Emperor Aurangzeb's Wives
Key consorts of the sixth Mughal Emperor and their roles within the imperial family.
Mughal Royal Marriages
Aurangzeb had three official wives (nikah). These marriages often served as political alliances.
Dilras Banu Begum: Chief Consort
Aurangzeb's first wife (m. 1637) was Dilras Banu Begum, a Safavid princess and his reported favorite.
Bibi Ka Maqbara: Dilras's Tomb
Aurangzeb commissioned the Bibi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad for Dilras Banu (d. 1657). It resembles the Taj Mahal.
Nawab Bai: Mother of an Emperor
His second wife, Nawab Bai (m. 1638), gave birth to the future Emperor Bahadur Shah I.
Zainabadi Mahal aka Hira Bai: The Third Wife
Hira Bai, later titled Zainabadi Mahal, was a Kashmiri Hindu woman who became a concubine in the Mughal court.
The Imperial Harem Structure
The Mughal harem included official wives (nikah) and influential concubines (mahals) with different statuses.
Udaipuri Mahal: Influential Concubine
Udaipuri Mahal was a favored concubine, influential in Aurangzeb's later years and mother to Kam Bakhsh.