Hawa Mahal is a palace in Jaipur in Rajasthan, India. The massive palace built using red and pink sandstone, on the edge of City Palace as an extension, is part of the Zenana quarters or women’s chambers and is famed for its massive Jharokha or windows. The palace built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, who founded city of Jaipur. Hawa Mahal designed by Lal Chand Ustad is located in the heart of ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur; was reportedly inspired from Khetri Mahal, Jhunjhunu built by Maharaja Bhopal Singh. A five-storey high exterior, it is known for its honeycomb structure.
A popular tourist hotspot, it is known for its striking features like stone-carved screens, small casements, arched roofs, especially delicately modelled hanging cornices. The top of Hawa Mahal offers panoramic view of City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Siredeori Bazar. Highlight of the landmark structure are 953 Jharokhas or small windows known for their beautiful intricate latticework.
Booking.comThe intricate latticework, was originally intended to allow royal house ladies to observe the way everyday life and festivals is celebrated on the streets down below without being seen by anyone. This was done to allow them freedom of mixing with the crowd without breaking the rules of “purdah”, which forbade them from appearing in public without face cover.
The intricate latticework architectural allowed cool air to pass through in a manner that cooled down the temperature in the building. This was especially helpful in summer season when the city as suffered from blistering heat. The huge structure of Hawa Mahal as seen from the street is thought by many as the frontside of the palace, when in reality it is the backside. The landmark structure dedicated to Lord Krishna is about 50 feet or 15 meter high. The top 3 floors of Hawa Mahal have the width of a single room with top 2 accessed only via ramps for palanquin of royal ladies.
The 1st floor or Sharad Mandir is where autumn celebrations took place. 2nd floor also called Ratan Mandir has patios like 1st floor is known for its glasswork. Each of the top 3 floors have a separate name for themselves, namely Vichitra Mandir, Prakash Mandir and Hawa Mandir. The Maharaja used to worship Lord Krishna at Vichitra Mandir. Prakash Mandir provides open terrace to both sides. The honeycomb style front elevation of each Jharokha with small portholes, each embellished with miniature windows, carved sandstone grills, finials and domes creating semi-octagonal bays, gives Hawa Mahal its unique façade. Each Jharokha has a small chamber where one can sit and view the street down below.
While the outside is intricately designed, the inside of the building is minimally designed, with each room embellished with different coloured marbles. There are fountains at the centre of the courtyard. Hawa Mahal is a fusion of Hindu Rajput architecture and Islamic Mughal architecture. The Rajput architecture is visible in the form of domed canopies, lotus, fluted pillars, and floral patterns, while stone inlay filigree work and arches represent Mughal architecture. Entry into Hawa Mahal from City Palace side is through a massive imperial door that opens into a large courtyard, enclosed by double-storeyed buildings on three sides, and Hawa Mahal on the east side.
The breeze passing through the small windows create Venturi effect, thus providing a cooling effect in the chambers, enhanced by the fountains provided at the centre of each chamber. Elegance of Hawa Mahal is enhanced when the early morning sun rays fall on the structure and sunlight with cool breeze pass through the windows. Located in the southern part of Jaipur on Hawa Mahal Road, Badi Choupad; it is open from 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM daily with entry fee of INR 10 for Indians and INR 50 for foreign visitors. Tourist can shop for various items in the market on the street down below. Archaeological museum in the courtyard houses ancient artefacts that give a glimpse of Jaipur’s rich past. Hawa Mahal is maintained by archaeological department of Government of Rajasthan, with periodic maintenance done regularly; last one was done in 2006 after 50 years.
