The architecture of the Aga Khan Maqbara is influenced by several Indo-Islamic structures, especially the Taj Mahal at Agra and the tombs of the Qutub Shahi dynasty of Golkonda (Hyderabad). Its resemblance to the Taj Mahal has led to it being dubbed the ‘Taj Mahal of Mumbai’.
The Parsee Mazagaon Anjuman Daremeher was originally consecrated on January 20, 1907, as prominently indicated on its façade. It was built under the supervision of Mancherjee Pallonjee, with generous contributions from the Parsi community of Mumbai.
In addition to antique wooden furniture, the Parsee Mazagaon Anjuman Daremeher displays various items associated with the Zoroastrian faith. This carpet, for example, has representations of the Farvahar, Lamassu, and various kings of the Achaemenid Empire, which was based in ancient Persia.
The Aga Khan Maqbara is renowned for its serene and solemn design, which reflects the spiritual significance of the site. The main chamber is surrounded by high vaulted corridors, adorned with four smaller domes placed on the roof.
The Parsee Mazagaon Anjuman Daremeher caters to the religious needs of the Parsi community in the Mazagaon area. The two-storey building, designed in the Gujarati architectural style, is entered through a triple-arched veranda facing the street. The first floor has a wooden balcony with a sloping tiled roof.
The Nizari Isma'ili community contributed funds and in-kind donations to finance the Aga Khan Maqbara, which amounted to a total cost of Rs 3 lakh. The site, spanning 16,000-square-foot on Mount Road, was offered by Mukhi Ladak Haji.
The Aga Khan Maqbara, also known as Hasanabad Dargah, serves as the final resting place of Aga Khan I, the honorific title of Hasan Ali Shah. He was the 46th Imam of the Nizari Isma'ili Shia Muslims and the first to bear the title of Aga Khan. He passed away in Mumbai in 1881.
The Aga Khan Maqbara features intricate lattice work on the windows of its central chamber. The structure is built primarily of sandstone, with white marble cladding used sparingly for ornamentation embellishments
Aga Khan I is buried in the central tomb. The tomb of Aga Khan I’s son, Aqa Ali Shah, is located on the right. He was laid to rest after passing away in 1885. Later, his remains were moved to Najaf, near Kufa, on the Euphrates River. On the left side lies the smaller tomb of Pir Abul Hassan Shah, the great-grandson of Aga Khan I, who passed away in 1885 at the age of six months.