Hawa Mahal

• Address: Hawa Mahal Road, Badi Choupad, J.D.A. Market, Kanwar Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
• Phone: +91 141 261 8033
• Opening timings: 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily.
• Suggested visiting time: within 1 hour
• Recommended tour: 7 Days Indian Golden Triangle Tour

Hawa Mahal, also known as "the Palace of Winds", is one of the most distinctive monuments in India. It is so-called because it has 953 windows on the outside walls, and the cool breeze blows through the palace and remains cool even during summers. Along with Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal was the summer retreat of the Royals. This extraordinary pink-painted architecture with the delicately honeycombed hive is certainly the most iconic landmark in Jaipur. From the top floor of this palace, you can get spectacular views over Jantar Mantar and the City Palace in one direction, and Sireh Deori Bazaar is in the other direction.
 

Specialty of Hawa Mahal

The Hawa Mahal's architecture is a blend of Hindu Rajput and Islamic Mughal styles. This five-storied unusual shape architecture is supposedly the world's tallest building without foundation. There is latticework on the windows, and they are ornate and beautifully decorated with this intricate design, which is likened to honeycomb from a beehive. If you want to get a view from the top, you will find there is no staircase, and the only ramp is available.

History of Hawa Mahal

As the Purdah system was strictly followed at the time, ladies of the royal household have no chance to go out to see outside of the royal palace. To enable ladies of the royal household to watch daily street scenes and royal processions of the city without being seen by the general public, Hawa Mahal was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. Architect Lal Ustad Chand got inspiration from Khetri Mahal and designed the Hawa Mahal.

What else nearby Hawa Mahal

Ellora Arts are in front of the Hawa Mahal, and you can get some antique, gift, and specialty with competence quality and reasonable price.
 

Carpet and Textile House is not that kind of tourist shop. The shop provides a vast collection of the finest silk, hand-made woolen and hand-knotted carpets with modern traditional contemporary and transitional designs.

What should you pay attention to

The corridors inside the Hawa Mahal are narrow and crowded, which may bring claustrophobe cramp.
 

The Hawa Mahal is the "facade" and that the interior design is quite similar to the Jaipur City Palace, which is located right behind the Hawa Mahal. If you have an in-depth tour of the City Palace, you can just take photos from the front façade.
 

Photographs are best taken from the opposite side of the road.