Tomb of Aurangzeb, Biography and History

Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor of India (1658–1707), expanded the empire to its greatest extent but faced internal strife and resistance due to his policies.

Table of Contents

Context: Recent events in Nagpur have brought renewed attention to the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

About Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb Alamgir was the sixth Mughal emperor, ruling from 1658 to 1707.
His reign was the longest of any Mughal ruler (49 years) and marked both the empire’s greatest territorial expansion and its eventual decline.
He expanded the Mughal Empire to its largest extent, covering almost all of present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and parts of Afghanistan.
He reimposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims (removed by Akbar).
He introduced Fatawa-e-Alamgiri, a compilation of Islamic laws & Banned music and dance in court (unlike earlier Mughal rulers).

Also Read: List of Mughal Emperors

Tomb of Aurangzeb

The Tomb of Aurangzeb is located in Khuldabad, Maharashtra, India. Unlike the grand mausoleums of other Mughal emperors, Aurangzeb’s tomb is a simple, unadorned structure, reflecting his austere lifestyle and adherence to Islamic principles.
He was buried as per his wishes in a modest grave, open to the sky, near the shrine of Sheikh Zainuddin, a revered Sufi saint. The tomb was later enclosed by a marble platform, funded by the British governor, Lord Curzon.

Aurangzeb’s Burial in Maharashtra

Aurangzeb ruled for almost 50 years, but in his final years, his empire was collapsing due to an agrarian crisis, Nobility deserting him & Maratha resistance in the Deccan.
He died during a military campaign against the Marathas in the Deccan at the age of nearly 90.
His last wish was to be buried in a simple tomb, in line with Islamic austerity.
His grave is located in the Dargah complex of Sheikh Zainuddin (14th-century Chishti Sufi saint) in Khuldabad, Maharashtra.