Hawa Mahal

The Hawa Mahal, or "Palace of Winds", is the most photographed monument in Jaipur and one of the defining images of Rajasthan. Its five-storey pink-sandstone façade rises like a delicate honeycomb over the busy Badi Chaupar bazaar, glowing a deep rose at sunrise. Though it looks like a palace from the street, it is in fact an ornamental screen — a single room deep in places — designed for a very particular purpose.

History

Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of Jaipur's founder Sawai Jai Singh II. It was designed by the architect Lal Chand Ustad, who shaped its silhouette to resemble the crown (mukut) of Lord Krishna, to whom the Maharaja was devoted. The palace forms part of the larger City Palace complex and is entered not from the grand street façade but from a modest gate at the rear.

Architecture

The building's genius lies in its 953 small windows, or jharokhas, each fitted with intricate latticework (jali). This screen allowed the royal ladies of the court, who observed strict purdah, to watch the street festivals, processions and everyday life of the city below without being seen. The same lattice channels cool breezes through the structure — the "winds" that give the palace its name — keeping it pleasant even in summer. Instead of stairs, gently sloping ramps connect its five tapering floors, named Sharad Mandir, Ratan Mandir, Vichitra Mandir, Prakash Mandir and Hawa Mandir.

What to see

Climb to the upper storeys for framed views of the old city, the Jantar Mantar and the distant Nahargarh Fort crowning the hills. The coloured glass of the upper chambers casts jewel-toned light across the interiors. A small museum on site displays miniature paintings and ceremonial armour. For the classic postcard photograph of the façade itself, head to one of the rooftop cafés directly opposite, which are especially lovely in the early morning light.

Visiting tips

Arrive soon after opening to enjoy the soft morning light and thinner crowds, and to see the sandstone at its most vivid. Allow around 45 minutes to an hour to explore the interior. Combine your visit with the nearby City Palace and Jantar Mantar, all within easy walking distance in the heart of the Pink City.