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Hawa Mahal
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan
Built By: Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh
Unique Feature: Multi Layered Red And Pink Sandstone
Building
Timings: Open 9.00am - 5.00pm
 Located
at one side, but very much a part of the City Palace Complex, Hawa
Mahal is best viewed from the street outside. If it were not for
the bustling bazaar all round, it would have been easy to mistake
it for a film set, so exquisitely is it propotioned, and co
incongruous is its delicacy.
THE ENTRANCE & COURTYARD
The entrance to Hawa Mahal is from the City Palace side, through a
stately door which opens into a spacious courtyard. The courtyard
has a double storeyed building on three sides. There is a small
archeological museum here. Only the eastern wing has three more
storeys above, which are just a single room thick. The building,
standing on a high podium, is a fifty-foot high thin shield, less
than a foot in thickness, with small intimate chambers , which
give this palace its unique facade. There are no regular stairs to
reach the upper floors, but only ramps.
Hawa Mahal which is currently under the supervision of the State
Archeological Department provides the visitor with excellent views
of the city. The best time to view Hawa Mahal is sunrise when
sunlight through the latticed windows gives it a wonderful glow.
ARCHITECTURE OF HAWA MAHAL
Built in 1799, by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh the Hawa Mahal,
"Palace of the Wind", is one of the major landmarks of Jaipur. It
is an integral part of the City Palace, an extension of the 'Zenana'
or Women's Chambers, standing away from the main complex. This
five storey building of unusual architecture designed by Lal Chand
Usta, is a stunning example of Rajput artistry made of red and
pink sand stone, beautifully outlined with white borders and
motif's painted with quick lime.
The monument with a spectacular view of Jaipur city with road
avenues, intersections and colourful crowds in the market, was
originally conceived with the aim of enabling ladies of the royal
household to watch the everyday life and royal processions in the
city without being seen by others.
Its facade from the road side makes Hawa Mahal look more like a
delicate screen than a palace. This five-story, pyramid-shaped
structure has tier after tier of 953 small casements, each with
tiny lattice worked (Jali) pink windows, small balconies and
arched roofs with hanging cornices, exquisitely modeled and
carved. These small windows circulate cool air even in hot months.
The pyramidal outline is even throughout by cramming and
multiplying casements; and uses repetition of motifs to enhance
its beauty.
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