Hawamahal

Hawamahal (The Wind Palace)

Hawa Mahal built in 1799 AD is the main evidence of Rajput architecture. This five-storey building along the main street of the old city is covered in pink with semi-octagonal and refined roofed sandstone windows.  The building was designed with the aim of allowing royal women to see the daily life of the city and the procession of the city. Hawa Mahal has a total of 953 windows. When the wind passes through these windows from one window to another, it feels as if the fan is moving. You will get a full feeling of pure and fresh air by standing in Hawa Mahal.

Hawamahal is a five-storey monument with a height of 50 feet (15 m) above its main base. The width of the top three storeys of the palace is as much as a room, while the lower two floors also have an open courtyard, which is built on the rear of the palace. From the main road in front of Hawa Mahal each of its small windows has very attractive and beautifully carved jaalis, kangura and domes of sandstone.

 This unmatched structure in itself boasts many semi-octagonal vents, making it unmatched worldwide. The interior of the back side of the building consists of chambers according to different requirements, which are constructed with very low embellishments, pillars and corridors and are similar to the top floor of the building. Lal Chand Ustad was the architect of this unique building, which also helped in preparing the craft and architectural plan of Jaipur city. Considering the decoration of other monuments in the city, the colour of this palace made of red and pink sandstone is a complete proof for the title of 'Pink City' given to Jaipur. The front of the Hawa Mahal is decorated with 953 unique carved vents (some of which are also made of wood). And this is exactly opposite from the back of Hawa Mahal, because the back of Hawa Mahal is very simple. It’s cultural and craft heritage is a unique blend of Hindu Rajput craftsmanship and Mughal style, For example, the attractive work of flower-leaves, domes and huge pillars are unmatched examples of Rajput craftsmanship, while at the same time, the Mughal style of stone carvings; beautiful arches etc. are unique examples of Mughal crafts.

The Hawa Mahal can be entered through the royal door from the City Palace. It opens into a large courtyard, surrounded by two-storied buildings on the three sides and the grand Hawa Mahal on the east. There is also an archaeological museum in this courtyard. Hawa Mahal was Maharaja Jai ​​Singh's favourite place to rest because its interior decoration is very beautiful. In all its chambers, there were invariably cold air flowing from the 953 vents located in the front, whose fountains are also arranged in the front hall of the chambers to increase the effect of coolness in summer.

There is only arrangement of hooves to go to the top two floors of Hawa Mahal. It is said that keeping in mind the inconvenience caused to the queens to climb the stairs by wearing a long sagging skirt, provision of hooves was made in place of the stairs for entry to its upper two floors.

Hawa Mahal does not have direct entry to the front. To enter Hawa Mahal, you have to go to the backside of the palace.