Hawa Mahal – The Palace of Breeze

Located right in the heart of the city at Badi Chaupad, Hawa Mahal is an integral part of the historical monuments of the Pink City Jaipur. Inspired by the Khetri Mahal of Jhunjhunu, the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds is an architectural marvel which has five floors and 953 jharokhas (small windows). It was artistically designed for the women of royal families who can observe the daily life on the streets from these small windows without being seen.

Although the number of such windows is huge, their size is not more than a peephole. But, the aerodynamically designed balconies and arched roofs having hanging cornices ensure the breeze blows throughout the Mahal and keeps it cool. This made it a perfect summer destination of Royal families in the past.

Designed by Lal Chand Ustad, Hawa Mahal lends stunning views of City Palace and Jantar Mantar from its top floors. In 1799, it was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. Since he was devoted to the Hindu God, Krishna, the Mahal is designed in the form of a Krishna crown. Hawa Mahal is an extension of the Royal City Palace. It is maintained by the archaeological department of India.

What is so unique about Hawa Mahal?

The 50-feet pyramidal building follows the pink theme of the city and is studded with pink and red sandstones. From the main road, it appears to be the front of the Hawa Mahal but, instead, it is the rear side of the building. The monument appears as a honeycomb with small portholes. The entry to the building is from the City Palace.

An epitome of the fusion of Hindu Rajput and Islamic Mughal architecture, the Mahal has minimal carvings and embellishments on the inside. While the domes, fluted pillars, floral patterns depict the Rajput architecture, the stone inlay filigree work and arches portray the Islamic Mughal craftsmanship.

The most interesting fact about the Hawa Mahal is that it is one of the tallest buildings in the world to be built without any foundation.

How to enter Hawa Mahal?

The entry to the Hawa Mahal is from the City Palace side through a massive door. There is a large courtyard which embraces double-storeyed structures on three sides with the Mahal on the east. There is a small museum inside the courtyard which entails ceremonial armours, paintings, rich relics and other objects which help recall the memories of the royal history.

Where are the mandirs in Hawa Mahal located?

There are three mandirs on the top three floors of the Hawa Mahal; namely, Prakash Mandir, Vichitra Mandir and Hawa Mandir. The Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh used to worship Krishna in the Vichitra Mandir. The top floors cannot be accessed by stairways as they only have ramps, which were used to carry the palanquin of the women from royal families.

The Ratan Mandir is on the second floor and is bestowed with marvellous glasswork which looks stunning when the sunlight flashes on the colourful glasses.

Coming down to the first floor, you will get to see the Sharad Mandir which celebrates the autumn season of the year.

When is the best time to visit Hawa Mahal?

The Hawa Mahal is all about breeze and sunlight. The best time to visit is at the dawn when the sun rays start to fall on the mystique architecture and fill the interior with blissful lights.

What are the timings and cost of tickets to Hawa Mahal?

The Hawa Mahal is open on all days of the week including Sundays and public holidays. It opens from 9:00 am in the morning to 4:30 pm in the evening. The ticket price for touring Hawa Mahal is Rs 10 for local tourist and Rs 50 for foreigners.

How to reach Hawa Mahal?

Being at the centre of the city, getting to the Hawa Mahal is fairly convenient. You can either reach their by mini-buses, tourist buses or take local transport such as cab, e-rickshaw or autorickshaws.

From Jaipur Railway Station

Once you reach the Jaipur Railway Station, you can hire a cab or catch a minibus to reach Hawa Mahal. The distance from Jaipur junction to Badi Chaupad is nearly 6 kilometres. It should not take you more than 15-20 minutes to reach there depending on the traffic.

From Jaipur Sanganer Airport

The airport is not too far away from the monument and measures just 13km. You can hire a taxi to BadiChaupad to enjoy a hassle-free ride. You should reach the destination in 30 minutes.

Looking for a Hotel Near Hawa Mahal?

If you are looking for a hotel near Hawa Mahal, we can help you in getting the best hotel at affordable prices. Moreover, we guarantee a stay in a hotel from where you can view the monument. Thus, you can always have a glimpse of your beloved Hawa Mahal till the time you stay in Jaipur.