Tomb of Aurangzeb in Khuldabad, Maharashtra
In this post I write about my visit to Tomb of Aurangzeb in Khuldabad, my thoughts about who Aurangzeb truly was and what shaped him into the person he became and other nearby places you can visit in Khuldabad. Take a virtual tour of the cenotaph of one of the most controversial rulers of the Mughal Empire in my travel blog.
Written by: Indrani Ghose
Updated on September 2024
Ex Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad, Maharashtra, is a historical landmark that attracts tourists from all over the world. This simple and austere structure, built in 1707 AD by Aurangzeb’s son, Azam Shah, is the final resting place of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
The tomb is a simple one. Visitors can walk around the outside of the tomb and view it from the surrounding gardens. Khuldabad is also home to several other attractions, including the tomb of the Sufi saint, Zar Zari Zar Baksh, and the ancient Kali Masjid.
Wending our way through the narrow roads of Khuldabad we reached the next destination Tomb of Emperor Aurangzeb. There in the serene atmosphere of the court yard of Alamgir Dargah lie the remains of the man who once ruled India sitting on jewel encrusted thrones.
Dargah Hazrat Khwaja Khuldabad Aurangabad
Aurangzeb’s Tomb Khuldabad Maharashtra
We stood there in silence, stunned at the simplicity of the tomb!
Abul Muzaffar Muhi-ud-Din Mohammad Aurangzeb, commonly known as Aurangzeb Alamgir, the 6th Mughal emperor, evokes strong associations. When reflecting on his legacy all that would come to mind was that he was a religious fanatic, intolerant to Hindus and resorted to conversions and destroying temples. His orthodox and ruthless behaviour didn’t spare his brother too, whom he treacherously murdered.
Is this simple tomb the resting place of the same man, I asked myself. What he did to India can be hardly forgotten.
As Emperor of Mughal India, Aurangzeb ruled for nearly 50 years, His atrocities included policies that targeted Hindus, such as the imposition of the jizyah and other discriminatory taxes. Strongly influenced by is Islamic orthodoxy he focussed on eliminating the resistance from groups like the Jats, Bundelas, Sikhs and the strongest of all-the Marathas. Aurangzeb’s relentless wars, aimed at expanding and consolidating his empire, drained the royal coffers and left the administration corrupt and inefficient. By the time of his death in 1707, he had left behind a crumbling empire, a demoralized army, and deeply alienated subjects.
And here he rests! The tomb of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was just a simple mound of sand. This man who was endowed with all riches of his ancestors wrote in his will, “No marble sheets should shield me from the sky as I lie there one with the earth.”
Tomb of Aurangzeb Khuldabad Maharashtra
And just as he desired only the portion where he lay is not covered with marble. The sides covered with plain white sheets. It is left open to sky, with few tulsi plants growing over it.
While I have written so much about his atrocities let me delve a bit on the other facet of Aurangzeb’s life which is a complete contrast making it hard to actually went through his mind during his last days. Aurangzeb was known for his austerity, never dipping into the royal treasury for personal expenses. Instead, he relied on the modest income he earned from making caps—sold anonymously in the market—and by painstakingly copying the Quran. He even saved this money to cover the cost of his final resting place: an open-air grave in Khuldabad, about 27 kms from Sambhajinagar (earlier name was Aurangabad). This is such a contrast compared to his wife’s tomb made by his son-Bibi ka Maqbara-just 25.4 km away.
A small, unassuming sign marked the entrance. The lettering too faint to read from the road and can go unnoticed—simply announced, “Tomb of Aurangzeb.” A few steps inside I was at the grave, my mind swirling with the thoughts of his contrasting acts. Though I had read beforehand that Aurangzeb’s tomb was unadorned, I was still struck by how remarkably simple it was.
In 1707, as the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb lay on his deathbed at the age of eighty-eight, he was not a man at peace. Reflecting on a life of conquests and conflicts, he saw not triumphs, but failure. In a series of letters to his sons, Azam Shah and Kam Bakhsh, he poured out his deepest fears—fearing divine retribution for his impiety and questioning his legacy. More than anything, Aurangzeb lamented his shortcomings as a king, acknowledging that the empire he had ruled for nearly five decades was unravelling.
He died in Ahilya Nagar (earlier known by the name Ahmednagar) but was buried in Khuldabad in the Dargah of his Guru, saint Sayyid Zain-ud-Din who died in 1370, as per his wish.
Dargah Hazrat Khwaja Khuldabad
Earlier Aurangzeb’s tomb was just a plain mound of earth we were told. In 1911, Lord Curzon (Governor General and Viceroy of India from 1899–1905) the then viceroy of India was shocked the simplicity of the grave of who was once an emperor.
Perhaps he was of the opinion that the tombs of his ancestors like that of Humayun, Akbar, and Shah Jehan were so grand while that of Aurangzeb’s tomb seemed to be in shambles. He took it upon himself to give grand touch to the simple place. Curzon ordered the then Nizam of Hyderabad (who was the ruler of the region) to construct a marble screen around it.
Other Sights at Alamgir Dargah near Aurangzeb’s Tomb
The tombs of Azam Shah (Aurangzeb’s son), Azam Shah’s wife’s and their daughter’s tomb were in another enclosure.
Hazrat Khwaja Syed Zainuddin Shirazi Khuldabad
Tomb of Aurangzeb’s son
A walk along the Dargah’s premises will take you to the various rooms, dormitories, open water tanks and tombs of other historical figures. We sensed a profound mood in the interiors which was so silent in spite of the human traffic there.
Dargah – Tomb of Aurangzeb Khuldabad Maharashtra
He died in March 1707, and we were there at the quiet sepulcher three centuries later, Dec 2007! (This post was first written on Jan 29th 2008.)
Map for Aurangzeb’s Tomb
Map for Aurangzeb’s tomb
FAQ on Tomb of Aurangzeb in Khuldabad
Who built Aurangzeb’s Tomb?
Aurangzeb’s Tomb was built by Aurangzeb’s son, Azam Shah.
What is the architecture of tomb of Aurangzeb like?
Aurangzeb’s Tomb is a simple, austere structure made of black stone. It has a marble cenotaph with inscriptions from the Quran.
Can visitors enter Aurangzeb’s Tomb?
When I visited there was no restrictions. Tourists can walk around the outside of the structure and view it from the surrounding gardens.
What other attractions are there in Khuldabad?
Khuldabad is a historical town with several other attractions, including the tomb of the Sufi saint, Zar Zari Zar Baksh, and the ancient Kali Masjid.
How do I get to Khuldabad?
Khuldabad is easily accessible by road from Aurangabad, which is well-connected to other major cities in India by air and rail.
What is the best time to visit Khuldabad?
The best time to visit Khuldabad is during the winter months from November to February when the weather is pleasant and cool.
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I missed this when we visited Aurangabad; hopefully next time. Thanks for sharing such an informative post.
Not that I have been fond of the man, but your post has got me re-thinking of what he was really like. Nice one
Informative and illustrative write up Indrani.
Great post, Indrani, with lovely pics. Thanks for bringing this side of Aurangzeb 🙂
A very informative post. Beautifully written 🙂
Simple tomb as the life of the Emperor.
Its like seeing a different version of Aurangzeb. Nice post, Indrani!