erected by Asum Shah, the son of Aurangazeb for the memory of his mother Begum Dilras. The structure and its surroundings are of great aesthetic value. It is conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The reason why it resembles Taj is an interesting one according to beliefs. The engineer of Beebi ka Maqbara was the son of Ustad Ahammad- the main architect behind the construction of Taj Mahal. Hence, the similarity is likely! I visited Beebi ka Maqbara in 2013 during my Marata-Deccan journey. Admittedly, I was a bit reluctant to go to this historical place.

I didn’t expect anything new there as I had already been fed up with many such so called tourist destinations. But I was wrong this time! It would have been a big mistake if I had cancelled by plan! I could see the brilliant blend of nature and engineering here.

A journey to Beebi ka Maqbara would give you some added advantages. If you propose a trip to Maharashtra, should not ignore this place. It would be an interesting experience for you. The other major attractions in this area include Ahammed Nagar Fort, Aurangabad Fort, and India’s ever-proud historical places Ajantha and Ellora.

A nearby village Shikhnapur is famous for its unique houses which do not have doors ( Door less Village ). Shirdi, a famous pilgrimage is another attraction that can also be included in this trip. All these places are worth travelling, and there’s a ‘half-myth half-reality’ that whoever come to Decan tends to spend their remaining life in this amazing land.