NO, this is not the Taj Mahal in Agra. It is the Bibi-ka-Maqbara in Aurangabad, an elegant structure by Mughal architecture standards, and which the locals proudly call the Twin of Taj Mahal. Outsiders, uncharitably, refer to it as the poor man�s Taj.

It was built by Aurangzeb's son Azam Shah as a tribute to his mother Begum Rabia Durani and is one of the must-see monuments for tourists to this fabled city. Aurangabad is crammed with history and culture and heritage and, well, food. The city is harmoniously divided between Maharashtrians and Muslims.

This reflects in its architecture (even the city's ruins) and also in its food. There is no distinct cuisine of Aurangabad. But there are eating places of definite importance by which the locals swear. Just as there are places of worship in and around the city. The marketplace is flush with activity and produce.